Amherst vs. Penn State

Amherst College and Penn State Main Campus side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Amherst College
Penn State Main Campus

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Amherst (9% admitted vs 60.6%). Typical SAT 1540 vs 1330.
  • Cheaper after aid: Amherst. Average net price is $19,049 vs $27,889 at Penn State.
  • Graduation: Amherst 96% vs Penn State 87%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Amherst $82,000 vs Penn State $55,300 (median).
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Key differences

Amherst College Penn State Main Campus
Acceptance rate
Amherst more selective
Amherst9%
Penn State60.6%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Amherst higher
Amherst1490-1580
Penn State1240-1420
Average net price
Amherst $8,840 less
Amherst$19,049
Penn State$27,889
In-state tuition
Penn State $49,836 less
Amherst$70,480
Penn State$20,644
Out-of-state tuition
Penn State $28,690 less
Amherst$70,480
Penn State$41,790
Graduation rate
Amherst +9 pts
Amherst96%
Penn State87%
Median earnings (10 years)
Amherst +$26,700
Amherst$82,000
Penn State$55,300

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Amherst 13,743
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Amherst 1,238
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance rate
  • Amherst 9%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Amherst 38.8%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Amherst 1540
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Amherst 34
  • Penn State 29
  • Average high school GPA
  • Amherst 3.91
  • Penn State -
  • Typical high school grades
  • Amherst A
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions standards
  • Amherst Elite
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant competition
  • Amherst Extreme
  • Penn State Low
  • SAT range
  • Amherst 1490-1580
  • Penn State 1240-1420
  • ACT range
  • Amherst 33-35
  • Penn State 27-32
  • Submit test scores
  • Amherst Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Amherst Jan 2, 2027
  • Penn State
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & board
  • Amherst $18,390
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average net price
  • Amherst $19,049
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average grant aid
  • Amherst $68,591
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Amherst 59%
  • Penn State 37%
  • Graduation rate
  • Amherst 96%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Amherst $82,000
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making student loan payments
  • Amherst 83%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Amherst $12,975
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median loan payment
  • Amherst $134
  • Penn State $277
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Amherst 6:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular majors
  • Amherst
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Location
  • Amherst Amherst, MA
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Amherst Town Fringe
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Amherst 1,914
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Amherst Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Amherst #13
  • Penn State #185

Comparable Facts

Compare Amherst College in Amherst, MA with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 1,914 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Amherst College 6:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 21.3% lower than at Amherst College ($14,474 vs. $18,390).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 68.7% higher at Amherst than at Penn State Main Campus (about $28,690 more per year; $70,480 vs. $41,790).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Amherst College than at Penn State Main Campus (59% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 505.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($68,591 vs. $11,336).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 5 points higher at Amherst than at Penn State (34 vs. 29, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Amherst and Penn State.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027.
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $13,843 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($12,975 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $143 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($134 vs. $277).
  • More Amherst graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation (83% vs. 69%).

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

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