Amherst vs. Simmons University

Should I go to Amherst College or Simmons University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Amherst or Simmons University 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. Simmons University comparison
Amherst College Simmons University College 3 College 4
Amherst College Simmons University
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Overview

Amherst Simmons University
Location Amherst, MA Boston, MA
Setting Town Fringe Large City
Enrollment 1,898 5,710
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #16 #108
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website amherst.edu simmons.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Amherst Simmons University
Tuition (In State) $63,500 $43,060
Tuition (Out of State) $63,500 $43,060
Room & Board $16,750 $16,368
Avg Net Price $21,367 $24,423
Avg Grant Aid $58,693 $36,606
% Receiving Grant Aid 58% 100%

Admission

Amherst Simmons University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 14,864 4,001
Admitted 1,079 3,059
Acceptance Rate 7.3% 76.5%
Enrolled % 43.3% 12.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.91 3.87
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Very High
Applicant Competition Extreme
ACT Range 32/35 28/32
SAT Range 1420/1550 1200/1390
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 2, 2025 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

Amherst Simmons University
Student to Faculty Ratio 7:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • English and Literature (12%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Health Professions (37%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Business (6%)

Outcomes

Amherst Simmons University
Graduation Rate 96% 69%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $82,000 $52,800
Making Student Loan Payments 83% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $12,975 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $134 $268

Diversity

Amherst Simmons University
% Men 48% 8%
% Women 52% 92%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 42% 67%
% Black 12% 7%
% Hispanic 13% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 10% 3%
% Unknown Race 4% 4%

Students

Amherst Simmons University
% In-State 13% 52%
% Out-of-State 74% 41%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Simmons University is larger than than Amherst based on total student enrollment (5,710 students vs. 1,898 students)

Amherst vs. Simmons University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Amherst or Simmons University?

  • Amherst College is 47.5% more expensive to attend than Simmons University for in-state tuition ($63,500.00 vs. $43,060.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 47.5% higher at Amherst than Simmons University ($63,500.00 vs. $43,060.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Amherst College than Simmons University ($21,367 vs. $24,423)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Simmons University are 2.3% lower than costs at Amherst College ($16,368 vs. $16,750)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Simmons University than Amherst College (100% vs. 58%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 60.3% larger than aid received Simmons University ($58,693 vs. $36,606)

Amherst vs. Simmons University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Amherst College (1451) is 288 points higher than at Simmons University (1163)
  • Incoming Amherst students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at Simmons University (27)
  • Accepted freshman Amherst students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Simmons University (3.87)
  • Simmons University has a higher acceptance rate (76.5%) than Amherst (7.3%)

Amherst vs. Simmons University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Amherst or Simmons University? 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 Simmons University and Amherst.

  • The graduation rate at Amherst is higher than Simmons University (96% vs. 69%)
  • Graduates from Amherst College earn on average $29,200 more per year than Simmons University graduates after ten years. ($82,000 vs. $52,800)
  • Amherst College students graduate with a $13,025 lower median federal student loan debt than Simmons University graduates. ($12,975 vs. $26,000)
  • Amherst graduates are paying $134 less per month on federal student loans than Simmons University graduates. ($134 vs. $268)
  • More Amherst graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Simmons University students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 80%)

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