Amherst vs. Harvard

Amherst College and Harvard University side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Amherst College
Harvard University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Harvard (3.6% admitted vs 9%). Typical SAT 1550 vs 1540.
  • Cheaper after aid: Harvard. Average net price is $17,525 vs $19,049 at Amherst.
  • Graduation: Amherst 96% vs Harvard 97%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Amherst $82,000 vs Harvard $136,700 (median).
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Key differences

Amherst College Harvard University
Acceptance rate
Harvard more selective
Amherst9%
Harvard3.6%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Harvard higher
Amherst1490-1580
Harvard1510-1580
Average net price
Harvard $1,524 less
Amherst$19,049
Harvard$17,525
In-state tuition
Harvard $8,804 less
Amherst$70,480
Harvard$61,676
Out-of-state tuition
Harvard $8,804 less
Amherst$70,480
Harvard$61,676
Graduation rate
Harvard +1 pts
Amherst96%
Harvard97%
Median earnings (10 years)
Harvard +$54,700
Amherst$82,000
Harvard$136,700

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Amherst 13,743
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Admitted
  • Amherst 1,238
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Acceptance rate
  • Amherst 9%
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Amherst 38.8%
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Amherst 1540
  • Harvard 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Amherst 34
  • Harvard 35
  • Average high school GPA
  • Amherst 3.91
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Typical high school grades
  • Amherst A
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Admissions standards
  • Amherst Elite
  • Harvard Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • Amherst Extreme
  • Harvard Extreme
  • SAT range
  • Amherst 1490-1580
  • Harvard 1510-1580
  • ACT range
  • Amherst 33-35
  • Harvard 34-36
  • Submit test scores
  • Amherst Test optional
  • Harvard Required
  • Application deadline
  • Amherst Jan 2, 2027
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Room & board
  • Amherst $18,390
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Average net price
  • Amherst $19,049
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Average grant aid
  • Amherst $68,591
  • Harvard $68,015
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Amherst 59%
  • Harvard 56%
  • Graduation rate
  • Amherst 96%
  • Harvard 97%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Amherst $82,000
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Making student loan payments
  • Amherst 83%
  • Harvard 70%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Amherst $12,975
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Median loan payment
  • Amherst $134
  • Harvard $67
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Amherst 6:1
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Popular majors
  • Amherst
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Location
  • Amherst Amherst, MA
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Setting
  • Amherst Town Fringe
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Amherst 1,914
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Type
  • Amherst Private 4 Year
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Amherst #13
  • Harvard #4

Comparable Facts

Compare Amherst College in Amherst, MA with Harvard University in Cambridge, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Harvard University is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 1,914 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Harvard University is in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting).
  • Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Amherst College 6:1; Harvard University 7:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Amherst College are 13.2% lower than at Harvard University ($18,390 vs. $21,190).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.3% higher at Amherst than at Harvard University (about $8,804 more per year; $70,480 vs. $61,676).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Amherst College than at Harvard University (59% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 0.8% larger than aid received by Harvard University students ($68,591 vs. $68,015).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at Harvard than at Amherst (35 vs. 34, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at Amherst, required at Harvard.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027; Harvard Jan 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Harvard average a 4.0 high school GPA, 0.09 higher than at Amherst (3.91).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 83.6% at Harvard.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $6,475 lower median loan debt than Amherst graduates ($6,500 vs. $12,975).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $67 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Amherst graduates ($67 vs. $134).
  • More Amherst graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation (83% vs. 70%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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