Private nonprofit · Mostly bachelor's degrees · Small city

Amherst College

Amherst, Massachusetts. 1,911 undergraduates. Admits 9% of applicants.

Massachusetts colleges Official websiteIts net price calculator
93%Graduation rate38 pts above the national median for similar colleges (54%)
$19,536Average net price per yearAbout the same as the national median for similar colleges
$95,161Median earnings 10 years after starting62% above the national median for similar colleges ($58,912)
$13,250Median debt at graduation39% below the national median for similar colleges ($21,609)
Our read

Graduates' median debt ($13,250) equals 14% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($95,161). That is a light load relative to pay.

What families actually pay

Under $30,000$2,424
$30,000–$48,000$3,063
$48,001–$75,000$13,814
$75,001–$110,000$17,999
Over $110,000$49,700

Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.

Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $73,830.

Do students finish, and what do they earn?

MeasureThis collegeSimilar colleges nationally
Graduation rate93%54%
Return for second year97%76%
Median earnings, 6 years after starting$83,643$49,318
Median earnings, 10 years after starting$95,161$58,912
Median debt at graduation$13,250$21,609

Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).

Programs and what graduates earn

34 programs reported
ProgramGraduates / yrMedian earnings, 1 yrMedian earnings, 5 yrsMedian debt
Economics88$109,806$175,020$19,500
Mathematics81$76,249$172,920$12,000
Computer Science52$116,660——
History23$54,456$102,511—
Political Science and Government30$61,098$97,885—
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics20$46,938$80,840—
Research and Experimental Psychology52$39,597$73,572$9,653
English Language and Literature, General35$41,040$73,033—
Neurobiology and Neurosciences25$45,912——
Area Studies13$44,715——
Biology, General34$37,129——
Natural Resources Conservation and Research15———
Architectural History, Criticism, and Conservation4———
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies18———
Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education12———
Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics6———
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics5———
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics6———
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies32———
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology24———
Statistics19———
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other5———
Philosophy11———
Religion/Religious Studies8———
Astronomy and Astrophysics7———
Chemistry21———
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences8———
Physics24———
Anthropology6———
Sociology11———
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft5———
Film/Video and Photographic Arts7———
Fine and Studio Arts17———
Music8———

Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.

Getting in

9%Admission rate
1,533Average SAT of admitted students
33–35ACT middle 50%
6:1Students per faculty member
25%Undergraduates with a Pell Grant

Similar colleges in Massachusetts

Harvard UniversityCambridge · net price $19,148 · grad rate 97%Northeastern UniversityBoston · net price $17,850 · grad rate 91%Franklin W Olin College of EngineeringNeedham · net price $17,057 · grad rate 96%Wellesley CollegeWellesley · net price $23,995 · grad rate 91%Williams CollegeWilliamstown · net price $15,157 · grad rate 95%Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridge · net price $14,815 · grad rate 96%

Compare colleges side by side

Quick answers

How much does Amherst College cost per year?
The average net price at Amherst College, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $19,536 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much do Amherst College graduates earn?
Former Amherst College students earn a median of $95,161 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What is the graduation rate at Amherst College?
93% of Amherst College students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much student debt do Amherst College graduates have?
The median federal student debt at graduation from Amherst College is $13,250. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.