Hampshire College
#5 Best Colleges for Building Social CapitalBottom 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.
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What The Data Says
A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
Every $1 invested returns $37.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
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, Biology & Biomedical, Physical Sciences
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
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 keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 75% of those who apply. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 56%.
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
When weighing the true cost of attending Hampshire College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $58,896 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 $24,034 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,749 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $26,893.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
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 national averages for graduates.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
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.
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 useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
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.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Hampshire 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 Hampshire College's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Hampshire College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
Based in Amherst, Massachusetts, Hampshire College keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 75% of those who apply. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 56%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Hampshire College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Hampshire College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $58,896 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 $24,034 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,749 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $26,893.
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 national averages for 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 useful read on 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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.77 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely 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.
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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.77 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 28% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note