Amherst College Description:
Located in a small town in Western Massachusetts, Amherst usually stands #1 or #2 in rankings of top liberal arts colleges. It is also one of the most selective colleges in the United States. Students can round out the Amherst course offerings with classes from the other excellent schools in the five-college consortium: Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, Hampshire College, and University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Amherst has an interesting open curriculum with no distribution requirements, and the college is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
Admissions Data (2008):
- Percent of Applicants Admitted: 15%
- Test Scores -- 25th / 75th Percentile
- SAT Critical Reading: 660 / 760
- SAT Math: 660 / 760
- SAT Writing: 660 / 760
- ACT Composite: 29 / 33
- ACT English: 30 / 34
- ACT Math: 28 / 34
Enrollment (2007):
- Total Enrollment: 1,683
- Gender Breakdown: 50.4% Male / 49.6% Female
- 100% Full-time
Costs (2008 - 09):
- Tuition and Fees: $37,640
- Books: $1,000
- Room and Board: $9,790
- Other Expenses: $1,800
- Total Cost: $50,230
Amherst College Financial Aid (2006 - 07):
- Percentage of Students Receiving Aid: 57%
- Percentage of Students Receiving Types of Aid
- Federal Grants: 20%
- State / Local Grants: 4%
- Institutional Grants: 54%
- Loans: 29%
- Average Amount of Aid
- Federal Grants: $4,112
- State / Local Grants: $2,303
- Institutional Grants: $29,624
- Loans: $3,210
Most Popular Majors:
Biology, Economics, English, History, Political Science
Data Source:
National Center for Educational Statistics
Amherst Mission Statement:
Amherst College seeks to provide the very best liberal arts education to undergraduate students and outstanding support to a faculty engaged in teaching and research. The College brings a diverse group of distinguished faculty members and exceptional students together in a residential setting conducive to personal and intellectual development. It encourages faculty to contribute to their disciplines and to society through scholarship, performance or professional work. Amherst promotes breadth of study for all students through its advising system and depth through its departmental majors. An Amherst education fosters critical thought and creative achievement in the sciences, arts and humanities by emphasizing close interaction between faculty and students and by offering vigorous support for independent research.
