Amherst vs. NYU

Deciding between Amherst College and New York University? 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
New York University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Amherst Amherst, MA
  • NYU New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Amherst Town Fringe
  • NYU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Amherst 1,914
  • NYU 56,832
  • Type
  • Amherst Private 4 Year
  • NYU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Amherst #13
  • NYU #43
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Amherst -
  • NYU -
  • Status
  • Amherst Non-profit
  • NYU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Amherst
  • NYU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • NYU $62,796
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • NYU $62,796
  • Room & Board
  • Amherst $18,390
  • NYU $23,530
  • Average Net Price
  • Amherst $19,049
  • NYU $30,325
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Amherst $68,591
  • NYU $53,901
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Amherst 59%
  • NYU 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Amherst 13,743
  • NYU 110,807
  • Admitted
  • Amherst 1,238
  • NYU 10,232
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Amherst 9%
  • NYU 9.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Amherst 38.8%
  • NYU 55.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Amherst 1540
  • NYU 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • Amherst 34
  • NYU 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Amherst 3.91
  • NYU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Amherst A
  • NYU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Amherst Elite
  • NYU Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Amherst Extreme
  • NYU Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Amherst 33/35
  • NYU 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Amherst 1490/1580
  • NYU 1480/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Amherst Test optional
  • NYU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Amherst Jan 2, 2027
  • NYU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Amherst 6:1
  • NYU 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Amherst
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • NYU
    • Business (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (18%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Communication (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Amherst 96%
  • NYU 86%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Amherst $82,000
  • NYU $76,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Amherst 83%
  • NYU 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Amherst $12,975
  • NYU $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Amherst $134
  • NYU $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Amherst 45%
  • NYU 42%
  • % Women
  • Amherst 55%
  • NYU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Amherst Very High
  • NYU Very High
  • HBCU
  • Amherst No
  • NYU No
  • % White
  • Amherst 42%
  • NYU 34%
  • % Asian
  • Amherst 14%
  • NYU 20%
  • % Black
  • Amherst 12%
  • NYU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Amherst 13%
  • NYU 12%
  • % Native American
  • Amherst 0%
  • NYU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Amherst 0%
  • NYU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Amherst 5%
  • NYU 4%
  • % International
  • Amherst 10%
  • NYU 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Amherst 4%
  • NYU 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Amherst 13%
  • NYU 26%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Amherst 70%
  • NYU 49%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Amherst College in Amherst, MA with New York University in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

New York University is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (56,832 students vs. 1,914 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Amherst vs. NYU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Amherst or NYU? 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 NYU ($19,049 vs. $30,325).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Amherst College are 21.8% lower than at New York University ($18,390 vs. $23,530).
  • Amherst College is 12.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than NYU (about $7,684 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12.2% higher at Amherst than at New York University (about $7,684 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Amherst College than at New York University (59% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 27.3% larger than aid received by New York University students ($68,591 vs. $53,901).

Amherst vs. NYU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Amherst College (1540) is 20 points higher than at NYU (1520).
  • Incoming Amherst students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at NYU (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 1490/1580; New York University 1480/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 33/35; New York University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Amherst - Test optional; NYU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Amherst students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at NYU (3.79).
  • NYU has a higher acceptance rate (9.2%) than Amherst (9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 55.4% at NYU.

Amherst vs. NYU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Amherst and NYU? 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 New York University's (86%).
  • Graduates from Amherst College earn a median of about $6,000 more per year than NYU graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,000 vs. $76,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $10,275 lower median loan debt than NYU graduates ($12,975 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $106 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NYU graduates ($134 vs. $240).
  • More Amherst graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NYU 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.