Amherst College

Amherst, MA

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Amherst College is one of the nation's premier private, national liberal arts and sciences colleges. The student body of 1,650 includes students from 50 states and 30 countries - 30% are students of color, 46% receive need-based aid, and 5% are non-U.S. citizens. Two distinctive features of an Amherst education are its "open curriculum" (no core or distribution requirements) and its membership in a five-college consortium of nearby schools (providing students with the resources of a much larger institution). Founded in 1821 as an educational institution for men, it began admitting women in 1975. Its 978-acre campus is located close to the center of Amherst, 55 miles west of Worcester, Massachusetts, 90 minutes west of Boston and three hours north of New York City.

Website: www.amherst.edu/

Private
Co-ed
1,836
Undergraduate
Students
(49.5%) 908 Women
(50.5%) 928 Men
Not reported
Graduate
Students

Admission

Entrance Difficulty
Most difficult
Overall Admission Rate
13% of 9,285 applicants were admitted
Early Action Offered
No
Early Decision Offered
Yes
Regular Admission Deadline
January 1

Qualifications of Enrolled Freshmen

Average GPA
Not reported
SAT Math
710-790 range of middle 50%
SAT EBRW
742 average
720-770 range of middle 50%
ACT Composite
33 average
32-34 range of middle 50%
See more

Money Matters

Cost of Attendance
$73,966
Tuition and Fees
$56,426
Room and Board
$14,740
Average Percent of Need Met
100%
Average Freshman Award
$60,141
Average Indebtedness of 2018 Graduates
$13,710
See more

Academics

Academic Calendar System
Semester
General Education/Core Curriculum
Not required for most or all students
Full-Time Faculty Teaching Undergraduates
223
Regular Class Size
2-9 students: 21% of classes
10-19 students: 42% of classes
20-29 students: 20% of classes
30-39 students: 10% of classes
40-49 students: 4% of classes
50-99 students: 1% of classes
Over 100 students: 1% of classes
See more

Campus Life

Amherst Population
34,874
Nearest Metropolitan Area
Freshman Housing Guarantee
Freshmen are guaranteed housing
Students in College Housing
97% of all students
Athletic Conferences
NCAA Division III
Mascot
 
Sororities
 
Fraternities
 
See more

Students

Ethnicity of Students from U.S.
0.7% American Indian/Alaskan Native
15.7% Asian
12.5% Black/African-American
14.0% Hispanic/Latino
5.8% Multi-race (not Hispanic/Latino)
0.1% Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander
48.2% White
3.0% Unknown
International Students
9.2% from 58 countries
First-Year Students Returning
96.0%
Students Graduating Within 4 Years
89.6%
Graduates Offered Full-Time Employment Within 6 Months
Not reported
Graduates Pursuing Advanced Study Directly
Not reported
See more

Freshman Admission Requirements

Entrance Difficulty

Most Difficult: More than 75% of freshmen were in the top 10% of their high school class and scored over 1310 on the SAT I or over 29 on the ACT; about 30% or fewer of all applicants accepted.

High School Preparation

High School Graduation
High school diploma or equivalent is not required
High School Program
 

High School Units Required or Recommended

High School Units Required or Recommended
Subject Required Units Recommended Units
English   4
Mathematics   4
Science   3
Foreign Language   3
Social Studies   2
History   2
Academic Electives    

Examinations

Examinations
Exam Required Units Scores Due in Admissions Office
SAT or ACT Required January 1
SAT Only    
ACT Only    
SAT and SAT Subject Tests, or ACT    
SAT Subject Tests Only  
SAT Essay Component Policy Essay component recommended
ACT Writing Test Policy Writing component recommended
ACT Writing Test Policy Not reported

Applying for Admission

Admissions Office

Address
PO Box 5000
City, State, Zip
Amherst, MA 01002-5000
Phone
(413) 542-2328
Fax
(413) 542-2040
E-mail
admission@amherst.edu

Application Dates and Fees

Regular Admisson Deadline
January 1
Application Fee
$65
Application Fee Waiver
Available
Regular Admission Notification
April 1
Accept Offer of Admission
May 1
Waiting List Used
Yes
Defer Admission
Student can defer admission
Transfer Admission
Transfer applications accepted

Early Admission

Early Decision Offered
Yes
Early Decision Deadline
November 1
Early Decision Notification
December 15
Early Action Offered
No
Early Action Deadline
 
Early Action Notification
 

Application Form

Common Application
Accepted, supplemental forms required
Universal College Application
Not accepted
Electronic Application
Available

