Amherst College Tuition and Fees

Amherst University Tuition and Fees

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    By Susan Guillory

    (Last Updated – 01/2025)

    Total Cost of Attendance

    Amherst College, located in Amherst, Massachusetts, is a private liberal arts college. Founded in 1821, it’s one of the Five Colleges, a consortium that includes Smith, Mount Holyoke, and Hampshire Colleges along with the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. This consortium allows students to take courses at any of the schools.

    In 2023-24, Amherst tuition and fees were $67,280, which is much higher than the average tuition and fees for private institutions of $43,350. Tuition is the same for in-state and out-of-state students.

    Costs 2023-24

    Tuition & Fees

    $67,280

    Books & Supplies

    $1,000

    Room & Board

    $17,560

    Other Expenses

    $1,800

    Total Cost of Attendance

    $87,640

    Financial Aid

    At Amherst, 65% of students use one or more forms of financial aid to pay tuition, including loans, scholarships, and grants. Twenty-one percent of students receive Pell Grants, which is a federal student loan program for students who demonstrate an exceptional financial need. Amherst is “need-blind:” A prospective student’s ability to pay for college won’t be considered when they apply.

    Learn more about student loan and scholarship options before applying to college.

    Explore financial aid options: Massachusetts Student Loan & Scholarships.

    Generally, financial aid is monetary assistance awarded to students based on personal need or merit. Students that qualify for financial aid can use it to pay for college costs like tuition, books, and living expenses.

    The federal government is the largest provider of student financial aid. However, aid can also be given by state governments, colleges and universities, private companies, and nonprofits. The different types include:

    •  Scholarships: TThese can be awarded by schools and other organizations based on students’ academic excellence, athletic achievement, community involvement, job experience, field of study, or financial need.

    •  Grants: Generally based on financial need, these can come from federal, state, private, and nonprofit organizations.

    •  Work-study: This federal program provides qualifying students with part-time employment to earn money for expenses while in school.

    •  Federal student loans: This is money borrowed directly from the U.S. Department of Education. It comes with fixed interest rates that are typically lower than private loans.

    Colleges, universities, and state agencies use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine financial aid eligibility. The FAFSA can be completed online, but note that state, federal and school deadlines may differ.

    You can find other financial aid opportunities on databases such as:

    •  US Department of Education – Search for grants from colleges and universities by state

    •  College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS) – A global college scholarship application used by select institutions to award financial aid

    Recommended: The Differences Between Grants, Scholarships, and Loans

    Private Student Loans

    Private student loans are a funding option that can help students bridge the gap between federal financial aid and the cost of attendance. At Amherst, 5% of students take out federal loans, while 3% borrow private student loans averaging $15,657.

    Learn more about borrowing money for school with this student loans guide.

    Private loans are funded by private organizations such as banks, online lenders, credit unions, some schools, and state-based or -affiliated organizations. While Federal student loans have interest rates that are regulated by Congress, private lenders follow a different set of regulations so their qualifications and interest rates can vary widely.

    What’s more, private loans have variable or fixed interest rates that may be higher than federal loan interest rates, which are always fixed. Private lenders may (but don’t always) require you to make payments on your loans while you are still in school, compared to federal student loans, which you don’t have to start paying back until after you graduate, leave school, or change your enrollment status to less than half-time.

    Private loans don’t have a specific application window and can be applied for on an as-needed basis. However, if you think you may need to take out a private loan, it’s a good idea to submit your FAFSA first to see what federal aid you may qualify for, since it generally has better rates and terms.

    If you’ve missed the FAFSA deadline or you’re struggling to pay for school during the year, private loans can potentially help you make your tuition payments. Just keep in mind that you will need enough lead time for your loan to process and for your lender to send money to your school.

    Recommended: Guide to Private Student Loans

    Projected 4-Year-Degree Price

    The projected price of a four-year degree from Amherst College is $350,560, based on 2023-24 tuition prices according to the National Center for Education Statistics. For comparison, the national average cost of a four-year bachelor’s degree at a private institution is $241,680, according to CollegeData.com.

    This student loan and scholarship information may be valuable as you research schools and costs.

    Repay student loans your way.

    Find the monthly payment & rate that fits your budget.

