Amherst College
Amherst, MA
Amherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts. Founded in 1821, it is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in the United States. Amherst College has a reputation for academic excellence and is consistently ranked among the top liberal arts colleges in the country.
The college offers a wide range of academic programs and majors across various disciplines, including arts and humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and mathematics. With a low student-to-faculty ratio, Amherst prides itself on its intimate and intellectually stimulating learning environment. The college emphasizes small, discussion-based classes that encourage critical thinking, collaboration, and engagement with the material.
Aside from its academic strength, Amherst College also offers a vibrant campus life. With over 120 student organizations and clubs, there are numerous opportunities for students to explore their interests and cultivate their passions outside the classroom. The college's strong commitment to diversity and inclusion is reflected in its student body, which comes from all 50 U.S. states and over 60 countries around the world.
Overall, Amherst College provides students with a rigorous yet supportive academic environment, promoting a well-rounded education rooted in the liberal arts. With its beautiful campus, strong academics, and vibrant campus life, Amherst offers students a unique and enriching college experience.
Located in Amherst, MA, Amherst College is a private four-year college. It has a campus size of 1,020 acres. This academic institution uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 7%. The freshman retention rate at Amherst College is 95.33% and the six-year graduation rate is 92%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is January 3. For transfer students, the application deadline is March 1.
To find out more about what Amherst College has to offer to its students, read on for the latest data reported by this school.
Quick Facts
1,898
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
7%
Acceptance Rate
$66,650
Tuition
7:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
92%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to maximize your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the university's criteria for admission. Read on to learn some important facts about admission policy and requirements at Amherst College.
According to the most recent data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 1,079 in 2023. Amherst College has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores for the candidates who choose to submit them. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is one of the most difficult schools to get into. With a rich history of academic excellence, it offers an unmatched educational experience.
Test Scores
41% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 22% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. 90% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600 and 10% between 1,200 and 1,399. The percent of new students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 98 and 2 between 24-29.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 741 and an average SAT Math score of 762.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by January 3. If you are thinking about applying as a transfer student, note that the application deadline is March 1.
7%
Acceptance Rate
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. When you make your list of possible schools to attend, you should consider the freshman retention rate, among other things.
As reported in 2023, the freshman retention rate for Amherst College was 95.33%, which is an outstanding retention rate only the most prestigious institutions achieve.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This rate shows how many students complete their degrees in a certain number of years. The six-year graduation rate at this school is 92%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
It is never easy to figure out which school is the perfect match for you. Knowing more about the student population can help you get a better understanding of the school's culture and life.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at Amherst College in 2023 was 1,898.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 85% for that year. There was a total of 1,898 students pursuing undergraduate degrees, including 218 international students. 18 students enrolled as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 917 male and 981 female full-time students in 2023.
Student Population Diversity
Higher Education is dedicated to increasing student diversity and enhancing students' feelings of inclusion and belonging. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
In 2023, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 263, while the number of Afro-American students was 205. 301 undergrads at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 142 identified with more than one race. The school also had 4 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 4 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 36 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to think about before applying to any college or university. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition price for this university.
Tuition fees per academic year for full-time domestic students were $66,650 in 2023. Since this is a private institution, there is no difference in tuition for out-of-state or international students. Full-time students in 2023 were obliged to pay additional fees in the amount of $630.
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to take into account the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The approximate expense of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is $1,000.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. How much do room and board fees average around at schools?
In 2023, room and board cost at Amherst College amounted to $17,190 a year. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school stood at $9,490, according to the data from 2023. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $9,940.
Tuition | $ 66,650 |
Room and Board | $ 17,190 |
Book and Supplies | $ 1,000 |
Total Expense | $ 84,840 |
Financial Aid
There are different types of financial help: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. If you wish to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Amherst College, here are some recent data you should consider.
According to the most recent data, 267 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $67,375.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
1,109 students obtained some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Amherst College is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need came to be 1,109. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution came to $2,649,947, and state $226,085. The students of Amherst College received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $70,314,229, and external in the amount of $902,495.
$62,733
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $188,200. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $1,270,782 USD.
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
Majors
Faculty
7:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Amherst College was 7:1: that means 7 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. The faculty of this school consists of 310 members, according to the most recent data reported. This number included 158 male and 152 female faculty members.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Find out some info about students' life at Amherst College.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
This school has 226 open-membership student organizations you can participate in. The student organization that has the biggest membership is Dancing and Stepping at Amherst College (DASAC), followed by A Capella Groups (e.g., Zumbyes, Bluestockings) and Student Publications (e.g., Amherst Student, Indicator). Other popular organizations among the students at Amherst College are Black Students Union and Association of Amherst Students.
In case you're interested in acting, there is a drama club you can consider joining. You have a talent for media and communication? Amherst College publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Amherst College offers a number of services necessary for a comfortable and secure life on campus.
There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. Dormitory entrances at the school are electronically operated. There is a round-the-clock security patrol. The transport/escort service operates during late hours.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Women's Center are available to the students of Amherst College.
All in all, campus life at Amherst College is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Amherst College.
Career Counselling
At Amherst College, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA.
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Amherst College offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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According to the latest information, you would need to pay about 66,650 USD per academic year for Amherst College.
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This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Amherst College is 7%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Amherst College is 95.33%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.