Amherst vs. Kenyon

Deciding between Amherst College and Kenyon 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
Kenyon College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Amherst Amherst, MA
  • Kenyon Gambier, OH
  • Setting
  • Amherst Town Fringe
  • Kenyon Distant Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • Amherst 1,914
  • Kenyon 2,249
  • Type
  • Amherst Private 4 Year
  • Kenyon Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Amherst #13
  • Kenyon #62
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Amherst -
  • Kenyon -
  • Status
  • Amherst Non-profit
  • Kenyon Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Amherst
  • Kenyon

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • Kenyon $71,520
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • Kenyon $71,520
  • Room & Board
  • Amherst $18,390
  • Kenyon $15,640
  • Average Net Price
  • Amherst $19,049
  • Kenyon $46,859
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Amherst $68,591
  • Kenyon $40,731
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Amherst 59%
  • Kenyon 82%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Amherst 13,743
  • Kenyon 7,726
  • Admitted
  • Amherst 1,238
  • Kenyon 2,397
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Amherst 9%
  • Kenyon 31%
  • Enrolled
  • Amherst 38.8%
  • Kenyon 18.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Amherst 1540
  • Kenyon 1430
  • Typical ACT score
  • Amherst 34
  • Kenyon 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Amherst 3.91
  • Kenyon 3.84
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Amherst A
  • Kenyon A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Amherst Elite
  • Kenyon Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Amherst Extreme
  • Kenyon High
  • ACT Range
  • Amherst 33/35
  • Kenyon 31/33
  • SAT Range
  • Amherst 1490/1580
  • Kenyon 1358/1503
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Amherst Test optional
  • Kenyon Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Amherst Jan 2, 2027
  • Kenyon Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Amherst 6:1
  • Kenyon 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Amherst
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Kenyon
    • Social Sciences (22%)
    • English and Literature (17%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Amherst 96%
  • Kenyon 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Amherst $82,000
  • Kenyon $52,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Amherst 83%
  • Kenyon 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Amherst $12,975
  • Kenyon $19,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Amherst $134
  • Kenyon $196

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Amherst 45%
  • Kenyon 44%
  • % Women
  • Amherst 55%
  • Kenyon 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Amherst Very High
  • Kenyon Low
  • HBCU
  • Amherst No
  • Kenyon No
  • % White
  • Amherst 42%
  • Kenyon 73%
  • % Asian
  • Amherst 14%
  • Kenyon 4%
  • % Black
  • Amherst 12%
  • Kenyon 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Amherst 13%
  • Kenyon 7%
  • % Native American
  • Amherst 0%
  • Kenyon 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Amherst 0%
  • Kenyon 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Amherst 5%
  • Kenyon 4%
  • % International
  • Amherst 10%
  • Kenyon 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Amherst 4%
  • Kenyon 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Amherst 13%
  • Kenyon 12%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Amherst 70%
  • Kenyon 78%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Kenyon College is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (2,249 students vs. 1,914 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Kenyon College is in Gambier, OH (Distant Rural setting).
  • Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Kenyon College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Amherst College 6:1; Kenyon College 9:1.

Amherst vs. Kenyon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Amherst or Kenyon? 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 Kenyon ($19,049 vs. $46,859).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kenyon College are 15% lower than at Amherst College ($15,640 vs. $18,390).
  • Kenyon College is 1.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Amherst (about $1,040 more per year; $71,520.00 vs. $70,480.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.5% higher at Kenyon than at Amherst College (about $1,040 more per year; $71,520.00 vs. $70,480.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kenyon College than at Amherst College (82% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 68.4% larger than aid received by Kenyon College students ($68,591 vs. $40,731).

Amherst vs. Kenyon Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Amherst College (1540) is 110 points higher than at Kenyon (1430).
  • Incoming Amherst students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at Kenyon).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 1490/1580; Kenyon College 1358/1503.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 33/35; Kenyon College 31/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Amherst - Test optional; Kenyon - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027; Kenyon Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Amherst students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Kenyon (3.84).
  • Kenyon has a higher acceptance rate (31%) than Amherst (9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 18.3% at Kenyon.

Amherst vs. Kenyon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Amherst and Kenyon? 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 Kenyon College's (87%).
  • Graduates from Amherst College earn a median of about $29,100 more per year than Kenyon graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,000 vs. $52,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $6,025 lower median loan debt than Kenyon graduates ($12,975 vs. $19,000).
  • Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Kenyon graduates ($134 vs. $196).
  • More Kenyon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Amherst students, three years after graduation. (87% 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.