Amherst vs. Rutgers

Deciding between Amherst College and Rutgers University New Brunswick? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Amherst College
Rutgers University New Brunswick

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Amherst Amherst, MA
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Setting
  • Amherst Town Fringe
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Amherst 1,914
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Type
  • Amherst Private 4 Year
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Amherst #13
  • Rutgers #114
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Amherst -
  • Rutgers -
  • Status
  • Amherst Non-profit
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Amherst
  • Rutgers

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Room & Board
  • Amherst $18,390
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Average Net Price
  • Amherst $19,049
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Amherst $68,591
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Amherst 59%
  • Rutgers 50%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Amherst 13,743
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Admitted
  • Amherst 1,238
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Amherst 9%
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Amherst 38.8%
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Amherst 1540
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • Amherst 34
  • Rutgers 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Amherst 3.91
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Amherst A
  • Rutgers B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Amherst Elite
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Amherst Extreme
  • Rutgers Low
  • ACT Range
  • Amherst 33/35
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • SAT Range
  • Amherst 1490/1580
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Amherst Test optional
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Amherst Jan 2, 2027
  • Rutgers

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Amherst 6:1
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Amherst
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Amherst 96%
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Amherst $82,000
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Amherst 83%
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Amherst $12,975
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Amherst $134
  • Rutgers $229

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Amherst 45%
  • Rutgers 46%
  • % Women
  • Amherst 55%
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Amherst Very High
  • Rutgers Very High
  • HBCU
  • Amherst No
  • Rutgers No
  • % White
  • Amherst 42%
  • Rutgers 42%
  • % Asian
  • Amherst 14%
  • Rutgers 26%
  • % Black
  • Amherst 12%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Amherst 13%
  • Rutgers 13%
  • % Native American
  • Amherst 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Amherst 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Amherst 5%
  • Rutgers 3%
  • % International
  • Amherst 10%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Amherst 4%
  • Rutgers 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Amherst 13%
  • Rutgers 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Amherst 70%
  • Rutgers 13%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Amherst Yes
  • Rutgers Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Amherst No
  • Rutgers No
  • Meal Plan
  • Amherst Yes
  • Rutgers Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Amherst No
  • Rutgers Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Amherst No
  • Rutgers Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Amherst College in Amherst, MA with Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 1,914 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Rutgers University New Brunswick is in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting).
  • Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Amherst College 6:1; Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1.

Amherst vs. Rutgers Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Amherst or Rutgers? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Amherst College than Rutgers ($19,049 vs. $20,522).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 14.6% lower than at Amherst College ($15,714 vs. $18,390).
  • Amherst College is 293.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rutgers (about $52,551 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $17,929.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 88.2% higher at Amherst than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $33,039 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Amherst College than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (59% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 309.7% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($68,591 vs. $16,742).

Amherst vs. Rutgers Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Amherst or Rutgers? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Rutgers and Amherst.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Amherst College (1540) is 130 points higher than at Rutgers (1410).
  • Incoming Amherst students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 1490/1580; Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 33/35; Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Amherst - Test optional; Rutgers - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Amherst students have a 0.61 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Amherst (9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 20.5% at Rutgers.

Amherst vs. Rutgers Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Amherst and Rutgers? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Amherst College's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from Amherst College earn a median of about $15,800 more per year than Rutgers graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,000 vs. $66,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $9,240 lower median loan debt than Rutgers graduates ($12,975 vs. $22,215).
  • Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $95 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rutgers graduates ($134 vs. $229).
  • More Amherst graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 68%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.