Amherst vs. Hunter

Deciding between Amherst College and CUNY Hunter 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
CUNY Hunter College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Amherst Amherst, MA
  • Hunter New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Amherst Town Fringe
  • Hunter Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Amherst 1,914
  • Hunter 22,538
  • Type
  • Amherst Private 4 Year
  • Hunter Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Amherst #13
  • Hunter #297
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Amherst -
  • Hunter -
  • Status
  • Amherst Non-profit
  • Hunter Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Amherst
  • Hunter

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • Hunter $7,382
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • Hunter $15,332
  • Room & Board
  • Amherst $18,390
  • Hunter $11,832
  • Average Net Price
  • Amherst $19,049
  • Hunter $4,431
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Amherst $68,591
  • Hunter $9,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Amherst 59%
  • Hunter 87%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Amherst 13,743
  • Hunter 32,271
  • Admitted
  • Amherst 1,238
  • Hunter 17,362
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Amherst 9%
  • Hunter 53.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Amherst 38.8%
  • Hunter 16.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Amherst 1540
  • Hunter 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Amherst 34
  • Hunter
  • Average High School GPA
  • Amherst 3.91
  • Hunter 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Amherst A
  • Hunter A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Amherst Elite
  • Hunter Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Amherst Extreme
  • Hunter Low
  • ACT Range
  • Amherst 33/35
  • Hunter
  • SAT Range
  • Amherst 1490/1580
  • Hunter 1100/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Amherst Test optional
  • Hunter Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Amherst Jan 2, 2027
  • Hunter

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Amherst 6:1
  • Hunter 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Amherst
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Hunter
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Psychology (16%)
    • English and Literature (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Health Professions (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Amherst 96%
  • Hunter 46%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Amherst $82,000
  • Hunter $48,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Amherst 83%
  • Hunter 56%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Amherst $12,975
  • Hunter $11,548
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Amherst $134
  • Hunter $119

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Amherst 45%
  • Hunter 33%
  • % Women
  • Amherst 55%
  • Hunter 67%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Amherst Very High
  • Hunter Very High
  • HBCU
  • Amherst No
  • Hunter No
  • % White
  • Amherst 42%
  • Hunter 27%
  • % Asian
  • Amherst 14%
  • Hunter 26%
  • % Black
  • Amherst 12%
  • Hunter 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • Amherst 13%
  • Hunter 29%
  • % Native American
  • Amherst 0%
  • Hunter 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Amherst 0%
  • Hunter 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Amherst 5%
  • Hunter 2%
  • % International
  • Amherst 10%
  • Hunter 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Amherst 4%
  • Hunter 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Amherst 13%
  • Hunter 82%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Amherst 70%
  • Hunter 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

CUNY Hunter College is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (22,538 students vs. 1,914 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); CUNY Hunter College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. CUNY Hunter College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Amherst College 6:1; CUNY Hunter College 14:1.

Amherst vs. Hunter Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Amherst or Hunter? 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 CUNY Hunter College than Amherst ($4,431 vs. $19,049).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY Hunter College are 35.7% lower than at Amherst College ($11,832 vs. $18,390).
  • Amherst College is 854.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hunter (about $63,098 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $7,382.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 359.7% higher at Amherst than at CUNY Hunter College (about $55,148 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $15,332.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Hunter College than at Amherst College (87% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 603.1% larger than aid received by CUNY Hunter College students ($68,591 vs. $9,755).

Amherst vs. Hunter Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Amherst College (1540) is 280 points higher than at Hunter (1260).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 1490/1580; CUNY Hunter College 1100/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Amherst - Test optional; Hunter - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Amherst students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Hunter (3.7).
  • Hunter has a higher acceptance rate (53.8%) than Amherst (9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 16.7% at Hunter.

Amherst vs. Hunter Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Amherst and Hunter? 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 CUNY Hunter College's (46%).
  • Graduates from Amherst College earn a median of about $33,200 more per year than Hunter graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,000 vs. $48,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Hunter College graduates have a $1,427 lower median loan debt than Amherst graduates ($11,548 vs. $12,975).
  • Among borrowers, Hunter graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Amherst graduates ($119 vs. $134).
  • More Amherst graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hunter students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 56%)

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.