Amherst vs. MHC

Comparable Facts

Compare Amherst College in Amherst, MA with Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Mount Holyoke College is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (2,275 students vs. 1,914 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Mount Holyoke College is in South Hadley, MA (Large Suburban setting).
• Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Mount Holyoke College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Amherst College 6:1; Mount Holyoke College 9:1.

Amherst vs. MHC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Amherst or MHC? 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 MHC ($19,049 vs. $32,526).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Amherst College are 6.6% lower than at Mount Holyoke College ($18,390 vs. $19,684).
• Amherst College is 5.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than MHC (about $3,462 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $67,018.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.2% higher at Amherst than at Mount Holyoke College (about $3,462 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $67,018.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mount Holyoke College than at Amherst College (77% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 30.9% larger than aid received by Mount Holyoke College students ($68,591 vs. $52,418).

Amherst vs. MHC Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Amherst College (1540) is 80 points higher than at MHC (1460).
• Incoming Amherst students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at MHC).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 1490/1580; Mount Holyoke College 1380/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 33/35; Mount Holyoke College 32/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Amherst - Test optional; MHC - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027; MHC Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Amherst students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at MHC (3.87).
• MHC has a higher acceptance rate (36%) than Amherst (9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 27.2% at MHC.

Amherst vs. MHC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Amherst and MHC? 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 Mount Holyoke College's (85%).
• Graduates from Amherst College earn a median of about $32,000 more per year than MHC graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,000 vs. $50,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $8,231 lower median loan debt than MHC graduates ($12,975 vs. $21,206).
• Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $85 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MHC graduates ($134 vs. $219).
• More Amherst graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MHC students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 77%)

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.