Amherst vs. Haverford College

Comparable Facts

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

Amherst College is larger than Haverford College based on total student enrollment (1,914 students vs. 1,431 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Haverford College is in Haverford, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Haverford College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Amherst College 6:1; Haverford College 8:1.

Amherst vs. Haverford College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Amherst or Haverford College? 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 Haverford College ($19,049 vs. $26,535).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Amherst College are 5.9% lower than at Haverford College ($18,390 vs. $19,548).
• Haverford College is 0.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Amherst (about $208 more per year; $70,688.00 vs. $70,480.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.3% higher at Haverford College than at Amherst College (about $208 more per year; $70,688.00 vs. $70,480.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Amherst College than at Haverford College (59% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 7.6% larger than aid received by Haverford College students ($68,591 vs. $63,742).

Amherst vs. Haverford College Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Amherst College (1540) is 30 points higher than at Haverford College (1510).
• Incoming Amherst students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Haverford College (34).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 1490/1580; Haverford College 1460/1550.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 33/35; Haverford College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Amherst - Test optional; Haverford College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027; Haverford College Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Amherst students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Haverford College (3.9).
• Haverford College has a higher acceptance rate (12.4%) than Amherst (9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 42.6% at Haverford College.

Amherst vs. Haverford College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Amherst and Haverford College? 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 Haverford College's (92%).
• Graduates from Amherst College earn a median of about $13,200 more per year than Haverford College graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,000 vs. $68,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $25 lower median loan debt than Haverford College graduates ($12,975 vs. $13,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Haverford College and Amherst graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($134 vs. $134).
• More Haverford College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Amherst students, three years after graduation. (88% 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.