Programs & majors brief

Amherst College Majors & Programs

Updated

Which majors earn the most at Amherst College?

The highest-earning programs at Amherst College are also among its largest. Computer Science graduates earn a median of $142,680 four years after completion, from 55 degrees awarded.

Azimuth ranks the program #43 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions in its field. Economics is the largest program, with 91 degrees awarded and median earnings of $141,730.

Azimuth ranks it #11 nationally. Mathematics follows closely at 89 degrees awarded and $124,324, ranking #7.

At the more moderate end, Political Science awards 61 degrees awarded and its graduates earn $63,754. The earnings spread between the top and the middle of the program list is wide.

Major mix · each dot ≈ 1% of completions

Share of reported completions in the bachelor’s programs included here. Each dot represents approximately 1% of those completions. Counts are credentials, not unique students; excluded programs are not zero activity.

  • Social sciences170 · 23.0%
  • Mathematics104 · 14.1%
  • Biological sciences83 · 11.2%
  • Psychology61 · 8.3%
  • Computer science55 · 7.5%
  • Other265 · 35.9%

27 of 27 programs shown

Four-year earnings · first six matching programs
Computer Science 55 degrees awarded
$142,680
Economics 91 degrees awarded
$141,730
Mathematics 89 degrees awarded
$124,324
History 23 degrees awarded
$103,601
Research and Experimental Psychology 61 degrees awarded
$69,204
Area Studies 27 degrees awarded
$68,618

Each bar is a field’s median. Program size counts degrees awarded, not unique people or the earnings sample.

Compare all matching programs
Reported bachelor’s programs · earnings, program size and field ranks
ProgramDegrees awarded4-yr earningsField rank
Computer Science55$142,680#43
Economics91$141,730#11
Mathematics89$124,324#7
History23$103,601—
Research and Experimental Psychology61$69,204#9
Area Studies27$68,618—
English Language and Literature, General41$65,195—
Political Science and Government61$63,754—
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics21$60,212—
Natural Resources Conservation and Research small degree count16Too few graduates to report—
Architectural History, Criticism, and Conservation small degree count6Too few graduates to report—
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies small degree count17Too few graduates to report—
Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education small degree count7Too few graduates to report—
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies20Too few graduates to report—
Biology, General31Too few graduates to report—
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology27Too few graduates to report—
Neurobiology and Neurosciences25Too few graduates to report—
Statistics small degree count15Too few graduates to report—
Philosophy small degree count15Too few graduates to report—
Chemistry24Too few graduates to report—
Physics small degree count6Too few graduates to report—
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences small degree count5Too few graduates to report—
Sociology small degree count12Too few graduates to report—
Anthropology small degree count6Too few graduates to report—
Fine and Studio Arts small degree count17Too few graduates to report—
Music small degree count11Too few graduates to report—
Film/Video and Photographic Arts small degree count9Too few graduates to report—

Program data and definitions · How to evaluate program rankings

What are the largest programs at Amherst College?

Ten largest programs by degrees awarded
Economics
91
Mathematics
89
Research and Experimental Psychology
61
Political Science and Government
61
Computer Science
55
English Language and Literature, General
41
Biology, General
31
Area Studies
27
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
27
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
25

Counts describe degrees awarded in the reporting period, not current enrollment. Program data and definitions

How do Amherst College majors rank nationally?

National program rankings

  1. Mathematics#7
  2. Research and Experimental Psychology#9
  3. Economics#11
  4. Computer Science#43

Programs ranked in the national top 50, supplemented by the largest ranked programs when needed to show ten. Fewer appear when fewer ranks are reported. Each rank compares bachelor’s programs in the same field; field sizes differ.

How Azimuth compares programs across colleges

Further analysis

Azimuth evaluates programs using four-year earnings among federally aided completers, median debt, and cohort size rather than reputation. Amherst College publishes earnings data for 9 programs, and 4 of those carry a national rank.

Bachelor's degrees cluster in the social sciences and sciences, with Social Sciences at 23.0%, Mathematics & Statistics at 14.1%, and Biological Sciences at 11.2%. The biggest program by degrees awarded is Economics, at 91 degrees a year and a national rank of #11.

Its graduates earn $141,730 four years after completion. Program earnings cover federally aided completers.

A graduate's earnings depend on the field they choose. The program with the strongest national rank is Mathematics, at #7, with median earnings of $124,324.

Data & methodology

Sources and reporting periods: methodology.

Analysis and methodology by Daniel Rogers, founder of College Azimuth.

Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source.

Figure notes link to sources and limitations. About College Azimuth.