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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 institution follows a semester-based calendar. Admissions is extremely competitive, with an acceptance rate of merely 9%. The freshman retention rate at Amherst College is 97.34% and the six-year graduation rate is 94%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is January 6. For transfer students, the application deadline is March 1.
Read more about what you can expect if you get into Amherst College.
Quick Facts
1,914
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$73,140
Tuition
7:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
94%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you discover as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission, your chances of getting accepted will significantly increase. Discover some essential data about admission at Amherst College.
According to the newest information reported, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 1,238 in 2025. Amherst College has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the student.
Test Scores
Out of the number of applicants who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 39% and ACT scores 22%. 98% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600 and 2% 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.
Deadlines
The cutoff date for submitting applications to Amherst College is January 6. For transfer students, note that the application deadline is March 1.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is the percentage of college or university newcomers who return for their sophomore year. Why is that metric 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 97.34% in 2025, which is an outstanding retention rate only the most prestigious institutions have.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. This academic institution has the six-year graduation rate of 94%, 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. Gaining a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the institution enrolled 1,914 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 86% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 1,914, 254 of which were international students. The school admitted a total of 31 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 847 male and 1,034 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to expanding the diversity of its student population and improving students' sense 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. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
This school had 315 Asian students and 170 Afro-American students in 2025. 264 undergraduates at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 165 as multirace. The school also had 1 student who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 2 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 47 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before submitting an application to any college or university, the financial component should be taken into consideration. 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.
In 2025, tuition amounted to $73,140 for all full-time domestic students. As this is a private institution, tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Full-time students in 2025 had to pay additional fees in the amount of $690.
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for room and board?
In 2025, room and board cost at Amherst College amounted to $19,260 a year. If you only needed a dormitory room, it cost $10,410 for the 2025 academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $9,940.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 73,140 |
| Room and Board | $ 19,260 |
| Total Expense | $ 92,400 |
Financial Aid
There are different types of financial aid: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. Check out some recent data to get the info about need-based and non-need-based aid at Amherst College.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 284 freshmen. The average financial aid package awarded to students added up to $72,409.
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.
1,156 students acquired some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Amherst College is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was found to be 1,156. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution stood at $3,251,418, and state $216,500. The students of Amherst College received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $78,902,629, and external in the amount of $983,839.
$14,801
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of 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 $114,907. 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 $1,893,169 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
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
In 2025, 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 338 members, according to the most recent data reported. This number included 174 male and 164 female faculty members.
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. Find out some details about students' life at Amherst College.
It has a campus size of 1,000 acres.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
There are 188 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. Interested in media and communication? Amherst College publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Amherst College, there are many amenities that make life on campus pleasant and safe.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a security patrol available 24/7. The transport/escort service operates during late hours.
There is a medical 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. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial 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 73,140 USD per academic year for Amherst College.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Amherst College is 9%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Amherst College is 97.34%.
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.