Amherst vs. MIT

Should I go to Amherst College or Massachusetts Institute of Technology? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Amherst or MIT is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Amherst College vs. Massachusetts Institute of Technology comparison
Amherst College Massachusetts Institute of Technology College 3 College 4
Amherst College Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Overview

Amherst MIT
Location Amherst, MA Cambridge, MA
Setting Town Fringe Midsize City
Enrollment 1,898 11,858
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #16 #8
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website amherst.edu mit.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Amherst MIT
Tuition (In State) $63,500 $57,590
Tuition (Out of State) $63,500 $57,590
Room & Board $16,750 $18,790
Avg Net Price $21,367 $20,232
Avg Grant Aid $58,693 $45,591
% Receiving Grant Aid 58% 71%

Admission

Amherst MIT
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 14,864 33,767
Admitted 1,079 1,337
Acceptance Rate 7.3% 4%
Enrolled % 43.3% 85%
Avg High School GPA 3.91 3.96
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Elite
Applicant Competition Extreme Extreme
ACT Range 32/35 35/36
SAT Range 1420/1550 1530/1580
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Jan 2, 2025 Jan 1, 2025

Academics

Amherst MIT
Student to Faculty Ratio 7:1 3:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • English and Literature (12%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Engineering (41%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (13%)
  • Physical Sciences (10%)
  • Mathematics (8%)
  • Biology (8%)

Outcomes

Amherst MIT
Graduation Rate 96% 93%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $82,000 $142,100
Making Student Loan Payments 83% 92%
Median Student Loan Debt $12,975 $17,316
Median Loan Payment $134 $179

Diversity

Amherst MIT
% Men 48% 57%
% Women 52% 43%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 42% 37%
% Black 12% 6%
% Hispanic 13% 15%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 6%
% International 10% 10%
% Unknown Race 4% 2%

Students

Amherst MIT
% In-State 13% 7%
% Out-of-State 74% 81%

Campus

Amherst MIT
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology is larger than than Amherst based on total student enrollment (11,858 students vs. 1,898 students)

Amherst vs. MIT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Amherst or MIT?

  • Amherst College is 10.3% more expensive to attend than MIT for in-state tuition ($63,500.00 vs. $57,590.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 10.3% higher at Amherst than Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($63,500.00 vs. $57,590.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than Amherst ($20,232 vs. $21,367)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Amherst College are 12.2% lower than costs at Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($16,750 vs. $18,790)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than Amherst College (71% vs. 58%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 28.7% larger than aid received Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($58,693 vs. $45,591)

Amherst vs. MIT Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Amherst or MIT? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between MIT or Amherst .

  • The average SAT score at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1507) is 56 points higher than at Amherst (1451)
  • Incoming MIT students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (34) than students at Amherst (33)
  • Accepted freshman MIT students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Amherst (3.91)
  • Amherst has a higher acceptance rate (7.3%) than MIT (4%)

Amherst vs. MIT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Amherst or MIT? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between MIT and Amherst.

  • The graduation rate at Amherst is higher than Massachusetts Institute of Technology (96% vs. 93%)
  • Graduates from Massachusetts Institute of Technology earn on average $60,100 more per year than Amherst graduates after ten years. ($142,100 vs. $82,000)
  • Amherst College students graduate with a $4,341 lower median federal student loan debt than MIT graduates. ($12,975 vs. $17,316)
  • Amherst graduates are paying $45 less per month on federal student loans than MIT graduates. ($134 vs. $179)
  • More MIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Amherst students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 83%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/