B+
Very Good
Score: 77/100
Overall (traditional)
A
Outcome Rating
88/100 · earnings-weighted

Amherst College

4-Year Private Non-Profit
📍 Amherst, Massachusetts 01002
Amherst College campus, Amherst, MA
Amherst College campus, Amherst, MA. Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Outcomes
A+
96/100
Affordability
F
29/100
Resources
A
86/100
Experience
A+
94/100
Prestige
A
80/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

1,910
Total Enrollment
93%
Graduation Rate
97%
Retention Rate
7.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
10%
Acceptance Rate
N/A
Avg Net Price

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at Amherst College, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$77,644
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$62,537
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$13,740
Median debt at graduation
93.9%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
1,533
Average SAT
33
Median ACT
19.8%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 18% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 84th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (MA wage index 1.29). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at Amherst College

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Computer Science$100,596$142,680+33%#40 of 349#55$16,750
Economics$90,568$141,730+71%#10 of 368#19$16,662
Mathematics$78,500$124,324+79%#11 of 309#17$13,900
History$56,444$103,601+104%#4 of 459#5—
Research and Experimental Psychology$45,786$69,204+24%#14 of 82#23$10,800
Area Studies$49,149$68,618+21%#14 of 70#24—
English Language and Literature$41,979$65,195+34%#26 of 576#68—
Political Science and Government$61,125$63,754+1%#237 of 565#408—
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$49,322$60,212+9%#73 of 225#146—
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies$40,120————$18,032
Neurobiology and Neurosciences$38,387—————

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The Amherst College Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $549,078
  • Avg rent near campus: $2,430/mo — vs ~$1,054/mo campus room rate
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 01072 (4.1% cap, Shutesbury)

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🏆 Where Amherst College Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

#7
American/U.S. Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence
of 14 schools
#25
Research and Experimental Psychology, Other
of 88 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $66,650 $66,650
Room $9,490
Board $8,070
Total Cost (On-Campus) $87,640 $87,640

Financial Aid

65%
Receive Any Aid
21%
Receive Pell Grants
7%
Take Out Loans
N/A
Avg Net Price

Student Demographics

1,910
Total Students
54%
Women
97%
Traditional Age (18-24)

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 36%
Hispanic 15%
Black 11%
Asian 16%
Two or More 8%
Non-Resident 12%

🏠 Living Arrangements

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 100%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 97%
25-64 (Adult) 1%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Amherst College?
Amherst College has an acceptance rate of 10%. This makes it a highly selective institution where admission is very competitive.
How much does it cost to attend Amherst College?
Tuition at Amherst College is $66,650 for in-state students and $66,650 for out-of-state students .
What is the graduation rate at Amherst College?
The graduation rate at Amherst College is 93%. This is considered an excellent graduation rate, indicating strong student success and support systems.
Is Amherst College a good school?
Amherst College has a Repit College Score of 77/100 (Grade: B+). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (A+): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (F): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (A): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (A+): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (A): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Amherst College?
Amherst College has a total enrollment of 1,910 students. Most students (97%) are traditional college-age (18-24).

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🎓 Similar Colleges to Amherst College

Compare with other 4-Year private non-profit institutions of similar size.

B+
Wellesley College
Wellesley, MA · 2,418 students
B+
Smith College
Northampton, MA · 2,830 students
A
Williams College
Williamstown, MA · 2,168 students
B+
College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, MA · 3,035 students
B+
Babson College
Wellesley, MA · 3,943 students
B
Brandeis University
Waltham, MA · 5,302 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology