Overview
Amherst College is a private liberal arts school established in 1821. As of fall 2023, it has 1,910 undergraduates spread across a sprawling 1,000-acre campus. The college follows a semester system and holds the #2 spot among National Liberal Arts Colleges in the 2025 Best Colleges rankings. Tuition and fees come to $70,480.
Amherst College Rankings
Curious how Amherst stacks up? Here’s a breakdown of its rankings across different categories:
- #2 in National Liberal Arts Colleges
- #4 in Best Value Schools
- #51 in Economics (tie)
- #10 in Writing in the Disciplines (tie)
- #13 in Learning Communities
- #14 in Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects (tie)
- #5 in First-Year Experiences
- #16 in Senior Capstone (tie)
- #2 in Best Undergraduate Teaching
- #18 in Most Innovative Schools (tie)
- #11 in Top Performers on Social Mobility
How Amherst Ranks Nationally
Out of 211 National Liberal Arts Colleges, Amherst secures the #2 position. These rankings are based on widely accepted measures of academic excellence.
U.S. News Overall Score
- Total Score (out of 100): 98
- Outcomes (52% of score):
- Average 6-year graduation rate: 93%
- 6-year graduation rate for Pell Grant recipients: 94%
- 6-year graduation rate for non-Pell Grant recipients: 93%
Amherst College Admissions
Getting into Amherst is highly competitive, with an acceptance rate of just 10%. For admitted students who submitted test scores:
- SAT range: 1360–1550
- ACT range: 31–35
(Keep in mind, 25% of admitted students scored above these ranges, while another 25% scored below.)
Application deadline: January 3
What matters in admissions?
- Very important: GPA, letters of recommendation
- Important (when available): High school class rank
Tuition & Financial Aid
- Tuition & fees (2024-25): 70,480(abovethenationalaverageof70,480(abovethenationalaverageof51,147)
- Total cost (including housing, meals, etc.): $87,640
- Average net price after aid: $19,589
Net Price by Family Income (2021-22):
- 0–0–30,000: $7,895
- 30,001–30,001–48,000: $11,119
- 48,001–48,001–75,000: $16,409
- 75,001–75,001–110,000: $21,178
- **110,001+:∗∗110,001+:∗∗50,853
Room & board (2024-25): $18,390
Academics
- Student-faculty ratio: 7:1
- Small classes (under 20 students): 65.4%
- Freshman retention rate (student satisfaction): 95%
Most Popular Majors (2023 Graduates):
- Mathematics, General (12%)
- Econometrics and Quantitative Economics (10%)
- Research and Experimental Psychology, Other (9%)
- Computer Science (8%)
- Political Science and Government, General (6%)
Student Life
- Undergraduate enrollment (fall 2023): 1,910
- Gender distribution: 45.2% male, 52.9% female
- Housing: 97% live on campus (or college-affiliated housing), 3% off-campus
- Athletics: NCAA Division III
Campus & Safety
Amherst provides a range of student services, including:
- Tutoring, women’s center, health services, career placement
- Campus security: 24/7 patrols, emergency phones, late-night escorts, controlled dorm access
- Alcohol policy: Permitted for students of legal age