Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Hampshire College #1414 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $25,362 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Hampshire College in the 3.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Hampshire College #778 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Hampshire College's Azimuth ranking reflects its distinctive approach to undergraduate education, combining interdisciplinary learning with a focus on student-driven projects. Graduates earn about $25,362 less than similar students at comparable institutions, reflecting the institution's ability to support students into careers that leverage their creative and analytical skills. The college's mobility ranking underscores its commitment to serving a diverse student population and fostering upward economic mobility.
Azimuth ranks Hampshire College #1414 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private baccalaureate college in Amherst, Massachusetts, Hampshire College enrolls roughly 839 undergraduates. The institution maintains a 78.4% freshman retention rate and a 54.3% six-year graduation rate. Hampshire College draws strength from its distinctive academic model centered on student-directed learning and interdisciplinary study. The institution's program portfolio is anchored in Visual & Performing Arts, reflecting a focus on creative and expressive disciplines. 39.3% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 13.9% are first-generation college students, positioning the college as an accessible option within the private sector. Azimuth ranks Hampshire College #1437 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $25,362 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Hampshire College in the 3.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The college's composite position reflects a balance across access, affordability, and mobility. Hampshire College sits in the 37.8 percentile for access and the 23.2 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, while mobility outcomes place the institution in the 47.5 percentile. For students drawn to creative fields and self-directed intellectual exploration, Hampshire College offers a distinctive educational environment paired with measurable long-term financial outcomes.
Hampshire College's published cost of attendance is $74,195. Need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $13,749, middle-income families pay around $18,165, and higher-income families pay approximately $37,221. Azimuth ranks Hampshire College #1094 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Hampshire College's aid structure is need-based, with financial aid applied to demonstrated need as determined through the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The college participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Many students also work part-time or through work-study arrangements as part of their overall aid package. The gap between published cost and net price reflects the institution's commitment to meeting demonstrated need, though the actual aid package depends on individual family circumstances and the college's assessment of financial need. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,893, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $36,825; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $36,500, median federal debt of $26,893 projects to a monthly payment of about $304 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Hampshire College is a strong fit for students drawn to the arts, humanities, and interdisciplinary studies who want a private liberal arts college experience in MA. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $36,500, placing Hampshire College in the 1.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $25,362 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Hampshire College in the 3.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The aid structure is need-based. For admitted Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 39.3% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 13.9% are first-generation — that structure can meaningfully close the gap between the published cost and what families actually pay. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 75.3% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors arts and interdisciplinary fields over STEM or professional ones. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find Hampshire College a strong option.
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 Hampshire College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Hampshire College's program mix centers on visual and performing arts, reflecting the institution's distinctive identity as an arts-focused liberal arts college in the Five College Consortium. Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies is the largest program with 24 graduates, followed by Fine and Studio Arts, Film/Video and Photographic Arts, Sociology, and Education, General.
The program portfolio spans 11 distinct fields, with 0 meeting Azimuth's ranking threshold across approximately 113 students annually. Visual & Performing Arts represents Arts of Hampshire's degree output, anchoring the institution's curricular identity and labor-market positioning.
This concentration is complemented by meaningful enrollment in Social Sciences (representing 11% of graduates) and Education (representing 5% of graduates), creating a portfolio that balances creative practice with complementary academic disciplines. The program-mix signature reflects Hampshire's position as a selective arts-integrated institution where creative and analytical fields intersect.
Programs in creative and performance-intensive fields often show earnings patterns that reflect both direct-to-workforce pathways and graduate-school-dependent trajectories, where four-year earnings may undercount lifetime outcomes for students continuing to graduate study, residencies, or advanced training. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Hampshire's dominant program families align with labor-market demand and career-pathway diversity in creative sectors.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Hampshire College's published cost of attendance is $74,195. Need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $13,749, middle-income families pay around $18,165, and higher-income families pay approximately $37,221.
Azimuth ranks Hampshire College #1094 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Hampshire College's aid structure is need-based, with financial aid applied to demonstrated need as determined through the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The college participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.
Many students also work part-time or through work-study arrangements as part of their overall aid package. The gap between published cost and net price reflects the institution's commitment to meeting demonstrated need, though the actual aid package depends on individual family circumstances and the college's assessment of financial need.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,893, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $36,825; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $36,500, median federal debt of $26,893 projects to a monthly payment of about $304 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Hampshire College earn median 4-year earnings of $36,500, placing Hampshire College in the 1.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $25,362 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Hampshire College in the 3.1 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Hampshire College #1437 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Hampshire's distinctive program portfolio, anchored in visual and performing arts alongside liberal arts disciplines.
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies is the largest program with 24 graduates, followed by Fine and Studio Arts with 22 graduates and Film/Video and Photographic Arts with 16 graduates. These concentrations in creative and humanistic fields shape the institution's earnings profile and career pathways, with graduates entering fields where early-career pay reflects the creative economy and cultural sector opportunities in the Northeast.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Milwaukee Institute Of Art & Design Similar quality tier (#36232 ranked) | WI | 61% | $41,174 | #36232 | Compare |
Columbus College Of Art & Design Similar quality tier (#36234 ranked) | OH | 68% | $40,664 | #36234 | Compare |
Point University Similar quality tier (#36229 ranked) | GA | 44% | $38,740 | #36229 | Compare |
East Texas Baptist University Similar quality tier (#36235 ranked) | TX | 58% | $52,788 | #36235 | Compare |
Cairn University-Langhorne Similar quality tier in Northeast (#36228 ranked) | PA | 88% | $44,172 | #36228 | Compare |
