Hampshire College
#5 Best Colleges for Building Social Capital- Graduation Rate
- 56% C
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $46,938 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $24,034 D
- 40% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 75% C+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 37.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $37.9 over 20 years. Ranked #5 in Best Colleges for Building Social Capital.
Every $1 spent returns $37.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $3,543,031.
What The Data Says
-
A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Every $1 invested returns $37.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.6%
- Top 40%
- Patents
- 98
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 285
- Downstream influence
Why Hampshire College Matters
Hampshire College is a private liberal arts college in Amherst, MA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
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
- 839
- Setting
- Rural
- Primary Strengths
- Visual & Performing Arts, English & Literature, Social Sciences, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose Hampshire 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
Competitive — admits about 75% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $24,034 a year after grants and scholarships — 40% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $46,938 ten years after enrolling — 15% above the typical college, against $26,893 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.7% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 90% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.77 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an acceptance rate of 75%, Hampshire College in Amherst, MA, is an inviting option for students who value creativity and interdisciplinary studies. Here, you’ll find a focus on personalized education that allows you to dive deep into areas like Visual & Performing Arts, English & Literature, and Biology & Biomedical. If you’re someone who thrives in a non-traditional learning environment, this could be a great fit.
Looking at life after graduation, students from Hampshire can expect to earn around $46,938 within ten years of completing their degrees. This figure highlights the potential for upward mobility, especially for those who are dedicated to their fields. The college is accessible, with 39% of students receiving Pell Grants, indicating a commitment to supporting those from lower-income backgrounds.
When it comes to the financial side, the net price after aid stands at $24,034, which is manageable for many families. The median debt of $26,893 suggests that while student loans are common, they remain within a reasonable range for graduates. Those who tend to thrive here are often self-motivated individuals ready to explore their passions and take advantage of a flexible academic structure.
Rankings
- #5 Best Colleges for Building Social Capital
- #16 Best Psychology Colleges in Massachusetts
- #16 Best Communications Colleges in Massachusetts
- #22 Best Education Colleges in Massachusetts
- #33 Best Biology Colleges in Massachusetts
- #35 Best Colleges for Visual
- #35 Best Colleges for Graphic Design
- #35 Best Bachelor's in Visual
Can I Get In?
How selective Hampshire 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 Hampshire College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Amherst, Massachusetts, Hampshire College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 75%. The graduation rate is roughly 56%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 75%
- Retention Rate
- 78%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 81%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,085
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 11:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.58
- First-Gen Students
- 14%
- Applicants
- 2,090
- Admitted
- 1,440
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 Hampshire College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Hampshire College is $58,896, 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 $24,034. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,749 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,893 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $58,896
- Out-of-State
- $58,896
- Avg Net Price
- $24,034
- Median Debt
- $26,893
- Pell Grant Rate
- 39%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 62%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $13,749
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $15,251
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $18,165
- Family Income $110K+
- $37,221
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 Hampshire 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 Hampshire College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Hampshire College earn a median of $46,938, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $22,195
- 8 Years
- $34,148
- 10 Years
- $46,938
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.57x
- Earning > $25K
- 39%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (190)
- 59%
- 100% (190)
- 59%
- 100% (190)
- 59%
- 100% (190)
- 59%
How Hampshire 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 Hampshire College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Hampshire College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $24,034/year ($96,136 total). Graduates earn $46,938 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $3,639,167 in total earnings — a net gain of $3,543,031 (37.9× your investment). The median debt is $26,893, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 56% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $96,136
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $3,639,167
- Net Return
- $3,543,031
- ROI Multiple
- 37.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $24,034
- Median Debt
- $26,893
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 56%
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 Hampshire College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Hampshire College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.74%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 5.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 13% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $119,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.74%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 13.0%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 5.7%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $162,087
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Hampshire College produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 98 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.58%
- Top 40% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 98
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 285
- Downstream influence
- Inventors From Low-Income
- 0.65%
- Bottom-20% families
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $5,818,166
- Investment Income
- $-6,514,681
Top Programs
The fields Hampshire 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.
- Visual & Performing Arts 42%
- English & Literature 8%
- Social Sciences 6%
- Computer Science & IT 5%
- Psychology 5%
- Biology & Biomedical 3%
- Education 3%
- Communications 3%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Hampshire College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Hampshire College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Amherst, Massachusetts, Hampshire College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 75%. The graduation rate is roughly 56%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Hampshire College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Hampshire College is $58,896, 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 $24,034. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,749 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,893 in federal student loans.
Is Hampshire College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Hampshire College earn a median of $46,938, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Hampshire College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Hampshire College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.74%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 5.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 13% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $119,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Hampshire 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 Hampshire College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.77, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 28% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Hampshire College.
- Milligan UniversityMilligan, TN · Close peer62% grad $46,641 earn 72% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Colby-Sawyer CollegeNew London, NH · Close peer60% grad $46,474 earn 80% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Truett McConnell UniversityCleveland, GA · Close peer39% grad $46,700 earn 78% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Anderson UniversityAnderson, IN · Close peer52% grad $48,899 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Saint Mary-of-the-Woods CollegeSaint Mary of the Woods, IN · Close peer49% grad $43,845 earn 72% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Hastings CollegeHastings, NE · Close peer51% grad $51,303 earn 72% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Hampshire 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 Hampshire College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.77, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 28% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note