Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Amherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts. Amherst College is extremely selective in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Amherst College is in the top 10% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $71,567 10 years after enrolling, 17th in Massachusetts, and in the top 10% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Amherst College bachelor students earn 35% more than the national average. Amherst College is ranked 6th in Massachusetts.
Amherst College’s median net annual cost of $21,657 and average years to graduate of 4.2 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Amherst College sorted by number of graduates - Mathematics, Economics, Research&Experimental Psych, Computer Science, Poli Sci/Government, History - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$21,657
Average years to graduate
4.2
Area Studies
Rank: #3
Economic score: 2.21
Legal Research
Rank: #3
Economic score: 7.81
English Language & Lit
Rank: #225
Economic score: 7.84
General Psychology
Rank: #35
Economic score: 14.94
The average student at Amherst College takes 4.2 years to graduate, with 95% graduating within 8 years. The graduation rate at Amherst College is 23% more than the state average and 26% more than the average for all liberal arts colleges in the country.
At Amherst College, Pell Grant recipients represent 25% of the measured graduating class, 10% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Amherst College graduates within 4.2 years.
Amherst College is in the top 25% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Amherst College’s economic mobility score of 23.94 is calculated by adjusting the 0.54 economic score of lower-income students by the 25% pell grant recipients within the student body. Amherst College’s EMS of 23.94 ranks in the top 25% nationally.
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 25%
The average Title IV recipient at Amherst College pays $21,657 a year, $57,943 less than the $79,600 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $21,657
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Amherst College, 61% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $21,657 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 11% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $8,944. This is 43% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,233
Pell grants
$4,979
State grants
$1,937
Institutional grants
$57,022
Amherst College's extremely selective admissions are indicated by their 9% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 13,999 applicants, of which 1,224 were admitted and 515 enrolled. Amherst College doesn't have a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed after a hard admissions deadline.
Full time
100%
83%
Female
54%
59%
First time
96%
59%
In-state
11%
68%
1st generation
21%
35%
White
40%
52%
Black
10%
14%
Hispanic
14%
15%
Asian
15%
5%
American Indian
1%
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
19%
12%