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Amherst , MA
Hampshire College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts. Founded in 1965, it is known for its unique educational approach and commitment to progressive values. Hampshire offers a highly individualized academic program that encourages students to explore their interests and design their own majors. The college is characterized by its emphasis on experiential learning, interdisciplinary studies, and close student-faculty relationships.
At Hampshire College, students have the flexibility to design their own academic path, rather than following a set curriculum. This allows students to explore various areas of interest and create a personalized program of study. Instead of traditional grades, the college uses narrative evaluations, where faculty provide detailed feedback on students' work and progress. This innovative approach to education encourages students to take ownership of their learning and fosters a strong sense of self-motivation and critical thinking skills.
Hampshire College promotes a collaborative and inclusive community where students are encouraged to challenge conventions and develop a social conscience. The college is known for its commitment to social justice issues, sustainability, and diversity. With a student-to-faculty ratio of just 10:1, Hampshire fosters close relationships between students and professors, allowing for personalized guidance and mentorship. The college also offers numerous student organizations and activities, creating a vibrant campus life that is intellectually stimulating and socially engaging.
In summary, Hampshire College is a unique institution that provides a highly individualized and interdisciplinary approach to education. With its emphasis on experiential learning, narrative evaluations, and a collaborative community, Hampshire College offers students a dynamic and engaging environment that fosters intellectual growth and personal development.
Located in Amherst, MA, Hampshire College is a private four-year college. This educational institution operates on a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 75%. The freshman retention rate at Hampshire College is 78% and the six-year graduation rate is 54%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is January 15. For transfer students, the application deadline is April 1.
Explore this school's profile to find out all the important things about Hampshire College.
Quick Facts
844
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$59,366
Tuition
17:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
54%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Learning as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission maximizes your chances of getting admitted. How difficult is it to get admitted to Hampshire College and what are the admission requirements?
In 2025, the school accepted 1,605 new students.
Test Scores
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.42. Therefore, the chances are that you'll need a GPA higher than the average for acceptance,.
Deadlines
The application deadline for Hampshire College is January 15. If you are applying as a transfer student, note that the application deadline is April 1.
Retention Rate
The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. That information can tell you if the majority of new students liked their first year enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for Hampshire College was 78% in 2025, a reflection of the high standards and excellent educational experience at this school.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It reflects the proportion of students who obtain their degrees within the expected timeframe. The six-year completion rate at this institution is 54%.
Student Body
Figuring out which school is the right fit for you is not a task you should take lightly. Knowing more about the student population can help you get a better idea of the school's culture and life.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at Hampshire College in 2025 was 844.
That year, the school had an out-of-state student body percentage of 66. There was a total of 844 undergrad students, including 43 international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 45.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 249 male and 324 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
In order to enhance a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
This school had 18 Asian students and 61 Afro-American students in 2025. 109 undergrads at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 47 as multirace. There were also 38 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you send an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. 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 cost for this university.
As a full-time domestic student, you were required to pay tuition of $59,366 in 2025. As this is a private institution, tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students came to a total of $2,118 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
The approximate cost of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into account as another significant financial factor. The estimated cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is $1,000.
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. What do schools typically charge for room and board?
In 2025, room and board cost at Hampshire College amounted to $16,628 a year. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school totaled $9,816, according to the data from 2025. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was also $9,816.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 59,366 |
| Room and Board | $ 16,628 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,000 |
| Total Expense | $ 76,994 |
Financial Aid
There are different types of financial help: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. If you are interested in finding out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Hampshire College, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 166 freshmen. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $47,990.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
There were 360 students who acquired need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Hampshire College is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 360. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution summed up to $1,368,968, and state $231,507. The students of Hampshire College received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $14,076,802, and external in the amount of $226,508.
$28,778
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. 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.
50 students, including freshmen, were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this school in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 28 full-time freshmen. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $4,143,289. 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 $266,061 USD.
Majors
Faculty
17:1
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.
In 2025, this ratio at Hampshire College was 17:1. That means that there were 17 times more students than teachers at this school. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 49. Out of that number, there were 20 men and 29 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Hampshire College.
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. Check out some details about students' life at Hampshire College.
Its campus is 800 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership usually consists exclusively of current students and/or alumni.
There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. For students who have a passion for media and communication, Hampshire College publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Hampshire 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 round-the-clock security patrol. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Women's Center are available to the students of Hampshire College.
All in all, campus life at Hampshire College is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
FAQ
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Hampshire College is located in Amherst, MA.
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Hampshire College offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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According to the latest information, the tuition for Hampshire College is 59,366 USD a year.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Hampshire College is 75%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Hampshire College is 78%.
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.