    Undergraduate Tuition and Fees

    In 2023-24, the cost of Amherst, including tuition and fees plus books and supplies, totaled $68,280. In-state and out-of-state students pay the same amount. For comparison, the average cost to attend a private nonprofit institution is $43,350, according to the College Board.

    Costs 2023-24

    Tuition & Fees

    $67,280

    Books & Supplies

    $1,000

    Total

    $68,280

    Graduate Tuition and Fees

    Amherst College does not offer any graduate programs, but 80% of alumni go onto graduate or professional schools for additional education.

    To attend graduate school at Dartmouth College, the cost of tuition and fees totaled $64,068 for students in 2023-24. This is much higher than the national average for one year at a private institution of $15,100.

    After graduating from Amherst, if you decide to pursue additional education, there are graduate loans available to help with these costs.

    Cost per Credit Hour

    Amherst doesn’t offer a breakdown of the cost per credit hour. Annual tuition at Amherst is $67,280, and students must complete 32 classes over four years to graduate.

    Students, with some exceptions, are required to take four full courses each semester. Students may also sign up for one or two half courses in addition to four full courses without seeking special permission. Half courses are not normally included in the requirement of thirty-two courses for the degree. Amherst students can not take more classes to accelerate their graduation.

    Campus Housing Expenses

    Amherst College guarantees housing for all four years, and the majority of students live on campus. There are 34 residential halls across the campus, and students are guaranteed on-campus housing for all four years. There are six residence areas on campus: First-Year Quad East; First-Year Quad West; Central Campus; Greenways, King, Wieland; North Campus; and West Campus. First-year students are required to live on campus in one of the seven buildings that are part of the first-year quads. After their first year, students can apply to live off campus where there are many apartments, duplexes, and houses located nearby. Amherst College does not offer an off-campus listings service, but nearby UMass Amherst has an off-campus housing site that features housing in the area.

    Costs for 2023-24

    Student Type

    On-Campus

    Off-Campus

    Room & Board

    $17,560

    $17,560

    Other Expenses

    $1,800

    $1,800

    Amherst College Acceptance Rate

    Fall 2023

    Number of applications

    28,841

    Number accepted

    1,730

    Percentage Accepted

    6%

    As an Ivy League institution, Dartmouth is very competitive when it comes to admissions. The Dartmouth acceptance rate is just 6%. To put that rate in perspective, it means that in the fall of 2023, only 1,730 students were accepted to the school out of the 28,841 who applied.

    Admission Requirements

    The deadline to apply for early decision at Amherst is November 8, and the regular decision deadline is January 6. Here’s a list of what prospective students need to submit to apply.

    Required:

    •  High school transcript

    •  Amherst College Writing supplement

    •  School report

    •  Counselor letter of recommendation

    •  Two teacher recommendations

    Optional:

    •  SAT or ACT scores

    SAT and ACT Scores

    Students applying to Amherst have the option to submit SAT and ACT scores. The school recommends submitting all test results, since they evaluate applications based on the most advantageous combination of scores for either the SAT and/or ACT, regardless of test date. Here are the standardized test scores at the 25th and 75th percentile for students who applied for fall 2023:

    Subject

    25th Percentile

    75th Percentile

    SAT Evidence-Based
    Reading/Writing

    690

    770

    SAT Math

    670

    780

    ACT Composite

    31

    35

    ACT English

    32

    35

    ACT Math

    28

    35

    How will YOU pay for college? This student loans guide is the right place to start.

    Graduation Rate

    The majority of Amherst students graduate within four years. The graduate rates at Amherst College for students who began their studies in the fall of 2017 are as follows:

    •  4 years: 73%

    •  6 years: 93%

    Post-Graduation Median Earnings

    Ten years after starting at Amherst College, students earn a median wage of $77,644 a year. This is higher than the national average for the class of 2024 of $68,516.

    Bottom Line

    Though Amherst is a small institution, the fact that it is one of the Five Colleges means students have ample opportunity to take whatever courses of study interest them. And while the tuition is higher than the average private college, there are many options for financial aid available, so paying for college shouldn’t be an issue.

    SoFi private student loans offer competitive interest rates for qualifying borrowers, flexible repayment plans, and no origination fees.

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