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UConn Williams UVM Penn State Tufts Rutgers UMass Dartmouth Swarthmore Middlebury BU UD Dartmouth| Amherst College | University of Massachusetts Amherst | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Amherst | UMass | ||
| Location | Amherst, MA | Amherst, MA | ||
| Setting | Town Fringe | Town Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 1,910 | 31,810 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #15 | #176 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | amherst.edu | umass.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Amherst | UMass | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $66,650 | $16,591 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $66,650 | $38,527 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,560 | $14,869 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $17,965 | $22,954 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $65,623 | $12,343 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 58% | 75% |
Admission |
Amherst | UMass | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 12,727 | 50,424 | ||
| Admitted | 1,250 | 29,129 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 9.8% | 57.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 39% | 18.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.91 | 3.99 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Elite | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 31/35 | 29/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1360/1550 | 1300/1480 | ||
| 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, 2026 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Amherst | UMass | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 7:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Amherst | UMass | ||
| Graduation Rate | 96% | 67% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $82,000 | $55,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 83% | 76% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $12,975 | $24,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $134 | $248 |
Diversity |
Amherst | UMass | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 0% | 12% | ||
| % Women | 0% | 12% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 42% | 67% | ||
| % Black | 12% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 13% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 3% | ||
| % International | 10% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 8% |
Students |
Amherst | UMass | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 9% | 67% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 77% | 23% | ||
Campus |
Amherst | UMass | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Massachusetts Amherst is larger than than Amherst based on total student enrollment (31,810 students vs. 1,910 students)
Amherst vs. UMass Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Amherst or UMass?
- Amherst College is 301.7% more expensive to attend than UMass for in-state tuition ($66,650.00 vs. $16,591.00)
- Out of state tuition is 73% higher at Amherst than University of Massachusetts Amherst ($66,650.00 vs. $38,527.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Amherst College than UMass ($17,965 vs. $22,954)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Amherst are 18.1% lower than costs at Amherst College ($14,869 vs. $17,560)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Massachusetts Amherst than Amherst College (75% vs. 58%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 431.7% larger than aid received University of Massachusetts Amherst ($65,623 vs. $12,343)
Amherst vs. UMass Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Amherst or UMass? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UMass or Amherst .
- The average SAT score at Amherst College (1451) is 225 points higher than at UMass (1226)
- Incoming Amherst students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at UMass (28)
- Accepted freshman UMass students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at Amherst (3.91)
- UMass has a higher acceptance rate (57.8%) than Amherst (9.8%)
Amherst vs. UMass Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Amherst or UMass? 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 UMass and Amherst.
- The graduation rate at Amherst is higher than University of Massachusetts Amherst (96% vs. 67%)
- Graduates from Amherst College earn on average $26,800 more per year than UMass graduates after ten years. ($82,000 vs. $55,200)
- Amherst College students graduate with a $11,025 lower median federal student loan debt than UMass graduates. ($12,975 vs. $24,000)
- Amherst graduates are paying $114 less per month on federal student loans than UMass graduates. ($134 vs. $248)
- More Amherst graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMass students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 76%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/