We're different, and we like it that way. William & Mary is unlike any other university in America. We’re the second oldest institution of higher education in the nation, but also a cutting-edge research university. We’re highly selective, but also public, offering a world-class education without the sticker shock. Our students are not only some of the smartest in the world, but passionate about serving others and serious about having fun. Our professors are teachers, scholars and research mentors, the cornerstone of a thriving intellectual community that produces experienced, engaged, successful graduates. We’re a “Public Ivy”—one of only eight in the nation. That means we offer a superior education that’s accessible to everyone. We love our hometown of Williamsburg and the amazing Commonwealth of Virginia and we’re proud to be one of the reasons for their economic success.