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Compare Amherst College vs Mount Holyoke College

Amherst, MA · South Hadley, MA

Amherst CollegeMount Holyoke College
Cost
Price after aid (average)$23,367/yr$26,441/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$1,086/yr$10,882/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$13,740$22,902
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$1,570/yr$9,526/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$17,478/yr$17,394/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$23,639/yr$24,247/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$47,521/yr$38,561/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$146/mo$243/mo
Room & board (on campus)$18,390/yr$19,684/yr
Room & board (off campus)$18,390/yr$14,920/yr
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$0/yr$1,000/yr
Other living costs (on campus)$1,800/yr$1,400/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$87,640/yr$84,926/yr
Tuition (in-state)$70,480/yr$67,018/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$70,480/yr$67,018/yr
Students with Pell Grants20%22%
Students taking federal loans8.4%44%
Getting in
Students who get accepted9%36%
SAT range (middle 50%)1490–15801380–1530
SAT average15331463
ACT range (middle 50%)33–3532–35
ACT sections (middle 50%)English 34–36 · Math 32–35English 34–36 · Math 26–34
Admissions data fromFall 2023Fall 2023
Applications received12,7275,030
Students accepted1,2501,926
Students who enrolled488587
Accepted students who enroll39%30%
Enrolled who sent SAT scores38%20%
Enrolled who sent ACT scores17%2%
High-school GPAOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
High-school transcriptRequiredRequired
EssayRequiredRequired
Recommendation lettersRequiredRequired
Class rankOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
College-prep programOptional (considered if sent)Required
Demonstrated competenciesOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Work experienceOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
English proficiency testRequiredRequired
Other admission testsNot consideredNot considered
Legacy consideredNot consideredOptional (considered if sent)
SAT/ACT policyOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate94%84%
Freshmen who come back97%89%
Typical earnings 10 years in$77,644/yr$58,418/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$60,184–$153,382$36,010–$77,587
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)93%83%
White students graduating93%86%
Black students graduating88%83%
Hispanic students graduating98%80%
Asian students graduating93%81%
Typical earnings 6 years in$62,537/yr$48,590/yr
Earn more than a HS grad81%82%
Graduate on time75%71%
Pell students who graduate92%85%
First-gen students who finish84%78%
Low-income students who finish80%81%
Students who transfer out2.9%10%
Typical earnings 8 years in$86,438/yr$55,754/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsSocial Sciences 20% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 12% · Computer & Information Sciences 11%Social Sciences 19% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 16% · Visual & Performing Arts 11%
Most popular programSocial Sciences — 20% of degreesSocial Sciences — 19% of degrees
2nd most popular programBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 12% of degreesBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 16% of degrees
3rd most popular programComputer & Information Sciences — 11% of degreesVisual & Performing Arts — 11% of degrees
4th most popular programMathematics & Statistics — 8% of degreesEnglish Language & Literature — 8% of degrees
5th most popular programArea, Ethnic & Gender Studies — 7% of degreesComputer & Information Sciences — 7% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Computer Science — $100,596/yrComputer Science — $71,672/yr
Degrees in STEM37%31%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment1,9112,169
Students per professor6 : 19 : 1
Graduate studentsNo data reported97
Average professor pay$15,606/mo$13,140/mo
Full-time professors97%91%
Fully onlineNoNo
Accredited byNew England Commission on Higher EducationNew England Commission on Higher Education
Median family income$42,053$68,909
SettingCity (small)Suburb (large)
LocationAmherst, MASouth Hadley, MA
RegionNew EnglandNew England
Founded18211837
Public or privatePrivate (nonprofit)Private (nonprofit)
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationBaccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences FocusBaccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students13%20%
Men45%0%
Women55%100%
White students36%52%
Black students8.9%5.3%
Hispanic or Latino students14%10%
Asian students16%6.7%
Two or more races8.6%5.5%
Other / not reported2.6%0.9%
Special typeNoneWomen's college
First-generation students21%19%
Part-time students0%0.2%
Students age 25+1.1%2.4%
Spent on teaching per student$36,411/yr$29,177/yr
Endowment$3.5B$1.1B
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusYes — dorms on campus
Beds in campus housing1,9482,150
Required to live on campusNoNo
Room charge (campus housing)$9,490/yr$9,452/yr
Meal plan charge$8,070/yr$9,386/yr
Meal plan offeredYesYes
Meals per week21 meals/week21 meals/week
Academic calendarSemesterSemester
Federal designationNoneNone
Study abroadYesYes
Undergraduate researchYesYes
ROTCYes — Army, Air ForceYes — Army, Air Force
Accepts AP creditNoYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditNoNo
Credit for life experienceNoNo
Online classesNoNo
Whole degrees onlineNoNo
Weekend & evening classesNoNo
Teacher certificationYesYes
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyYesYes
Job placement for graduatesYesYes
On-campus day careNoNo
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesNoNo
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolYesYes
Credit for military trainingNoNo
Student veteran organizationYesNo
Tuition payment planYesYes
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionNoNo
Prepaid tuition planNoNo
Athletics
Athletics data from2024-25No data reported
College sports levelNCAA Division III with footballNo intercollegiate athletics reported
Football teamYesNo data reported
Varsity teams27No data reported
Student athletes622No data reported
Athletic scholarships$0No data reported
Athletics budget$10.9MNo data reported
Athletics revenue$10.9MNo data reported
Recruiting spend$196,015No data reported

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.