Amherst College combines highly selective admissions with exceptional return on investment. The college delivers $10,570 in earnings beyond expectations while maintaining student debt levels well below peer institutions at $13,740 median, supporting long-term financial stability and career flexibility for graduates.
With top-tier performance, driven by strong long-term earnings relative to educational investment and low debt burdens
With above-average performance, reflecting controlled net costs and exceptionally low debt levels
With above-average performance, reflecting meaningful enrollment of Pell-eligible and first-generation students despite selective admissions
With above-average performance, combining access with strong earnings outcomes
Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Full AnalysisAmherst College delivers strong return on investment through a combination of high graduate earnings and low student debt. Graduates earn a median of $77,644 ten years after enrollment, ranking in the 92nd percentile nationally and $27,232 above the peer median of $50,412.
Earnings span from $60,184 at the 25th percentile to $153,382 at the 75th percentile, reflecting diverse career paths across liberal arts disciplines. The college generates $10,570 in earnings beyond expectations, placing it in the 86.5th percentile nationally on this measure.
Students seeking exceptional academic rigor with strong post-graduation earnings, particularly those interested in liberal arts education with quantitative and analytical depth. Well-suited for high-achieving students who want personalized attention at a small college that delivers outcomes comparable to much larger research universities.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
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This is the Amherst College hub overview page. For comprehensive institutional data including detailed charts and metrics, visit the full analysis at /school/amherst-college/analysis.
Top-tier return on investment among liberal arts colleges
Amherst College ranks #188 nationally in Azimuth's composite analysis, with performance at the 88.5th percentile. Located in Amherst, Massachusetts, this small private liberal arts college maintains highly selective admission standards with a 9.8% acceptance rate while delivering exceptional post-graduation outcomes.
Amherst enrolls 21.6% Pell-eligible students and 20.8% first-generation students, demonstrating meaningful access despite its selectivity. The college demonstrates excellent performance in return on investment, ranking at the 94.9th percentile nationally.
Graduates earn $10,570 beyond expectations relative to similar students, placing Amherst in the 86.5th percentile for earnings uplift. With median earnings of $77,644 ten years after enrollment and ranking in the 92nd percentile nationally, Amherst graduates significantly outperform peers from similar institutions.
The college combines selective admissions with strong economic outcomes and manageable debt levels, positioning it as a high-performing liberal arts institution with balanced strengths across multiple dimensions.
Amherst College admits approximately 9.8% of applicants, meaning roughly 1 in 10 applicants receives an offer of admission. This places Amherst among the most selective liberal arts colleges in the United States, falling within the "Most Selective" tier of institutions with acceptance rates below 10%.
The peer median admission rate of 75.6% highlights the stark difference between Amherst's selectivity and typical four-year institutions. Even among elite private liberal arts colleges, Amherst's acceptance rate falls at the highly competitive end of the spectrum.
This level of selectivity means that even exceptionally qualified students—those with outstanding test scores, excellent academic records, and strong extracurricular involvement—face significant uncertainty in the admission process. Many students who would thrive at Amherst do not receive admission simply due to the volume of highly qualified applicants competing for limited spots.
For this reason, students considering Amherst should build comprehensive college lists that include institutions with higher acceptance rates but comparable academic quality and post-graduation outcomes. Treating Amherst as a "reach" school regardless of qualifications represents sound application strategy.
The sections below provide guidance on academic preparation and alternative schools that deliver similar career outcomes with more accessible admission processes.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Amherst College's published cost of attendance reaches $83,650 annually, including $67,280 in tuition, $17,560 for room and board, and $1,000 for books and supplies. However, the average student pays significantly less due to substantial financial aid.
The average net price after aid is $18,246, representing financial aid savings of $65,404 annually. This places Amherst's net price $3,566 below the peer median of $21,812, making it more affordable than typical four-year institutions despite its elite status.
