Amherst vs. Harvard

Deciding between Amherst College and Harvard 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
Harvard University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Amherst Amherst, MA
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Setting
  • Amherst Town Fringe
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Amherst 1,914
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Type
  • Amherst Private 4 Year
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Amherst #13
  • Harvard #4
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Amherst -
  • Harvard -
  • Status
  • Amherst Non-profit
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Amherst
  • Harvard

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Room & Board
  • Amherst $18,390
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Average Net Price
  • Amherst $19,049
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Amherst $68,591
  • Harvard $68,015
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Amherst 59%
  • Harvard 56%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Amherst 13,743
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Admitted
  • Amherst 1,238
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Amherst 9%
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Amherst 38.8%
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Amherst 1540
  • Harvard 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Amherst 34
  • Harvard 35
  • Average High School GPA
  • Amherst 3.91
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Amherst A
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Amherst Elite
  • Harvard Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Amherst Extreme
  • Harvard Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Amherst 33/35
  • Harvard 34/36
  • SAT Range
  • Amherst 1490/1580
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Amherst Test optional
  • Harvard Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Amherst Jan 2, 2027
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Amherst 6:1
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Amherst
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Amherst 96%
  • Harvard 97%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Amherst $82,000
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Amherst 83%
  • Harvard 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Amherst $12,975
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Amherst $134
  • Harvard $67

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Amherst 45%
  • Harvard 46%
  • % Women
  • Amherst 55%
  • Harvard 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Amherst Very High
  • Harvard Very High
  • HBCU
  • Amherst No
  • Harvard No
  • % White
  • Amherst 42%
  • Harvard 44%
  • % Asian
  • Amherst 14%
  • Harvard 19%
  • % Black
  • Amherst 12%
  • Harvard 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Amherst 13%
  • Harvard 10%
  • % Native American
  • Amherst 0%
  • Harvard 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Amherst 0%
  • Harvard 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Amherst 5%
  • Harvard 6%
  • % International
  • Amherst 10%
  • Harvard 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Amherst 4%
  • Harvard 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Amherst 13%
  • Harvard 14%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Amherst 70%
  • Harvard 68%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Harvard University is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 1,914 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Harvard University is in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting).
  • Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Amherst College 6:1; Harvard University 7:1.

Amherst vs. Harvard Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Amherst or Harvard? 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 Harvard University than Amherst ($17,525 vs. $19,049).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Amherst College are 13.2% lower than at Harvard University ($18,390 vs. $21,190).
  • Amherst College is 14.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $8,804 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.3% higher at Amherst than at Harvard University (about $8,804 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Amherst College than at Harvard University (59% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 0.8% larger than aid received by Harvard University students ($68,591 vs. $68,015).

Amherst vs. Harvard Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 10 points higher than at Amherst (1540).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 34 at Amherst).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 1490/1580; Harvard University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 33/35; Harvard University 34/36.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Amherst - Test optional; Harvard - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027; Harvard Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Amherst (3.91).
  • Amherst has a higher acceptance rate (9%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 83.6% at Harvard.

Amherst vs. Harvard Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Amherst and Harvard? 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).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Amherst College's (96%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $54,700 more per year than Amherst graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $82,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $6,475 lower median loan debt than Amherst graduates ($6,500 vs. $12,975).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $67 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Amherst graduates ($67 vs. $134).
  • More Amherst graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 70%)

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.