Amherst College - Profile, Rankings and Data | US News Best Colleges

Amherst College

#2 in National Liberal Arts Colleges

4 year • Amherst, MA

4 year • Amherst, MA
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Overview

Amherst College is a private institution that was founded in 1821. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,898 (fall 2022), and the campus size is 1,000 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Amherst College's ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is National Liberal Arts Colleges, #2. Its tuition and fees are $67,280.


Amherst College, located in Amherst, Massachusetts, is known for its rigorous academic climate. Amherst is a member of the Five Colleges consortium, which also includes Smith, Mount Holyoke, Hampshire and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Students may take courses at any of these colleges. Amherst offers more than 100 student organizations; the college banned fraternities in 1984. Amherst claims to have the oldest athletics program in the nation, along with the third oldest football field. The Amherst Mammoths participate in NCAA Division III sports in the New England Small College Athletic Conference. The school is also part of the unofficial Little Three athletic conference with Williams and Wesleyan, which has lasted more than 100 years. Freshmen are required to live on campus in one of seven residence halls.


Amherst is an undergraduate college that offers degrees in 40 different majors. Amherst, known as "the singing college," has many a cappella groups, including the Zumbyes, the Bluestockings and Route 9, to name a few. Amherst is also taking great strides to become more sustainable, and it protects 500 acres of open land and water in its wildlife sanctuary. Notable alumni include former U.S. President Calvin Coolidge, Prince Albert II of Monaco and former Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Harlan Fiske Stone.

Amherst College is a private institution that was founded in 1821. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,898 (fall 2022), and the campus size is 1,000 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Amherst College's ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is National Liberal Arts Colleges, #2. Its tuition and fees are $67,280.


Amherst College, located in Amherst, Massachusetts, is known for its rigorous academic climate. Amherst is a member of the Five Colleges consortium, which also includes Smith, Mount Holyoke, Hampshire and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Students may take courses at any of these colleges. Amherst offers more than 100 student organizations; the college banned fraternities in 1984. Amherst claims to have the oldest athletics program in the nation, along with the third oldest football field. The Amherst Mammoths participate in NCAA Division III sports in the New England Small College Athletic Conference. The school is also part of the unofficial Little Three athletic conference with Williams and Wesleyan, which has lasted more than 100 years. Freshmen are required to live on campus in one of seven residence halls.


Amherst is an undergraduate college that offers degrees in 40 different majors. Amherst, known as "the singing college," has many a cappella groups, including the Zumbyes, the Bluestockings and Route 9, to name a few. Amherst is also taking great strides to become more sustainable, and it protects 500 acres of open land and water in its wildlife sanctuary. Notable alumni include former U.S. President Calvin Coolidge, Prince Albert II of Monaco and former Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Harlan Fiske Stone.

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At-a-Glance

Setting

N/A

Tuition & Fees

$67,280

Undergraduate Enrollment

1,898

Acceptance Rate

7%

2024 Rankings

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Admissions

Jan. 3

Application Deadline

7%

Acceptance Rate

SAT Range*

N/A

ACT Range*

32-35

High School GPA*

N/A

* These are the average scores of applications admitted to this school. Ranges represent admitted applicants who fell within the 25th and 75th percentile.

Will You Get Into Amherst College?

College Admissions Calculator

Data provided by U.S. News College Compass Users.

Cost

Tuition & Fees

$67,280

Room & Board

$17,560(2023-24)

Average Need-Based Aid Package

$68,191

$17,304

Annual Cost*

$17,304

Annual Cost*

Tuition & Fees

$67,280

Room & Board

$17,560(2023-24)

Average Need-Based Aid Package

$68,191

*Average cost after aid

Academics

85%

4-Year Graduation Rate

7:1

Student/Faculty Ratio

67%

Classes With Fewer Than 20 Students

Popular Majors

MAJOR

% OF GRADUATES

ALUMNI STARTING SALARY

Econometrics and Quantitative Economics

12%

$76,056

Mathematics, General

12%

$70,785

Political Science and Government, General

8%

$76,056

Research and Experimental Psychology, Other

8%

$45,603

Computer Science

7%

N/A

Econometrics and Quantitative Economics
12% Percent of Graduates
$76,056 Alumni Starting Salary
Mathematics, General
12% Percent of Graduates
$70,785 Alumni Starting Salary
Political Science and Government, General
8% Percent of Graduates
$76,056 Alumni Starting Salary
Research and Experimental Psychology, Other
8% Percent of Graduates
$45,603 Alumni Starting Salary
Computer Science
7% Percent of Graduates
N/A Alumni Starting Salary

* In cases where salary data at the specific major level is unavailable, a general salary for the major category is displayed.

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Students

1,898

Undergraduate Enrollment

Graduate Enrollment

N/A

Total Enrollment

1,898

Full-Time Degree-Seeking Students

1,898

Student Diversity

Gender Distribution

Male48%
Female52%

Ethnic Diversity

48%

Minority Enrollment

48%

Minority Enrollment

38%

White

16%

Hispanic

14%

Asian

11%

Black

11%

International

7%

Two or more races

2%

Unknown

Not Specified is not included in this breakdown due to an enrollment of 0%.

Campus Life

Housing and Dorms

Types of campus housing available:

  • coed dorms
  • cooperative housing
  • theme housing
  • wellness housing
  • Student Activities

    66+

    Sports Teams

    N/A

    Fraternities

    N/A

    Sororities

    After College

    Graduation Rate

    85%

    Graduating Students Who Have Borrowed (any loan type, 2021)

    26%

    Average Debt at Graduation

    $18,397

    $43,914

    Median Starting Salary of Alumni

    $43,914

    Median Starting Salary of Alumni

    Graduation Rate

    85%

    Graduating Students Who Have Borrowed (any loan type, 2021)

    26%

    Average Debt at Graduation

    $18,397

    Reviews & Ratings

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    Undergraduate data are based on the 2022 school year.

    My Fit Score

    My Fit Custom College Ranking

    Does this school fit your college needs? Receive a personalized ranking provided by U.S. News College Compass and find out. Try it now

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