Net prices vary dramatically by family income, ranging from $1,888 for families earning under $30,000 to $50,358 for families earning over $110,000. This progressive aid structure demonstrates Amherst's commitment to affordability across income levels.
The substantial discount from sticker price to actual cost reflects the college's robust endowment and need-based aid programs. For most families, the actual cost of attending Amherst proves significantly lower than the published figures suggest, with particularly generous aid for middle and lower-income students.
Amherst College graduates demonstrate steady earnings growth and strong long-term outcomes. Median earnings rise from $62,537 six years after enrollment to $86,438 at eight years and $77,644 at ten years, representing 24.2% growth from the six-year mark.
These outcomes are based on cohorts of 178 graduates at six years, 131 at eight years, and 187 at ten years, providing solid confidence in the reported figures. Graduates earn $10,570 beyond expectations compared to similar students nationally, placing Amherst in the 86.5th percentile for earnings uplift.
The college ranks at the 92nd percentile for median earnings, significantly outperforming most four-year institutions. Earnings span from $60,184 at the 25th percentile to $153,382 at the 75th percentile, reflecting a 2.5:1 ratio that indicates meaningful variation in career trajectories across different fields of study.
Approximately 21.8% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating strong preparation for both advanced education and direct workforce entry. The combination of strong median outcomes, significant earnings beyond expectations, and controlled debt levels positions Amherst graduates favorably for long-term career advancement.
Computer Science.
46 graduates
Applied Economics.
74 graduates
American History (United States).
33 graduates
Algebra and Number Theory.
68 graduates
Catalan Language and Literature.
23 graduates
Amherst College offers 11 bachelor's degree programs with sufficient federal earnings data for ranking analysis. Computer Science ranks #11 nationally and #3 in Massachusetts, producing 46 graduates with exceptional median earnings of $194,751 and a value score of 94.5.
Applied Economics ranks #4 nationally and #1 in Massachusetts, graduating 74 students with median earnings of $127,636 and achieving the highest value score of 98.5. American History stands out with a #1 national ranking and #1 state ranking, graduating 33 students with median earnings of $114,276 and a perfect value score of 100.0.
Algebra and Number Theory ranks #5 nationally and #2 in Massachusetts, with 68 graduates earning $109,199. Even programs in traditionally lower-earning fields demonstrate strong outcomes, with English Language and Literature ranking #50 nationally and #6 in Massachusetts, graduating 39 students with median earnings of $49,206.
The college's programs consistently achieve top rankings within their fields, with most holding top-major-at-school designations, reflecting Amherst's institutional strength across diverse academic disciplines.
Consider these schools with similar outcomes but higher acceptance rates:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Brandeis University Higher acceptance rate (25.5 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 64 miles away; similar graduate earnings | MA | 35% | $77,231 | Compare |
University Of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus Higher acceptance rate (77.2 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 62 miles away; similar graduate earnings | CT | 87% | $73,997 | Compare |
University Of Connecticut-Avery Point Higher acceptance rate (76.7 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 77 miles away; similar graduate earnings | CT | 87% | $73,997 | Compare |
University Of Connecticut-Stamford Higher acceptance rate (70.4 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | CT | 80% | $73,997 | Compare |
Virginia Military Institute Higher acceptance rate (71.9 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | VA | 82% | $77,369 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bowdoin College Similar quality tier in Northeast (#172 ranked) | ME | 8% | $82,735 | #172 | Compare |
Williams College Similar quality tier in Northeast (#185 ranked) | MA | 10% | $88,665 | #185 | Compare |
Saint Xavier University Similar quality tier (#189 ranked) | IL | 86% | $58,656 | #189 | Compare |
Swarthmore College Similar quality tier in Northeast (#190 ranked) | PA | 7% | $80,257 | #190 | Compare |
Wellesley College Similar quality tier in Northeast (#202 ranked) | MA | 14% | $84,803 | #202 | Compare |