Strong graduate outcomes with earnings well above peer institutions. Robust earnings growth over time.
What graduates earn 10 years after enrollment.
Annual salary at 10 years
Lower quartile earnings
Upper quartile earnings
How graduate earnings grow in the decade after enrollment.
Amherst graduates experience steady earnings growth from early to mid-career periods. Median earnings rise from $62,537 six years after enrollment to $86,438 at eight years, then settle at $77,644 at ten years, representing 24.2% growth from the six-year mark.
How outcomes compare to similar institutions.
Graduates from this institution significantly outperform peers — earnings are 54% higher than similar schools.
Financial justification for the investment.
Excellent affordability. Median debt of $13,740 is well under annual earnings, enabling comfortable repayment.
Amherst College graduates carry exceptionally low debt burdens compared to national and peer benchmarks. Median student debt is $13,740, with debt ranging from $5,500 at the 25th percentile to $19,500 at the 75th percentile.
Amherst College demonstrates excellent return on investment, ranking at the 94.9th percentile nationally with top-tier performance. Graduates earn $10,570 beyond expectations compared to similar students, placing Amherst in the 86.5th percentile for earnings uplift and achieving well above average performance in this measure.
Approximately 21.8% of Amherst graduates continue to graduate or professional study, based on program mix analysis with medium confidence. This gradu...
Program mix explains much of the earnings story.
Computer Science drives the strongest earnings outcomes with graduates earning $194,751 and ranking #11 nationally, demonstrating Amherst's competitive position in high-demand technical fields. Applied Economics graduates earn $127,636 while ranking #4 nationally, showing excellence in quantitative social sciences.
American History achieves the remarkable combination of #1 national ranking with earnings of $114,276, indicating exceptional program quality that translates to strong career outcomes. Mathematics programs produce earnings of $109,199 while ranking #5 nationally.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
Earnings distribution shows significant variation in career outcomes, with graduates earning between $60,184 at the 25th percentile and $153,382 at the 75th percentile. This 2.5:1 ratio reflects the diverse career paths available across Amherst's liberal arts programs, from public service and nonprofit work to high-earning business and technology roles.
