Amherst College

Non-profit public

Public

Private

Regional

Named after the town in which it's located, Amherst College is a private four-year institution that serves approximately 1,800 undergraduate students each year. Amherst is a member of the Five College Consortium, allowing students to attend classes at four other institutions in the Pioneer Valley region at no additional tuition cost. Students at Amherst can pursue a bachelor of arts degree in 40 different majors, representing disciplines in the arts, sciences, social sciences, and humanities. Amherst was the first college in the country to offer an undergraduate program in neuroscience. Other degree options include film and media studies, black studies, astronomy, and religion. With approval, students can also create their own interdisciplinary major. First-year applicants must provide a completed application, a writing sample, high school transcripts, ACT or SAT scores, teacher and counselor recommendations, and a $65 fee, unless eligible for a waiver.

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Admissions Breakdown

Acceptance Rate Insight

5% of students were accepted during the 2020-2021 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.

Retention Rate Insight

76% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2019 and returned in Fall 2020.

Graduation Rate Insight

98% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2014. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.

Application Considerations

Test scores:	Required	High school transcript:	Required
High school rank:	Recommended	Letter of recommendation:	Required
High school GPA:	Recommended	Open admission:	No
Completion of college prep program:	Not required or recommended	Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL):

Transfer Credit Policy

Dual enrollment: Implied no

Advance placement (AP) credits: Yes

Credit for qualified life experience*:

ⓘ *This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.

Learning Environment

30k

Students enrolledOnline student enrollmentStudent to faculty ratio

97%

Online student enrollmentStudent to faculty ratio

5:1

Student to faculty ratio

Degrees Awarded by Program

Degrees given for the 2020-2021 academic year.

#	Programs	BA	MA	Doc
1	Architecture And Related Services	✕	✔	✔
2	Area, Ethnic, Cultural, And Gender Studies	✔	✔	✔
3	Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, And Group Studies	✔	✔	✔
4	Biological And Biomedical Sciences	✔	✔	✔
5	Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services	✕	✔	✔
6	Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs	✕	✔	✕
7	Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services	✔	✔	✔
8	Education	✔	✔	✔
9	Engineering Technologies/Technicians	✕	✔	✕
10	Engineering	✔	✔	✔
11	Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians	✕	✔	✕
12	English Language And Literature/Letters	✔	✔	✔
13	Family And Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences	✕	✔	✔
14	Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics	✔	✔	✔
15	Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences	✔	✔	✔
16	Health Professions And Related Programs	✕	✔	✔
17	History	✔	✔	✔
18	History	✔	✔	✔
19	Legal Professions And Studies	✕	✔	✔
20	Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities	✔	✕	✕
21	Mathematics And Statistics	✔	✔	✔
22	Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies	✔	✔	✔
23	Natural Resources And Conservation	✔	✔	✕
24	Philosophy And Religious Studies	✔	✔	✔
25	Physical Sciences	✔	✔	✔
26	Psychology	✔	✔	✔
27	Public Administration And Social Service Professions	✕	✔	✔
28	Social Sciences	✔	✔	✔
29	Theology And Religious Vocations	✕	✔	✔
30	Visual And Performing Arts	✔	✔	✔