1. [College research](/) 2. / 3. [Amherst College](/school/amherst-college/) 4. / 5. Programs & majors brief Programs & majors brief Copy linkPrint brief # Amherst College Majors & Programs Updated October 1, 2026 [Overview](/school/amherst-college/)[Cost & aid](/school/amherst-college/cost/)[Outcomes](/school/amherst-college/outcomes/)[Admissions](/school/amherst-college/admissions/)Majors[Similar schools](/school/amherst-college/similar/) **On this page**+ ## 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](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) 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 sciences**170 · 23.0%** - Mathematics**104 · 14.1%** - Biological sciences**83 · 11.2%** - Psychology**61 · 8.3%** - Computer science**55 · 7.5%** - Other**265 · 35.9%** Find a field Sort programsLargest programsHighest four-year earningsBest national field rankProgram name 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 | Program | Degrees awarded | 4-yr earnings | Field rank | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Computer Science | 55 | $142,680 | #43 | | Economics | 91 | $141,730 | #11 | | Mathematics | 89 | $124,324 | #7 | | History | 23 | $103,601 | — | | Research and Experimental Psychology | 61 | $69,204 | #9 | | Area Studies | 27 | $68,618 | — | | English Language and Literature, General | 41 | $65,195 | — | | Political Science and Government | 61 | $63,754 | — | | Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 21 | $60,212 | — | | Natural Resources Conservation and Research small degree count | 16 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Architectural History, Criticism, and Conservation small degree count | 6 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies small degree count | 17 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education small degree count | 7 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies | 20 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Biology, General | 31 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 27 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 25 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Statistics small degree count | 15 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Philosophy small degree count | 15 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Chemistry | 24 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Physics small degree count | 6 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences small degree count | 5 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Sociology small degree count | 12 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Anthropology small degree count | 6 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Fine and Studio Arts small degree count | 17 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Music small degree count | 11 | Too few graduates to report | — | | Film/Video and Photographic Arts small degree count | 9 | Too few graduates to report | — | [Program data and definitions](#page-sources) · [How to evaluate program rankings](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) ## 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](#page-sources) ## 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](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) ## 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](/methodology/). Analysis and methodology by [Daniel Rogers](/about/#founder), 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](/about/).