Amherst College: the complete school report for parents

What does Amherst College actually weigh in admissions?

Amherst College rates 7 of the 18 factors "Very Important": course rigor, GPA, test scores, the essay, extracurricular activities, recommendations, talent. It does not consider 5 of them at all. Every college reports these weights in section C7 of its Common Data Set; below is Amherst College's 2025-2026 answer, read from the grid in its own file.

What is the Amherst College waitlist really like?

Amherst College offered a place on its waiting list to 1,294 applicants and 740 accepted one. 44 were ultimately admitted. That is 5.9% of those who waited.

When do we apply, and does timing change the odds?

Applying Early Decision changes the odds materially: 22.2% of ED applicants were admitted against 7.7% overall, a gap of 15 points. ED is binding, so that advantage costs the ability to compare financial-aid offers.

What will Amherst College actually cost us?

Families pay an average of $23,367 a year at Amherst College after grants and scholarships, against a published in-state tuition of $73,140. The published price is not what most families pay. The university reports meeting 100% of demonstrated need on average.

19% of Amherst College graduates borrow, leaving with an average of $29,149 in debt, which the federal data puts at about $146 a month in repayment. Amherst College’s net price calculator gives your own figure.

Does a degree from Amherst College pay off?

Graduates earn a median $77,644 ten years after entering, and $62,537 at six years. 86% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years. 80% are actively paying down their loans three years in.

$194,751 to $83,307, depending on the major. Median earnings five years out at Amherst College:

College Scorecard, by field of study.

Will my child actually graduate?

98% of first-years return for a second year. 93% within six (2019 cohort). The rate holds up across income: 92.0% of Pell-grant recipients graduate within six years against 93.0% of everyone else, a gap of 1.0 points.

How big are the classes?

64% of class sections have fewer than 20 students, while 0% have 100 or more. The student-faculty ratio is 6:1, and 97% of faculty are full-time. Accredited by New England Commission on Higher Education.

What is life at Amherst College like?

1,907 undergraduates, 87% of first-years from out of state. 100% of freshmen live in university housing, falling to 97% across all undergraduates. Greek life is small: 0% of men join a fraternity and 0% of women a sorority. 21% of students are the first in their family to attend college, and the median family income is $82,187.

What this means for your student

• Course rigor is rated Very Important here, so the senior-year schedule should hold its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten.
• Amherst College rates test scores Very Important, so a score at or above its middle-50 range is close to expected rather than optional.
• Skip demonstrated-interest tactics here. Visits and emails are not tracked, so save that effort for schools where they count.
• Early Decision is worth 15 points of admit rate, but it is binding and removes any ability to compare aid offers.
• The waitlist is live but thin: 44 of 740 who waited were admitted, about 6%.
• Its highest-earning major returns $194,751 five years out against $83,307 at the other end, a gap wider than the one between most schools.
• See where your student actually stands: calculate their GPA and compare it against the distribution above.

Common questions about Amherst College

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