Amherst vs. MIT

Amherst College and Massachusetts Institute of Technology side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Amherst College
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: MIT (4.5% admitted vs 9%). Typical SAT 1550 vs 1540.
  • Cheaper after aid: Amherst. Average net price is $19,049 vs $20,996 at MIT.
  • Graduation: Amherst 96% vs MIT 93%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Amherst $82,000 vs MIT $142,100 (median).
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Key differences

Amherst College Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Acceptance rate
MIT more selective
Amherst9%
MIT4.5%
SAT range (middle 50%)
MIT higher
Amherst1490-1580
MIT1520-1580
Average net price
Amherst $1,947 less
Amherst$19,049
MIT$20,996
In-state tuition
MIT $8,084 less
Amherst$70,480
MIT$62,396
Out-of-state tuition
MIT $8,084 less
Amherst$70,480
MIT$62,396
Graduation rate
Amherst +3 pts
Amherst96%
MIT93%
Median earnings (10 years)
MIT +$60,100
Amherst$82,000
MIT$142,100

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Amherst 13,743
  • MIT 28,232
  • Admitted
  • Amherst 1,238
  • MIT 1,284
  • Acceptance rate
  • Amherst 9%
  • MIT 4.5%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Amherst 38.8%
  • MIT 85.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Amherst 1540
  • MIT 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Amherst 34
  • MIT 35
  • Average high school GPA
  • Amherst 3.91
  • MIT 3.96
  • Typical high school grades
  • Amherst A
  • MIT A
  • Admissions standards
  • Amherst Elite
  • MIT Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • Amherst Extreme
  • MIT Extreme
  • SAT range
  • Amherst 1490-1580
  • MIT 1520-1580
  • ACT range
  • Amherst 33-35
  • MIT 34-36
  • Submit test scores
  • Amherst Test optional
  • MIT Required
  • Application deadline
  • Amherst Jan 2, 2027
  • MIT Jan 1, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • MIT $62,396
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • MIT $62,396
  • Room & board
  • Amherst $18,390
  • MIT $20,280
  • Average net price
  • Amherst $19,049
  • MIT $20,996
  • Average grant aid
  • Amherst $68,591
  • MIT $61,734
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Amherst 59%
  • MIT 59%
  • Graduation rate
  • Amherst 96%
  • MIT 93%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Amherst $82,000
  • MIT $142,100
  • Making student loan payments
  • Amherst 83%
  • MIT 92%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Amherst $12,975
  • MIT $17,316
  • Median loan payment
  • Amherst $134
  • MIT $179
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Amherst 6:1
  • MIT 3:1
  • Popular majors
  • Amherst
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • MIT
    • Engineering (41%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (13%)
    • Physical Sciences (10%)
    • Mathematics (8%)
    • Biology (8%)
  • Location
  • Amherst Amherst, MA
  • MIT Cambridge, MA
  • Setting
  • Amherst Town Fringe
  • MIT Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Amherst 1,914
  • MIT 11,886
  • Type
  • Amherst Private 4 Year
  • MIT Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Amherst #13
  • MIT #8

Comparable Facts

Compare Amherst College in Amherst, MA with Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (11,886 students vs. 1,914 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Massachusetts Institute of Technology is in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting).
  • Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Amherst College 6:1; Massachusetts Institute of Technology 3:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Amherst College are 9.3% lower than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($18,390 vs. $20,280).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 13% higher at Amherst than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (about $8,084 more per year; $70,480 vs. $62,396).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Amherst College as at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (59% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 11.1% larger than aid received by Massachusetts Institute of Technology students ($68,591 vs. $61,734).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at MIT than at Amherst (35 vs. 34, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at Amherst, required at MIT.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027; MIT Jan 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at MIT average a 3.96 high school GPA, 0.05 higher than at Amherst (3.91).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 85.8% at MIT.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $4,341 lower median loan debt than MIT graduates ($12,975 vs. $17,316).
  • Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $45 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MIT graduates ($134 vs. $179).
  • More MIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Amherst students, three years after graduation (92% vs. 83%).

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

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