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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.
Amherst College is a private four-year college located in Amherst, MA. This school uses a semester-based calendar. Given an acceptance rate of a mere 9%, admissions is consider very competative. The freshman retention rate at Amherst College is 97% and the six-year graduation rate is 93%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is January 3. The transfer 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
1,910
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
9%
Acceptance Rate
$66,650
Tuition
7:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
93%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, you can make a better judgment about your eligibility and boost your chances of getting accepted. What are the admission requirements for Amherst College?
According to the most recent data, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 1,250 in 2024. Amherst College has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the student. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is one of the most difficult schools to get into. Having a long tradition of academic success and a dedication to encouraging intellectual curiosity, Amherst College provides a superior educational experience.
Test Scores
38% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 17% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. 70% of the freshmen submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 24% between 1,200 and 1,399, 5% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 1% between 800 and 999. The percent of freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 83, 13 between 24-29, 3 in the range between 18-23, and 1 between 12-17.
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 applying for a transfer, note that the application deadline is March 1.
9%
Acceptance Rate
Retention Rate
The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. Why is that information important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for Amherst College was 97% in 2024, which is an amazing retention rate only the most prestigious institutions achieve.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It provides valuable insight into the percentage of students who complete their studies within a designated timeframe. The six-year completion rate at this institution is 93%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
It is never easy to figure out which school is the best place for you. Having a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at Amherst College in 2024 was 1,910.
That year, the school had an out-of-state student body percentage of 86.4. There was a total of 1,910 students working towards bachelor's degrees, including 236 international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 20.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 864 male and 1,011 female full-time students in 2024.
Student Population Diversity
The importance of student diversity cannnot be denied, when it comes to the overall feeling of inclusion and beloning among the students of any school. An inclusive student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
This school had 297 Asian students and 214 Afro-American students in 2024. 288 students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 161 identified with more than one race. The school also had 1 student who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 4 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 24 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
One of the most crucial things to take into consideration when applying to any college or university is the financial component. Here are some details you should know about the cost of attendance for Amherst College.
Tuition and Fees
If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for Amherst College is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.
Tuition in 2024 was $66,650 for full-time domestic students. As this is a private institution, tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students reached $630 in 2024.
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to think about the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. Most students have to allocate about $1,000 for books and supplies during their time at Amherst College.
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
In 2024, room and board cost at Amherst College amounted to $17,560 a year. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school totaled $9,490, according to the data from 2024. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was also $9,490.
| Tuition | $ 66,650 |
| Room and Board | $ 17,560 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,000 |
| Total Expense | $ 85,210 |
Financial Aid
Obtaining some financial help in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be vital for completing your studies. Check out some recent data to get informed about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid available at Amherst College.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 282 freshmen. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $67,881.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet other eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
1,143 students secured 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 was 1,143. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution added up to $2,587,629, and state $196,300. The students of Amherst College received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $76,065,005, and external in the amount of $1,049,339.
$30,724
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $112,230. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $1,381,439 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
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
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
In 2024, this ratio at Amherst College was 7:1. That means that there were 7 times more students than teachers at this school. The faculty of this school consists of 313 members, according to the most recent data reported. This number included 160 men and 153 women.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Amherst College is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Check out some information about students' life at Amherst College.
It has a campus size of 1,020 acres.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 226. The student organization with the highest level of popularity 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.
For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. For students who have a passion 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 crucial for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
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 all you need for a comfortable stay.
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. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent 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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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Amherst College is 66,650 USD, based on the most recent data.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Amherst College is 9%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Amherst College is 97%.
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.