Amherst Admission Requirements
Amherst, MassachusettsChances of getting into Amherst College
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance Rate
12.8%| Measure | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|
| Admission Standards | Elite | |
| Applicant Competition | Very High |
How hard is it to get into Amherst and can I get accepted? The school has a 13% acceptance rate ranking it #3 in Massachusetts for lowest rate of acceptance. Last year, 1,246 out of 9,723 applicants were admitted making Amherst a very highly competitive school to get into with a low chance of acceptance for typical applicants. Academically, it has exceptionally high requirements for admission test scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 8 percent. Amherst College typically accepts and attracts "A-" average high school students. Only 39% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school. Most incoming freshmen graduated in the top ten percent of their high school class.
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Calculate My ChancesAmherst SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
SAT Range
1330-1530Applicants Submitting SAT
47%| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 660 |
| SAT Math 25th | 670 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1330 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 750 |
| SAT Math 75th | 780 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1530 |
| Average SAT Score | 1430 |
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to Amherst College?
Amherst College typically requires applicants to be in the top 10 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1330 on a 1600 scale, below which admission should be considered a reach. We estimate some students could be accepted with SAT's as low as 1230. The estimated average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1430 out of 1600. The school ranks #7 in Massachusetts for highest average SAT composite score. 47 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school. Note: SAT scores presented on this page have been adjusted upwards per the College Board's concordance tables for test takers after March 2016.
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Estimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
| SAT Score (1600 scale) | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 1530 and Above | Good | >20% |
| 1430 to 1530 | Avg + | 13%-20% |
| 1330 to 1430 | Avg - | 8%-13% |
| 1230 to 1330 | Reach | 5%-8% |
| Less than 1230 | Low | <5% |
Amherst ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
ACT Range
31-34Applicants Submitting ACT
54%| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 32 |
| ACT Math 25th | 28 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 31 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 35 |
| ACT Math 75th | 34 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 34 |
| Average ACT Score | 32 |
ACT Scores needed to get accepted
What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into Amherst?
Admission data indicates that Amherst regularly accepts students with ACT's of 31 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 5 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 30 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 32 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants - and students with a 34 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #6 in Massachusetts for highest average ACT composite score. 54 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Amherst College.
Estimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
| ACT Score | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 34 and Above | Good | >23% |
| 32 to 34 | Avg + | 13%-23% |
| 31 to 32 | Avg - | 9%-13% |
| 30 to 31 | Reach | 7%-9% |
| Less than 30 | Low | <7% |
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
Avg. High School GPA
3.91*Typical High School Grades
A-You will need exceptionally good grades to get into Amherst College. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at Amherst College was 3.91 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily A- students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #5 in Massachusetts for highest average GPA. Meeting these GPA requirements alone is not enough to gain admission as Amherst is a very selective school.
High School Class Rank
83% of Amherst College freshman were in the top ten percent of their high school graduating class.
| High School Class Rank | Freshmen Within Range |
|---|---|
| Top 10% of class | 83% |
| Top 25% of class | 95% |
| Top 50% of class | 100% |
| Bottom 50% of class | 0% |
| Bottom 25% of class | 0% |
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 5,380 | 4,342 | 9,723 |
| Accepted | 654 | 592 | 1,246 |
| Acceptance Rate | 12% | 14% | 13% |
| Enrolled | 256 | 236 | 492 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 39% | 40% | 39% |
Fall 2020 Application Deadline
Applications were Due
Jan 1, 2020Days left to Apply
NoneThe application deadline for Fall 2020 has passed. Applications were due on Jan 1, 2020.
Admission Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to Amherst College and what considerations affect admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Required |
| High School GPA | Recommended |
| High School Class Rank | Recommended |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Recommended |
| Recommendations | Required |
| Demonstration of Competencies | Recommended |
Credits Accepted
| AP Credit | No |
| Dual Credit | No |
| Credit for Life Experiences | No |
Other Colleges to Consider
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=164465 IPEDS survey data for Amherst College.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Amherst College prefer SAT or ACT?
47% of students submit their SAT scores to Amherst. 54% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.
What is my chance of getting into Amherst College?
13% of those who apply are granted admission to Amherst. Admission competition is very high and the college has elite admission standards. See if your grades and scores are good enough for admission.
What SAT score is required for Amherst College?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have SAT scores between 1330 and 1530. 47% of students submit SAT scores when applying. See if your SAT score is good enough for admission.
What ACT score is required for Amherst College?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have ACT scores between 31 and 34. 54% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.
