Amherst vs. UMass

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

Amherst College
University of Massachusetts Amherst

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Amherst (9% admitted vs 59.7%). Typical SAT 1540 vs 1410.
  • Cheaper after aid: Amherst. Average net price is $19,049 vs $22,948 at UMass.
  • Graduation: Amherst 96% vs UMass 67%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Amherst $82,000 vs UMass $55,200 (median).
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Key differences

Amherst College University of Massachusetts Amherst
Acceptance rate
Amherst more selective
Amherst9%
UMass59.7%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Amherst higher
Amherst1490-1580
UMass1310-1500
Average net price
Amherst $3,899 less
Amherst$19,049
UMass$22,948
In-state tuition
UMass $52,708 less
Amherst$70,480
UMass$17,772
Out-of-state tuition
UMass $30,031 less
Amherst$70,480
UMass$40,449
Graduation rate
Amherst +29 pts
Amherst96%
UMass67%
Median earnings (10 years)
Amherst +$26,800
Amherst$82,000
UMass$55,200

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Amherst 13,743
  • UMass 50,261
  • Admitted
  • Amherst 1,238
  • UMass 30,020
  • Acceptance rate
  • Amherst 9%
  • UMass 59.7%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Amherst 38.8%
  • UMass 17.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Amherst 1540
  • UMass 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • Amherst 34
  • UMass 31
  • Average high school GPA
  • Amherst 3.91
  • UMass 3.99
  • Typical high school grades
  • Amherst A
  • UMass A
  • Admissions standards
  • Amherst Elite
  • UMass Exceptional
  • Applicant competition
  • Amherst Extreme
  • UMass Low
  • SAT range
  • Amherst 1490-1580
  • UMass 1310-1500
  • ACT range
  • Amherst 33-35
  • UMass 30-33
  • Submit test scores
  • Amherst Test optional
  • UMass Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Amherst Jan 2, 2027
  • UMass Jan 15, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • UMass $17,772
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • UMass $40,449
  • Room & board
  • Amherst $18,390
  • UMass $16,710
  • Average net price
  • Amherst $19,049
  • UMass $22,948
  • Average grant aid
  • Amherst $68,591
  • UMass $13,110
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Amherst 59%
  • UMass 81%
  • Graduation rate
  • Amherst 96%
  • UMass 67%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Amherst $82,000
  • UMass $55,200
  • Making student loan payments
  • Amherst 83%
  • UMass 76%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Amherst $12,975
  • UMass $24,000
  • Median loan payment
  • Amherst $134
  • UMass $248
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Amherst 6:1
  • UMass 17:1
  • Popular majors
  • Amherst
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • UMass
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Location
  • Amherst Amherst, MA
  • UMass Amherst, MA
  • Setting
  • Amherst Town Fringe
  • UMass Town Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Amherst 1,914
  • UMass 31,726
  • Type
  • Amherst Private 4 Year
  • UMass Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Amherst #13
  • UMass #169

Comparable Facts

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

University of Massachusetts Amherst is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (31,726 students vs. 1,914 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); University of Massachusetts Amherst is in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting).
  • Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Amherst College 6:1; University of Massachusetts Amherst 17:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Amherst are 9.1% lower than at Amherst College ($16,710 vs. $18,390).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 74.2% higher at Amherst than at University of Massachusetts Amherst (about $30,031 more per year; $70,480 vs. $40,449).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Massachusetts Amherst than at Amherst College (81% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 423.2% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Amherst students ($68,591 vs. $13,110).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 3 points higher at Amherst than at UMass (34 vs. 31, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Amherst and UMass.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027; UMass Jan 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at UMass average a 3.99 high school GPA, 0.08 higher than at Amherst (3.91).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 17.9% at UMass.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $11,025 lower median loan debt than UMass graduates ($12,975 vs. $24,000).
  • Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $114 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMass graduates ($134 vs. $248).
  • More Amherst graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMass students, three years after graduation (83% vs. 76%).

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

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