Amherst vs. Brown

Deciding between Amherst College and Brown University? 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
Brown University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Amherst Amherst, MA
  • Brown Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Amherst Town Fringe
  • Brown Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Amherst 1,914
  • Brown 11,956
  • Type
  • Amherst Private 4 Year
  • Brown Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Amherst #13
  • Brown #11
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Amherst -
  • Brown -
  • Status
  • Amherst Non-profit
  • Brown Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Amherst
  • Brown

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • Brown $71,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • Brown $71,412
  • Room & Board
  • Amherst $18,390
  • Brown $17,444
  • Average Net Price
  • Amherst $19,049
  • Brown $26,256
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Amherst $68,591
  • Brown $61,392
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Amherst 59%
  • Brown 52%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Amherst 13,743
  • Brown 48,904
  • Admitted
  • Amherst 1,238
  • Brown 2,638
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Amherst 9%
  • Brown 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Amherst 38.8%
  • Brown 65.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Amherst 1540
  • Brown 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Amherst 34
  • Brown 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Amherst 3.91
  • Brown 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Amherst A
  • Brown A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Amherst Elite
  • Brown Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Amherst Extreme
  • Brown Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Amherst 33/35
  • Brown 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Amherst 1490/1580
  • Brown 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Amherst Test optional
  • Brown Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Amherst Jan 2, 2027
  • Brown Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Amherst 6:1
  • Brown 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Amherst
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Brown
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Amherst 96%
  • Brown 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Amherst $82,000
  • Brown $87,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Amherst 83%
  • Brown 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Amherst $12,975
  • Brown $15,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Amherst $134
  • Brown $155

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Amherst 45%
  • Brown 48%
  • % Women
  • Amherst 55%
  • Brown 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Amherst Very High
  • Brown Very High
  • HBCU
  • Amherst No
  • Brown No
  • % White
  • Amherst 42%
  • Brown 43%
  • % Asian
  • Amherst 14%
  • Brown 13%
  • % Black
  • Amherst 12%
  • Brown 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Amherst 13%
  • Brown 11%
  • % Native American
  • Amherst 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Amherst 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Amherst 5%
  • Brown 6%
  • % International
  • Amherst 10%
  • Brown 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Amherst 4%
  • Brown 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Amherst 13%
  • Brown 3%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Amherst 70%
  • Brown 79%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Amherst College in Amherst, MA with Brown University in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Brown University is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (11,956 students vs. 1,914 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Brown University is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Brown University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Amherst College 6:1; Brown University 6:1.

Amherst vs. Brown Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Amherst or Brown? 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 Brown ($19,049 vs. $26,256).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brown University are 5.1% lower than at Amherst College ($17,444 vs. $18,390).
  • Brown University is 1.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Amherst (about $932 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $70,480.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.3% higher at Brown than at Amherst College (about $932 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $70,480.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Amherst College than at Brown University (59% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 11.7% larger than aid received by Brown University students ($68,591 vs. $61,392).

Amherst vs. Brown Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Brown University (1550) is 10 points higher than at Amherst (1540).
  • Incoming Amherst students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Brown (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 1490/1580; Brown University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 33/35; Brown University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Amherst - Test optional; Brown - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027; Brown Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Brown students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Amherst (3.91).
  • Amherst has a higher acceptance rate (9%) than Brown (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 65.2% at Brown.

Amherst vs. Brown Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Amherst and Brown? 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 Brown University's (95%).
  • Graduates from Brown University earn a median of about $5,600 more per year than Amherst graduates about ten years after starting college ($87,600 vs. $82,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $2,025 lower median loan debt than Brown graduates ($12,975 vs. $15,000).
  • Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Brown graduates ($134 vs. $155).
  • More Brown 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.