Other Application Requirements

Interview
Not Required
Essay or Personal Statement
Required for all freshmen
Letters of Recommendation
3 required for all freshmen
Other
Amherst College Supplement required for freshmen
Financial Need
Financial need is not a consideration in the admissions process

Selection of Students

Selection of Students
Factor Very Important Important Considered Not Considered
Rigor of Secondary School Record X
Academic GPA X
Standardized Tests X
Class Rank X
Recommendations X
Essay X
Interview
Level of Applicant's Interest X
Extracurricular Activities X
Volunteer Work X
Particular Talent/Ability X
Character/Personal Qualities X
First Generation to Attend College X
State Residency X
Geographic Residence X
Relation with Alumnus X
Religious Affiliation/Commitment X
Ethnicity X
Work Experience X

Profile of Fall Admission

Overall Admission Rate
13% of 9,285 applicants were admitted
Women
12% of 5,160 applicants were admitted
Men
15% of 4,125 applicants were admitted
Students Enrolled
488 (41%) of 1,198 admitted students enrolled
Women
237 (40%) of 597 admitted students enrolled
Men
251 (42%) of 601 admitted students enrolled
Early Decision Admission Rate
34% of 502 applicants were admitted
Early Action Admission Rate
 
Students Offered Wait List
1,144
Students Accepting Wait List Position
590
Students Admitted From Wait List
60

Grade Point Average of Enrolled Freshmen (4.0 scale)

Average GPA
Not reported
3.75 and Above
Not reported
3.50 - 3.74
Not reported
3.25 - 3.49
Not reported
3.00 - 3.24
Not reported
2.50 - 2.99
Not reported
2.00 - 2.49
Not reported

SAT Scores of Enrolled Freshmen

SAT Math
710-790 range of middle 50%
Score of 700 - 800
85%
Score of 600 - 700
14%
Score of 500 - 600
1%
Score of 400 - 500
0%
Score of 300 - 400
0%
Score of 200 - 300
0%
SAT EBRW
742 average
720-770 range of middle 50%
Score of 700 - 800
83%
Score of 600 - 700
16%
Score of 500 - 600
1%
Score of 400 - 500
0%
Score of 300 - 400
0%
Score of 200 - 300
0%

ACT Scores of Enrolled Freshmen

ACT Composite
33 average
32-34 range of middle 50%
Score of 30 - 36
94%
Score of 24 - 29
6%
Score of 18 - 23
0%
Score of 12 - 17
0%
Score of 6 - 11
0%
Score of 5 or Below
0%

Other Qualifications of Enrolled Freshmen

High School Class Rank
Top tenth: 83%
Top quarter: 94%
Top half: 100%
National Merit Scholar
Not reported
Valedictorian
Not reported
Class President
Not reported
Student Government Officer
Not reported

Tuition and Expenses

Cost of Attendance
$73,966
Tuition and Fees
$56,426
Room and Board
$14,740
Books and Supplies
$1,000
Other Expenses
$1,800
Payment Plans
Installment plan

Applying for Financial Aid

Financial Aid Office

Email
Web Site
Financial Aid Web Site
Net Price Calculator URL
Net Price Calculator URL

Application Process

Application Deadline
Priority deadline February 15
Award Notification
On or about April 1
Methodology for Awarding Institutional Aid
Federal and Institutional Methodologies
Forms Required Cost to File
FAFSA
Code is 002115		 Free
CSS/Financial Aid Profile $25 for first college, $16 each additional
Business/Farm Supplement  
Noncustodial (Divorced/Separated) Parent's Statement  

Profile of 2018 - 19 Financial Aid

Freshman

Financial Aid Applicants
361 (72.2%) of freshmen
Found to Have Financial Need
303 (80.3%) of applicants
Received Financial Aid
303 (100.0%) of applicants with financial need
Need Fully Met
303 (100.0%) of aid recipients
Average Percent of Need Met
100%
Average Award
$60,141
Need-Based Gift
Received by 303 (100.0%) of aid recipients, average amount $58,880
Need-Based Self-Help
Received by 253 (83.9%) of aid recipients, average amount $1,984
Merit-Based Gift
Not reported
Merit-Based Gift
Not reported

