Amherst vs. Penn

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

Amherst College
University of Pennsylvania

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Penn (5.4% admitted vs 9%). Typical SAT 1540 vs 1540.
  • Cheaper after aid: Amherst. Average net price is $19,049 vs $23,570 at Penn.
  • Graduation: Amherst 96% vs Penn 96%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Amherst $82,000 vs Penn $123,600 (median).
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Key differences

Amherst College University of Pennsylvania
Acceptance rate
Penn more selective
Amherst9%
Penn5.4%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Amherst higher
Amherst1490-1580
Penn1510-1570
Average net price
Amherst $4,521 less
Amherst$19,049
Penn$23,570
In-state tuition
Penn $1,794 less
Amherst$70,480
Penn$68,686
Out-of-state tuition
Penn $1,794 less
Amherst$70,480
Penn$68,686
Graduation rate
Amherst +0 pts
Amherst96%
Penn96%
Median earnings (10 years)
Penn +$41,600
Amherst$82,000
Penn$123,600

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Amherst 13,743
  • Penn 65,226
  • Admitted
  • Amherst 1,238
  • Penn 3,523
  • Acceptance rate
  • Amherst 9%
  • Penn 5.4%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Amherst 38.8%
  • Penn 68%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Amherst 1540
  • Penn 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Amherst 34
  • Penn 35
  • Average high school GPA
  • Amherst 3.91
  • Penn 3.95
  • Typical high school grades
  • Amherst A
  • Penn A
  • Admissions standards
  • Amherst Elite
  • Penn Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • Amherst Extreme
  • Penn Extreme
  • SAT range
  • Amherst 1490-1580
  • Penn 1510-1570
  • ACT range
  • Amherst 33-35
  • Penn 34-36
  • Submit test scores
  • Amherst Test optional
  • Penn Required
  • Application deadline
  • Amherst Jan 2, 2027
  • Penn Jan 5, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • Penn $68,686
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • Penn $68,686
  • Room & board
  • Amherst $18,390
  • Penn $19,174
  • Average net price
  • Amherst $19,049
  • Penn $23,570
  • Average grant aid
  • Amherst $68,591
  • Penn $65,458
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Amherst 59%
  • Penn 51%
  • Graduation rate
  • Amherst 96%
  • Penn 96%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Amherst $82,000
  • Penn $123,600
  • Making student loan payments
  • Amherst 83%
  • Penn 84%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Amherst $12,975
  • Penn $20,633
  • Median loan payment
  • Amherst $134
  • Penn $213
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Amherst 6:1
  • Penn 8:1
  • Popular majors
  • Amherst
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Penn
    • Business (26%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Location
  • Amherst Amherst, MA
  • Penn Philadelphia, PA
  • Setting
  • Amherst Town Fringe
  • Penn Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Amherst 1,914
  • Penn 29,109
  • Type
  • Amherst Private 4 Year
  • Penn Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Amherst #13
  • Penn #23

Comparable Facts

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

University of Pennsylvania is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (29,109 students vs. 1,914 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); University of Pennsylvania is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
  • Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Pennsylvania is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Amherst College 6:1; University of Pennsylvania 8:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Amherst College are 4.1% lower than at University of Pennsylvania ($18,390 vs. $19,174).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.6% higher at Amherst than at University of Pennsylvania (about $1,794 more per year; $70,480 vs. $68,686).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Amherst College than at University of Pennsylvania (59% vs. 51%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 4.8% larger than aid received by University of Pennsylvania students ($68,591 vs. $65,458).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at Penn than at Amherst (35 vs. 34, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at Amherst, required at Penn.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027; Penn Jan 5, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Penn average a 3.95 high school GPA, 0.04 higher than at Amherst (3.91).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 68% at Penn.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $7,658 lower median loan debt than Penn graduates ($12,975 vs. $20,633).
  • Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $79 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn graduates ($134 vs. $213).
  • More Penn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Amherst students, three years after graduation (84% 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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