Amherst vs. MIT

Deciding between Amherst College and Massachusetts Institute of Technology? 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
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Amherst Amherst, MA
  • MIT Cambridge, MA
  • Setting
  • Amherst Town Fringe
  • MIT Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Amherst 1,914
  • MIT 11,886
  • Type
  • Amherst Private 4 Year
  • MIT Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Amherst #13
  • MIT #8
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Amherst -
  • MIT -
  • Status
  • Amherst Non-profit
  • MIT Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Amherst
  • MIT

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • MIT $62,396
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • MIT $62,396
  • Room & Board
  • Amherst $18,390
  • MIT $20,280
  • Average Net Price
  • Amherst $19,049
  • MIT $20,996
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Amherst $68,591
  • MIT $61,734
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Amherst 59%
  • MIT 59%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Amherst 13,743
  • MIT 28,232
  • Admitted
  • Amherst 1,238
  • MIT 1,284
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Amherst 9%
  • MIT 4.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Amherst 38.8%
  • MIT 85.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Amherst 1540
  • MIT 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Amherst 34
  • MIT 35
  • Average High School GPA
  • Amherst 3.91
  • MIT 3.96
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Amherst A
  • MIT A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Amherst Elite
  • MIT Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Amherst Extreme
  • MIT Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Amherst 33/35
  • MIT 34/36
  • SAT Range
  • Amherst 1490/1580
  • MIT 1520/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Amherst Test optional
  • MIT Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Amherst Jan 2, 2027
  • MIT Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Amherst 6:1
  • MIT 3:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Amherst
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • MIT
    • Engineering (41%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (13%)
    • Physical Sciences (10%)
    • Mathematics (8%)
    • Biology (8%)

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Amherst 45%
  • MIT 56%
  • % Women
  • Amherst 55%
  • MIT 44%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Amherst Very High
  • MIT Very High
  • HBCU
  • Amherst No
  • MIT No
  • % White
  • Amherst 42%
  • MIT 37%
  • % Asian
  • Amherst 14%
  • MIT 25%
  • % Black
  • Amherst 12%
  • MIT 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Amherst 13%
  • MIT 15%
  • % Native American
  • Amherst 0%
  • MIT 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Amherst 0%
  • MIT 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Amherst 5%
  • MIT 6%
  • % International
  • Amherst 10%
  • MIT 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Amherst 4%
  • MIT 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Amherst 13%
  • MIT 8%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Amherst 70%
  • MIT 80%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Amherst College in Amherst, MA with Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (11,886 students vs. 1,914 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Massachusetts Institute of Technology is in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting).
  • Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Amherst College 6:1; Massachusetts Institute of Technology 3:1.

Amherst vs. MIT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Amherst or MIT? 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 MIT ($19,049 vs. $20,996).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Amherst College are 9.3% lower than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($18,390 vs. $20,280).
  • Amherst College is 13% more expensive for in-state tuition than MIT (about $8,084 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $62,396.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 13% higher at Amherst than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (about $8,084 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $62,396.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Amherst College as at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (59% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 11.1% larger than aid received by Massachusetts Institute of Technology students ($68,591 vs. $61,734).

Amherst vs. MIT Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1550) is 10 points higher than at Amherst (1540).
  • Incoming MIT 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; Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1520/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 33/35; Massachusetts Institute of Technology 34/36.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Amherst - Test optional; MIT - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027; MIT Jan 1, 2027.
  • 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 (9%) than MIT (4.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 85.8% at MIT.

Amherst vs. MIT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Amherst and MIT? 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 Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (93%).
  • Graduates from Massachusetts Institute of Technology earn a median of about $60,100 more per year than Amherst graduates about ten years after starting college ($142,100 vs. $82,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $4,341 lower median loan debt than MIT graduates ($12,975 vs. $17,316).
  • Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $45 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.