All Undergraduates

Financial Aid Applicants
1,230 (63.6%) of undergraduates
Found to Have Financial Need
1,084 (88.1%) of applicants
Received Financial Aid
1,084 (100.0%) of applicants with financial need
Need Fully Met
1,084 (100.0%) of aid recipients
Average Percent of Need Met
100%
Average Award
$55,908
Need-Based Gift
Received by 1,084 (100.0%) of aid recipients, average amount $54,715
Need-Based Self-Help
Received by 954 (85.6%) of aid recipients, average amount $1,944
Merit-Based Gift
Not reported
Merit-Based Gift
Not reported

Borrowing

2018 Graduates Who Took Out Loans
30%
Average Indebtedness of 2018 Graduates
$13,710
Parents of Students Receiving Aid
4.0%
Parents of Students Not Receiving Aid
1.0%

Financial Aid Programs

Loans

Federal Loans
Direct subsidized Stafford loans, direct unsubsidized Stafford loans, direct PLUS loans, Federal Perkins loans
State Loans
 
Other Loans
College/university loans

Scholarships and Grants

Need-Based Available
Federal Pell grants, SEOG, State scholarships, Institutional scholarships, Private scholarships
Non-Need–Based Available
None

Non-Need Awards

Academic Interest/Achievement Award Areas
Not reported
Number of Awards
Not reported
Top Areas (By Money Awarded)
 
Creative Arts/Performance Award Areas
Not reported
Number of Awards
Not reported
Top Areas (By Money Awarded)
 
Special Achievements/Activities Award Areas
Not reported
Number of Awards
Not reported
Top Areas (By Money Awarded)
 
Special Characteristics Award Areas
Not reported
Number of Awards
Not reported
Top Areas (By Money Awarded)
 

Employment

Work-Study Programs
Federal work study available, other work study available
Average Earnings from On-Campus Employment
$1,546
Academic Calendar System
Semester
Summer Session
Not offered
General Catalog/Bulletin
Online Catalog

Undergraduate Education

Undergraduate Majors

  • African-American/Black Studies
  • American/United States Studies/Civilization
  • Ancient/Classical Greek Language and Literature
  • Anthropology
  • Asian Studies/Civilization
  • Astronomy
  • Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Other
  • Biology/Biological Sciences, General
  • Chemistry, General
  • Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General
  • Computer Science
  • Dance, General
  • Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General
  • Economics, General
  • English Language and Literature, General
  • Environmental Studies
  • European Studies/Civilization
  • Fine/Studio Arts, General
  • French Language and Literature
  • Geology/Earth Science, General
  • German Language and Literature
  • History, General
  • Latin Language and Literature
  • Legal Studies, General
  • Mathematics, General
  • Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General
  • Music, General
  • Neuroscience
  • Philosophy
  • Physics, General
  • Political Science and Government, General
  • Psychology, General
  • Religion/Religious Studies
  • Russian Language and Literature
  • Sociology
  • Spanish Language and Literature
  • Statistics, General
  • Women's Studies
Most Popular Disciplines
Social sciences, Biological/life sciences, Mathematics and statistics
Combined Liberal Arts/Professional Degree Programs
Engineering
Special Programs
Student-designed major, Double major, Independent study, Internships, Study abroad
Study Abroad
Offered
Online Degrees
No online degree programs

Curriculum and Graduation Requirements

General Education/Core Curriculum
Not required for most or all students
Computer
Students not required to own/lease a computer
Foreign Language
Not required
Math/Science
Not required

Faculty and Instruction

Full-Time Faculty
223
Part-Time Faculty
68
Full-Time Faculty with Ph.D./Terminal Degree
68%
Regular Class Size
2-9 students: 21% of classes
10-19 students: 42% of classes
20-29 students: 20% of classes
30-39 students: 10% of classes
40-49 students: 4% of classes
50-99 students: 1% of classes
Over 100 students: 1% of classes
Discussion Section/Lab Class Size
2-9 students: 24% of discussion sections/labs
10-19 students: 45% of discussion sections/labs
20-29 students: 27% of discussion sections/labs
30-39 students: 1% of discussion sections/labs
40-49 students: 3% of discussion sections/labs
50-59 students: 1% of discussion sections/labs

Advanced Placement

International Baccalaureate
Not accepted
Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations
Not accepted for placement and credit
Sophomore Standing
Not available

Academic Resources

Library Available on Campus
Yes
Holdings
 
Computer Ownership
Students not required to own/lease a computer
Computers Available on Campus
Not Reported
Internet/E-mail Access
Not reported

Academic Support Services

Remedial Instruction
Not Offered
Tutoring
Available
Services for Learning Disabled Students
Available
Services for Physically Disabled Students
Hearing impaired services, speech disorders services, visually impaired services, wheelchair access

