Amherst College
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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
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 maintains an exceptionally competitive admissions profile, with an acceptance rate of only 9%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,533. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 94%.
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
When weighing the true cost of attending Amherst College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $70,480 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $23,367 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,086 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $13,740.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Amherst College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Amherst College earn a median of $77,644 — an exceptional return on investment that outpaces national averages for bachelor's-degree holders.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
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%?
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 useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
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.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Amherst College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Amherst College's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Amherst College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
Based in Amherst, Massachusetts, Amherst College maintains an exceptionally competitive admissions profile, with an acceptance rate of only 9%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,533. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 94%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Amherst College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Amherst College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $70,480 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $23,367 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,086 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $13,740.
Is Amherst College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of Amherst College earn a median of $77,644 — an exceptional return on investment that outpaces national averages 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 useful read on 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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.83 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 13% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Compare Amherst College
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Amherst College.
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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.83 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 13% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.