Amherst College: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Amherst College is a private institution located in Amherst, Massachusetts and one of the most selective schools in the country. For the most recent reporting cycle, Amherst College admits fewer than 1 in 10 applicants, with an overall admission rate of 8%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1510 and an ACT composite around 33. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $23,367 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for Amherst College?

Successful applicants to Amherst College typically present unweighted GPAs at or near 4.0 with the most rigorous course load their school offers, including multiple AP, IB, or dual-enrollment courses.

What does Amherst College weight in admissions?

Amherst College reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean

SAT and ACT scores Amherst College typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 750–800, with an EBRW midpoint near 720. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 33–35. Scores below the 25th-percentile mark are accepted occasionally, but the realistic submission target for most families is the school's middle-50 floor or higher.

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

How much does Amherst College actually cost?

Published tuition is $70,480 for in-state students and $70,480 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $18,390 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $23,367 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 20% of students receive Pell Grants.

Application deadlines and early decision data for Amherst College

Will my child graduate from Amherst College?

These predict outcomes at Amherst College better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Most popular majors at Amherst College

The most popular undergraduate programs at Amherst College, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Economics, Mathematics and Research and Experimental Psychology. Across all programs, Amherst College confers roughly 456 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Economics program report a median income of about $150,151 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

Is Amherst College safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Amherst College disclosed 19 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 9.9 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 3 violent offenses and 11 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

What is campus life like at Amherst College?

About 97% of undergraduates at Amherst College live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 0% of men join a fraternity and 0% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Other colleges in Massachusetts parents ask about

• Wellesley College
  14% acceptance
• College of the Holy Cross
  18% acceptance
• Mount Holyoke College
  36% acceptance
• Smith College
  21% acceptance
• Berklee College of Music
  44% acceptance
• New England Conservatory of Music
  41% acceptance
• Harvard University
  4% acceptance
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  5% acceptance

Common questions parents ask about Amherst College