Graduate/Professional School Education

Master's Degrees Offered

Not reported

Master's Programs of Study

  • Not reported

Doctoral Degrees Offered

Not reported

Doctoral Programs of Study

  • Not reported

Location and Setting

Amherst Population
34,874
Nearest Metropolitan Area
Campus Size
1,020 acres

Weather

Temperature
21.6 average low in January, 76.3 average high in September
Rain
127 rainy days per year

Getting Around

Campus Map
Map
Nearest Bus Station
1 mile(s) from campus in Amherst
Nearest Train Station
1 mile(s) from campus in Amherst

Housing

College Housing
College offers housing to students
Types of Housing
Women only housing, coed housing, cooperative housing, disabled student housing
Students in College Housing
97% of all students
Housing Requirements
Freshmen are required to live on campus
Freshman Housing Guarantee
Freshmen are guaranteed housing
Students Living Off Campus/Commuting
3%
Off-Campus Housing Assistance
Assistance in locating off-campus housing is available

Security

24-Hour Emergency Phone/Alarm Devices
Available
24-Hour Security Patrols
Available
Late-Night Transport/Escort Services
Available
Electronically Operated Housing Entrances
Available
Other
 

Personal Support Services

Health Service
Offered
Personal Counseling
Offered
Child Care
Not offered

Sports and Recreation

Intercollegiate Athletics

Athletic Conferences
NCAA Division III
Mascot
 
School Colors
 

Intercollegiate Sports Offered

Sports Women Men
Offered Scholarships Offered Scholarships
Baseball     x  
Basketball x   x  
Cross-Country Running x   x  
Field Hockey x      
Football     x  
Golf x   x  
Ice Hockey x   x  
Lacrosse x   x  
Soccer x   x  
Softball x      
Squash x   x  
Swimming And Diving x   x  
Tennis x   x  
Track And Field x   x  
Volleyball x      
Women's Sports Offered Scholarships
Baseball    
Basketball x  
Cross-Country Running x  
Field Hockey x  
Football    
Golf x  
Ice Hockey x  
Lacrosse x  
Soccer x  
Softball x  
Squash x  
Swimming And Diving x  
Tennis x  
Track And Field x  
Volleyball x  
Mens's Sports Offered Scholarships
Baseball x  
Basketball x  
Cross-Country Running x  
Field Hockey    
Football x  
Golf x  
Ice Hockey x  
Lacrosse x  
Soccer x  
Softball    
Squash x  
Swimming And Diving x  
Tennis x  
Track And Field x  
Volleyball    
Women's Club Sports
cheerleading, crew, equestrian sports, fencing, rugby, sailing, skiing (downhill), ultimate Frisbee, water polo, wrestling
Men's Club Sports
crew, equestrian sports, fencing, rugby, sailing, skiing (downhill), ultimate Frisbee, volleyball, water polo, wrestling

Recreational Sports

Intramural Sports
badminton, basketball, golf, ice hockey, rock climbing, soccer, softball, squash, tennis, track and field, volleyball

Student Activities

Activities and Organizations
choral groups, drama theatre, radio station, student newspaper, association of amherst students, black students union, student publications (e.g., amherst student, indicator), a capella groups (e.g., zumbye's, bluestockings), amherst dance
Sororities
 
Fraternities
 
ROTC
Army ROTC is offered off campus, Air Force ROTC offered off campus

Student Body

Coeducational
Yes
All Undergraduates
1,836
Women
908 (49.5%)
Men
928 (50.5%)
Full-Time Undergraduates
1,836
Ethnicity of Students from U.S.
0.7% American Indian/Alaskan Native
15.7% Asian
12.5% Black/African-American
14.0% Hispanic/Latino
5.8% Multi-race (not Hispanic/Latino)
0.1% Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander
48.2% White
3.0% Unknown
International Students.
9.2% from 58 countries
Average Age
20
All Graduate Students
Not reported

Undergraduate Retention and Graduation

First-Year Students Returning
96.0%
Students Graduating Within 4 Years
89.6%
Students Graduating Within 5 Years
93.3%
Students Graduating Within 6 Years
95.0%

After Graduation

Graduates Offered Full-Time Employment Within 6 Months
Not reported
Average Starting Salary
Not reported
Graduates Pursuing Advanced Study Directly
Not reported
Disciplines Pursued
Not reported

A portion of the College Profile data is provided under license by:
Peterson's Undergraduate and Undergraduate Financial Aid Databases, copyright © 2020 Peterson's, a Nelnet company. All rights reserved."