Amherst vs. West Point

Deciding between Amherst College and United States Military Academy? 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
United States Military Academy

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Amherst Amherst, MA
  • West Point West Point, New York
  • Setting
  • Amherst Town Fringe
  • West Point Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Amherst 1,914
  • West Point 4,473
  • Type
  • Amherst Private 4 Year
  • West Point Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Amherst #13
  • West Point
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Amherst -
  • West Point -
  • Status
  • Amherst Non-profit
  • West Point Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Amherst
  • West Point

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • West Point $0
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • West Point $0
  • Room & Board
  • Amherst $18,390
  • West Point $0
  • Average Net Price
  • Amherst $19,049
  • West Point -
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Amherst $68,591
  • West Point $0
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Amherst 59%
  • West Point 0%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Amherst 13,743
  • West Point 12,320
  • Admitted
  • Amherst 1,238
  • West Point 1,534
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Amherst 9%
  • West Point 12.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Amherst 38.8%
  • West Point 77.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Amherst 1540
  • West Point 1320
  • Typical ACT score
  • Amherst 34
  • West Point 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Amherst 3.91
  • West Point 4.0
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Amherst A
  • West Point A/A+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Amherst Elite
  • West Point Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Amherst Extreme
  • West Point Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Amherst 33/35
  • West Point 27/33
  • SAT Range
  • Amherst 1490/1580
  • West Point 1200/1430
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Amherst Test optional
  • West Point Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Amherst Jan 2, 2027
  • West Point Jan 31, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Amherst 6:1
  • West Point 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Amherst
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • West Point
    • Engineering (21%)
    • Social Sciences (18%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (6%)
    • Business (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Amherst 96%
  • West Point 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Amherst $82,000
  • West Point N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Amherst 83%
  • West Point -
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Amherst $12,975
  • West Point N/A
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Amherst $134
  • West Point N/A

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Amherst 45%
  • West Point 78%
  • % Women
  • Amherst 55%
  • West Point 22%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Amherst Very High
  • West Point -
  • HBCU
  • Amherst No
  • West Point No
  • % White
  • Amherst 42%
  • West Point 0%
  • % Asian
  • Amherst 14%
  • West Point 0%
  • % Black
  • Amherst 12%
  • West Point 0%
  • % Hispanic
  • Amherst 13%
  • West Point 0%
  • % Native American
  • Amherst 0%
  • West Point 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Amherst 0%
  • West Point 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Amherst 5%
  • West Point 0%
  • % International
  • Amherst 10%
  • West Point 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Amherst 4%
  • West Point 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Amherst 13%
  • West Point 7%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Amherst 70%
  • West Point 92%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Amherst College in Amherst, MA with United States Military Academy in West Point, New York on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

United States Military Academy is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (4,473 students vs. 1,914 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); United States Military Academy is in West Point, New York (Large Suburban setting).
  • Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. United States Military Academy is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Amherst College 6:1; United States Military Academy 6:1.

Amherst vs. West Point Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Amherst or West Point? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • In-state tuition differs between Amherst College and West Point ($70,480.00 vs. $0.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition differs between Amherst and United States Military Academy ($70,480.00 vs. $0.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Amherst College than at United States Military Academy (59% vs. 0%).

Amherst vs. West Point Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Amherst College (1540) is 220 points higher than at West Point (1320).
  • Incoming Amherst students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at West Point).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 1490/1580; United States Military Academy 1200/1430.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 33/35; United States Military Academy 27/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Amherst - Test optional; West Point - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027; West Point Jan 31, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman West Point students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Amherst (3.91).
  • West Point has a higher acceptance rate (12.5%) than Amherst (9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 77.9% at West Point.

Amherst vs. West Point Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Amherst and West Point? 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 United States Military Academy's (80%).

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.