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Amherst College

Amherst, Massachusetts · Private · 1,911 undergrads

Amherst admits 7.7% of applicants (fall 2025, Common Data Set 2025-26), is test-optional for fall 2027, and regular decision is due Jan 5, 2027.

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Can I get into Amherst?

7.7% of applicants get in

Almost everyone who applies is turned down, including many students with perfect grades. The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent scores had 1470–1540 on the SAT.

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Likely: even the low end of our estimate is 60% or more, and the college admits at least 25% of applicants. Target: our estimate is 30% or more. Reach: our estimate is under 30%, or the college admits under 15%. Long shot: our estimate is under 12%, or the college admits under 12%. Estimates use the college's admit rate and score range plus your grades and scores. They are not a promise.

15,819 applied, 1,222 admitted, fall 2025 (Common Data Set).

What does Amherst cost?

$19,536 a year

What students who got federal aid paid on average after grants, 2024-25. The sticker price, with housing and food, is $90,670.

Tap your family income:

Average paid after grants by family income
under $30,000$2,424
$30,000–$48,000$3,063
$48,000–$75,000$13,814
$75,000–$110,000$17,999
over $110,000$49,700

Own a business or have divorced parents? Run Amherst's own calculator.

Net price 2024-25, College Scorecard.

Does Amherst need the SAT or ACT?Optional

No.

Test-optional for fall 2027. 39% of enrolled first-years sent the SAT. Send your SAT if it's 1510 or higher, the middle of what enrolled first-years scored.

Which colleges require scores

Checked on amherst.edu Nov 2, 2026. See the source

What it's like

1,911
undergrads. Small, so classes are small and you'll know a lot of faces.
City
Campus setting in Amherst, MA.
97%
of first-years come back for year two.
73%
finish in four years. 93% within six.
$95.2k
median pay 10 years after starting.
$13.3k
median federal debt at graduation.

Lists Amherst is on

Test-optional collegesColleges due Jan 5Deadlines after Jan 1Most selective in MassachusettsCheapest after aid in MassachusettsColleges for a 1500 SATColleges for a 34 ACTCheapest after aid, families under $30k

Questions people ask

Is Amherst College test-optional for fall 2027?
Yes. Amherst is test-optional for students entering in fall 2027, so you choose whether to send SAT or ACT scores. Checked on amherst.edu on Nov 2, 2026.
What is Amherst College's acceptance rate?
7.7% for fall 2025: 1,222 of 15,819 applicants were admitted (Common Data Set).
What SAT score do you need for Amherst College?
The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent SAT scores had 1470 to 1540 (Common Data Set, fall 2025). A quarter scored higher and a quarter lower, so a score in that range is typical, not a cutoff.
How much does Amherst College cost for a family earning $60,000?
Families earning $48,000–$75,000 paid an average of $13,814 a year after grants in 2024-25 (students who got federal aid). The sticker price is $90,670.
When is the Amherst College application deadline for fall 2027?
Early decision is due Nov 9, 2026. Regular decision is due Jan 5, 2027. Checked on amherst.edu on Nov 5, 2026.
Does Amherst College have early decision?
Yes. 216 of 971 early decision applicants were admitted (22%) in fall 2025. Early decision is binding: if you're admitted, you go.