Amherst vs. SUNY Poly

Comparable Facts

Compare Amherst College in Amherst, MA with SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Utica, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

SUNY Polytechnic Institute is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (2,733 students vs. 1,914 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); SUNY Polytechnic Institute is in Utica, NY (Rural Fringe setting).
• Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. SUNY Polytechnic Institute is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Amherst College 6:1; SUNY Polytechnic Institute 13:1.

Amherst vs. SUNY Poly Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Amherst or SUNY Poly? 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 SUNY Polytechnic Institute than Amherst ($14,782 vs. $19,049).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUNY Polytechnic Institute are 9.8% lower than at Amherst College ($16,584 vs. $18,390).
• Amherst College is 717.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Poly (about $61,855 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $8,625.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 232.2% higher at Amherst than at SUNY Polytechnic Institute (about $49,265 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $21,215.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at SUNY Polytechnic Institute than at Amherst College (100% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 720.8% larger than aid received by SUNY Polytechnic Institute students ($68,591 vs. $8,357).

Amherst vs. SUNY Poly Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Amherst or SUNY Poly? 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 SUNY Poly and Amherst.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Amherst College (1540) is 340 points higher than at SUNY Poly (1200).
• Incoming Amherst students have a 8 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 26 at SUNY Poly).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 1490/1580; SUNY Polytechnic Institute 1025/1370.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 33/35; SUNY Polytechnic Institute 22/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Amherst - Test optional; SUNY Poly - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027; SUNY Poly Aug 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Amherst students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at SUNY Poly (3.7).
• SUNY Poly has a higher acceptance rate (81.3%) than Amherst (9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 8.7% at SUNY Poly.

Amherst vs. SUNY Poly Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Amherst and SUNY Poly? 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 SUNY Polytechnic Institute's (47%).
• Graduates from Amherst College earn a median of about $28,800 more per year than SUNY Poly graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,000 vs. $53,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $3,610 lower median loan debt than SUNY Poly graduates ($12,975 vs. $16,585).
• Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SUNY Poly graduates ($134 vs. $171).
• More Amherst graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY Poly students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 63%)

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.