AU vs. Amherst

Deciding between American University and Amherst College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

American University
Amherst College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Washington, DC
  • Amherst Amherst, MA
  • Setting
  • AU Large City
  • Amherst Town Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 12,321
  • Amherst 1,914
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • Amherst Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #94
  • Amherst #13
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU United Methodist
  • Amherst -
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • Amherst Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • Amherst

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $58,771
  • Amherst $70,480
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $58,771
  • Amherst $70,480
  • Room & Board
  • AU $17,982
  • Amherst $18,390
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $39,676
  • Amherst $19,049
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $36,349
  • Amherst $68,591
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 67%
  • Amherst 59%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 17,173
  • Amherst 13,743
  • Admitted
  • AU 10,640
  • Amherst 1,238
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 62%
  • Amherst 9%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 15.6%
  • Amherst 38.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1370
  • Amherst 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 30
  • Amherst 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.7
  • Amherst 3.91
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU A-
  • Amherst A
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Very High
  • Amherst Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • Amherst Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • AU 29/32
  • Amherst 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • AU 1280/1460
  • Amherst 1490/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Test optional
  • Amherst Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AU Jan 15, 2027
  • Amherst Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 10:1
  • Amherst 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Social Sciences (43%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)
  • Amherst
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AU 77%
  • Amherst 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AU $64,800
  • Amherst $82,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AU 80%
  • Amherst 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AU $24,250
  • Amherst $12,975
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AU $250
  • Amherst $134

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 37%
  • Amherst 45%
  • % Women
  • AU 63%
  • Amherst 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU High
  • Amherst Very High
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • Amherst No
  • % White
  • AU 58%
  • Amherst 42%
  • % Asian
  • AU 7%
  • Amherst 14%
  • % Black
  • AU 7%
  • Amherst 12%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 12%
  • Amherst 13%
  • % Native American
  • AU 0%
  • Amherst 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • Amherst 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 5%
  • Amherst 5%
  • % International
  • AU 7%
  • Amherst 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 4%
  • Amherst 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AU 3%
  • Amherst 13%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AU 94%
  • Amherst 70%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • AU Yes
  • Amherst Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • AU No
  • Amherst No
  • Meal Plan
  • AU Yes
  • Amherst Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • AU Yes
  • Amherst No
  • Daycare Facility
  • AU Yes
  • Amherst No

Comparable Facts

Compare American University in Washington, DC with Amherst College in Amherst, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

American University is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (12,321 students vs. 1,914 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • American University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Amherst College is in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting).
  • American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: American University 10:1; Amherst College 6:1.

AU vs. Amherst Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Amherst? 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 Amherst College than AU ($19,049 vs. $39,676).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 2.2% lower than at Amherst College ($17,982 vs. $18,390).
  • Amherst College is 19.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than AU (about $11,709 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $58,771.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 19.9% higher at Amherst than at American University (about $11,709 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $58,771.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at American University than at Amherst College (67% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 88.7% larger than aid received by American University students ($68,591 vs. $36,349).

AU vs. Amherst Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Amherst College (1540) is 170 points higher than at AU (1370).
  • Incoming Amherst students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at AU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 1280/1460; Amherst College 1490/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 29/32; Amherst College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; Amherst - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: AU Jan 15, 2027; Amherst Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Amherst students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at AU (3.7).
  • AU has a higher acceptance rate (62%) than Amherst (9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at AU vs. 38.8% at Amherst.

AU vs. Amherst Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and Amherst? 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 American University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Amherst College earn a median of about $17,200 more per year than AU graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,000 vs. $64,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $11,275 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($12,975 vs. $24,250).
  • Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $116 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AU graduates ($134 vs. $250).
  • More Amherst graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 80%)

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.