Amherst vs. Barnard

Deciding between Amherst College and Barnard 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.

Amherst College
Barnard College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Amherst Amherst, MA
  • Barnard New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Amherst Town Fringe
  • Barnard Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Amherst 1,914
  • Barnard 3,487
  • Type
  • Amherst Private 4 Year
  • Barnard Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Amherst #13
  • Barnard #35
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Amherst -
  • Barnard -
  • Status
  • Amherst Non-profit
  • Barnard Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Amherst
  • Barnard

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Room & Board
  • Amherst $18,390
  • Barnard $21,714
  • Average Net Price
  • Amherst $19,049
  • Barnard $26,407
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Amherst $68,591
  • Barnard $63,131
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Amherst 59%
  • Barnard 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Amherst 13,743
  • Barnard 11,836
  • Admitted
  • Amherst 1,238
  • Barnard 1,046
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Amherst 9%
  • Barnard 8.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Amherst 38.8%
  • Barnard 68.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Amherst 1540
  • Barnard 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • Amherst 34
  • Barnard 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Amherst 3.91
  • Barnard 3.85
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Amherst A
  • Barnard A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Amherst Elite
  • Barnard Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Amherst Extreme
  • Barnard Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Amherst 33/35
  • Barnard 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • Amherst 1490/1580
  • Barnard 1470/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Amherst Test optional
  • Barnard Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Amherst Jan 2, 2027
  • Barnard Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Amherst 6:1
  • Barnard 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Amherst
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Barnard
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Amherst 96%
  • Barnard 92%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Amherst $82,000
  • Barnard $66,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Amherst 83%
  • Barnard 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Amherst $12,975
  • Barnard $17,847
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Amherst $134
  • Barnard $184

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Amherst 45%
  • Barnard 2%
  • % Women
  • Amherst 55%
  • Barnard 98%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Amherst Very High
  • Barnard High
  • HBCU
  • Amherst No
  • Barnard No
  • % White
  • Amherst 42%
  • Barnard 53%
  • % Asian
  • Amherst 14%
  • Barnard 14%
  • % Black
  • Amherst 12%
  • Barnard 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Amherst 13%
  • Barnard 12%
  • % Native American
  • Amherst 0%
  • Barnard 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Amherst 0%
  • Barnard 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Amherst 5%
  • Barnard 6%
  • % International
  • Amherst 10%
  • Barnard 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Amherst 4%
  • Barnard 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Amherst 13%
  • Barnard 20%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Amherst 70%
  • Barnard 62%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Amherst College in Amherst, MA with Barnard College in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Barnard College is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (3,487 students vs. 1,914 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Amherst vs. Barnard Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Amherst or Barnard? 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 Barnard ($19,049 vs. $26,407).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Amherst College are 15.3% lower than at Barnard College ($18,390 vs. $21,714).
  • Amherst College is 0.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Barnard (about $592 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $69,888.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.8% higher at Amherst than at Barnard College (about $592 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $69,888.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Amherst College than at Barnard College (59% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 8.6% larger than aid received by Barnard College students ($68,591 vs. $63,131).

Amherst vs. Barnard Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Amherst College (1540) is 20 points higher than at Barnard (1520).
  • Incoming Amherst students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at Barnard).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 1490/1580; Barnard College 1470/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 33/35; Barnard College 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Amherst - Test optional; Barnard - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027; Barnard Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Amherst students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Barnard (3.85).
  • Amherst has a higher acceptance rate (9%) than Barnard (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 68.6% at Barnard.

Amherst vs. Barnard Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Amherst and Barnard? 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 Barnard College's (92%).
  • Graduates from Amherst College earn a median of about $15,100 more per year than Barnard graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,000 vs. $66,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $4,872 lower median loan debt than Barnard graduates ($12,975 vs. $17,847).
  • Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $50 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Barnard graduates ($134 vs. $184).
  • More Barnard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Amherst students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 83%)

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.