Quad

Amherst College

Amherst, MAQuad's selectivityUltra selective
Known forUltra-selectiveTop test scoresBig endowment per studentVery diverseFew students borrowHigh graduation rateTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyFinancial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

1 in 11 applicants admitted

Amherst admits about 1 in 11 applicants (9.0%). That puts it in the "Ultra selective" tier, more selective than 98% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

9.0%

9.0%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityUltra selective

Applied

13,743

Admitted

1,238

Yield

39%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

1490–1580

10001600
ACT middle 50%

33–35

1836
Applications +62% since fall 2014 · admit rate 14% → 9.0%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 1,911 undergrads, where 20% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

1.9K

undergrads · larger than 56% of colleges

Diversity index

0.79

Pell Grant

20%

below the median

First generation

21%

below the median

Small cityNCAA D-III · New England Small College Athletic ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
Steady · index 0.76 → 0.79 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Econometrics and Quantitative Economics (15% of graduates). 6 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 95% of colleges. 97% of faculty are full-time. Spends $36,411 a year on instruction per student.

6 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 95% of colleges

Most popular major

Econometrics and Quantitative Economics

15% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Computer Science

$142.7K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

97%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$36.4K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $47,160 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $22.9K more than the national median. The 59% who received grants paid $19,049 on average; the other 41% paid the full sticker price of $87,640.

46%

$47.2K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $22.9K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price
$87,640 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Published data end at $110K
use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Merit aid
None
all grants are need-based
Aid generosity

Generous

grants cover 46% of full price

Federal loans

8%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost steady · +3% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $77,644 ten years after enrolling, more than at 90% of colleges; 93% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.4 years of that salary.

93%

93%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$77.6K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$13.7K

≈ $146/month for 10 years

Retention

97%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 94% → 94% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 8% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid rose 3%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 62% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 14% to 9.0%.

  • Cost

    Steady

    +3% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +62%

  • Selectivity

    More selective

    admit rate 14% → 9%

  • Diversity

    Steady

    index 0.76 → 0.79

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

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Claremont McKenna College

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    Amherst College (2025–26)

    Amherst College · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-10

  12. 12
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

IPEDS unit ID 164465 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything