Amherst College
#2 Best Psychology Colleges in Massachusetts- Graduation Rate
- 94% A+
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Earnings (10yr)
- $77,644 A
- Top 5% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $23,367 D+
- 36% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 9% A+
- Rejects about 91 of every 100 applicants
Bottom line: A B overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 21.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $21.9 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Best Psychology Colleges in Massachusetts.
Every $1 spent returns $21.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,951,720.
What The Data Says
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A B overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduates earn 90% more than the national college median.
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A 94% graduation rate — 64% above the national average.
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Admits just 9% of applicants — one of the most selective institutions in the country.
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Every $1 invested returns $21.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.7%
- Top 35%
- Patents
- 11
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 0
- Downstream influence
Why Amherst College Matters
Amherst College is a private liberal arts college in Amherst, MA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by exceptional admissions selectivity and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 5% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 1,911
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Social Sciences, Biology & Biomedical, Computer Science & IT, Mathematics & Statistics
Why students choose Amherst College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Highly selective — admits about 9% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1490–1580. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $23,367 a year after grants and scholarships — 36% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $77,644 ten years after enrolling — 90% above the typical college, against $13,740 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 29% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.83 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an acceptance rate of just 9%, Amherst College attracts students who are academically driven and eager to engage in a close-knit learning environment. This college is a great fit for those interested in fields like Social Sciences, Biology, Computer Science, Mathematics, and Physical Sciences. The small student body of around 1,911 fosters a sense of community, making it easier for students to connect with faculty and peers while diving deep into their studies.
After graduation, students can expect to earn an impressive average of $77,644 within ten years. This figure reflects the strong outcomes for graduates, many of whom find opportunities to advance in their careers. While the Pell Grant rate sits at 20%, indicating support for lower-income students, the emphasis remains on ensuring that all graduates can make strides in their professional lives without being overly burdened by financial constraints.
In terms of affordability, the net price after aid comes to about $23,367, with a median debt of $13,740 for those who do take loans. This financial picture suggests that students who thrive here often come from a variety of backgrounds but share a common commitment to their education. With a graduation rate of 94%, it’s clear that students who choose Amherst tend to find their place and succeed, making the investment in their education worthwhile.
Rankings
- #2 Best Psychology Colleges in Massachusetts
- #4 Best Liberal Arts Colleges
- #4 Best Biology Colleges in Massachusetts
- #5 Best Colleges in Massachusetts
- #5 Best Small Colleges
- #5 Best Bachelor's Programs in Massachusetts
- #5 Best Master's Programs in Massachusetts
- #5 Best Computer Science Colleges in Massachusetts
Can I Get In?
How selective Amherst College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Amherst College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Amherst, Massachusetts, Amherst College turns away the vast majority of its applicants. The acceptance rate is 9%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,533. The graduation rate is roughly 94%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 9%
- Retention Rate
- 97%
- SAT Average
- 1533
- ACT Midpoint
- 33
- SAT Range
- 1490–1580
- ACT Range
- 33–35
- Full-Time Faculty
- 97%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $15,606
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 7:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.79
- First-Gen Students
- 21%
- Applicants
- 14,864
- Admitted
- 1,079
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25
The acceptance rate tells you how hard Amherst College is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 39% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school many admits weigh against other offers.
- Yield Rate
- 39%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 39%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 22%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Early Decision Admit Rate
- 29.4%
- vs 9.0% overall
Applying early pays off here. Of 735 Early Decision applicants, 216 were admitted — a 29.4% admit rate, roughly 3.3× the 9.0% rate for the overall pool. That binding round alone filled about 45% of the entering class (216 of 480 first-years). The catch: Early Decision is a commitment you make before you can compare aid offers.
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 61% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Amherst College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Amherst College is $70,480, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $23,367. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,086 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $13,740 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $70,480
- Out-of-State
- $70,480
- Avg Net Price
- $23,367
- Median Debt
- $13,740
- Pell Grant Rate
- 20%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 8%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $1,086
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $1,570
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $17,478
- Family Income $110K+
- $47,521
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Amherst College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Amherst College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Amherst College earn a median of $77,644, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $62,537
- 8 Years
- $86,438
- 10 Years
- $77,644
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.18x
- Earning > $25K
- 68%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (399)
- 85%
- 100% (399)
- 85%
- 100% (399)
- 85%
- 100% (399)
- 85%
How Amherst Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Amherst College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Amherst College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $23,367/year ($93,468 total). Graduates earn $77,644 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,045,188 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,951,720 (21.9× your investment). The median debt is $13,740, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 94% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $93,468
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $2,045,188
- Net Return
- $1,951,720
- ROI Multiple
- 21.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $23,367
- Median Debt
- $13,740
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 94%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Amherst College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Amherst College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.96%, well above the typical college. About 4.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 46.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $181,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.96%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 46.5%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 4.2%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $246,323
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Amherst College produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 11 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.66%
- Top 35% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 11
- Linked to graduates
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $5,525,438
- Investment Income
- $-396,719,183
Top Programs
The fields Amherst College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Social Sciences 20% $88,611 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 12% $29,254 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 11% $114,435 early-career
- Mathematics & Statistics 8% $80,393 early-career
- Psychology 7% $54,760 early-career
- Physical Sciences 6%
- English & Literature 5% $40,390 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 5%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Amherst College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-AI/ML Engineer$156,000 · 23% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Computer Vision Engineer$145,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Amherst College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Amherst, Massachusetts, Amherst College turns away the vast majority of its applicants. The acceptance rate is 9%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,533. The graduation rate is roughly 94%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Amherst College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Amherst College is $70,480, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $23,367. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,086 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $13,740 in federal student loans.
Is Amherst College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Amherst College earn a median of $77,644, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
Does Amherst College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Amherst College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.96%, well above the typical college. About 4.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 46.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $181,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Amherst College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Amherst College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.83, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 13% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does Amherst College offer Early Decision, and does it improve admission chances?
Yes. Amherst College offers a binding Early Decision plan, and it carries a real advantage: Early Decision applicants were admitted at 29%, about 3.3 times the overall 9% acceptance rate, and ED filled roughly 45% of the entering class. Because ED is binding, it makes sense only if Amherst College is a clear first choice and you can commit before comparing aid offers (2024-25 Common Data Set).
Is Amherst College really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 61% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at Amherst College (2024-25 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at Amherst College?
About 39% of admitted students choose to enroll at Amherst College — its yield rate (2024-25 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Compare Amherst College
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Amherst College.
- Pomona CollegeClaremont, CA · Close peer93% grad $77,779 earn 7% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Swarthmore CollegeSwarthmore, PA · Close peer93% grad $80,257 earn 7% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Hamilton CollegeClinton, NY · Close peer91% grad $78,411 earn 14% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Haverford CollegeHaverford, PA · Close peer90% grad $79,966 earn 12% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Carleton CollegeNorthfield, MN · Close peer90% grad $75,525 earn 20% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Wellesley CollegeWellesley, MA · Close peer91% grad $84,803 earn 14% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Amherst College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Amherst College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.83, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 13% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note