Amherst vs. UMass

Deciding between Amherst College and University of Massachusetts Amherst? 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
University of Massachusetts Amherst

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Amherst Amherst, MA
  • UMass Amherst, MA
  • Setting
  • Amherst Town Fringe
  • UMass Town Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Amherst 1,914
  • UMass 31,726
  • Type
  • Amherst Private 4 Year
  • UMass Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Amherst #13
  • UMass #169
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Amherst -
  • UMass -
  • Status
  • Amherst Non-profit
  • UMass Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Amherst
  • UMass

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • UMass $17,772
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • UMass $40,449
  • Room & Board
  • Amherst $18,390
  • UMass $16,710
  • Average Net Price
  • Amherst $19,049
  • UMass $22,948
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Amherst $68,591
  • UMass $13,110
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Amherst 59%
  • UMass 81%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Amherst 13,743
  • UMass 50,261
  • Admitted
  • Amherst 1,238
  • UMass 30,020
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Amherst 9%
  • UMass 59.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Amherst 38.8%
  • UMass 17.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Amherst 1540
  • UMass 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • Amherst 34
  • UMass 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Amherst 3.91
  • UMass 3.99
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Amherst A
  • UMass A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Amherst Elite
  • UMass Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Amherst Extreme
  • UMass Low
  • ACT Range
  • Amherst 33/35
  • UMass 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Amherst 1490/1580
  • UMass 1310/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Amherst Test optional
  • UMass Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Amherst Jan 2, 2027
  • UMass Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Amherst 6:1
  • UMass 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Amherst
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • UMass
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Communication (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Amherst 96%
  • UMass 67%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Amherst $82,000
  • UMass $55,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Amherst 83%
  • UMass 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Amherst $12,975
  • UMass $24,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Amherst $134
  • UMass $248

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Amherst 45%
  • UMass 48%
  • % Women
  • Amherst 55%
  • UMass 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Amherst Very High
  • UMass Medium
  • HBCU
  • Amherst No
  • UMass No
  • % White
  • Amherst 42%
  • UMass 67%
  • % Asian
  • Amherst 14%
  • UMass 9%
  • % Black
  • Amherst 12%
  • UMass 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Amherst 13%
  • UMass 5%
  • % Native American
  • Amherst 0%
  • UMass 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Amherst 0%
  • UMass 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Amherst 5%
  • UMass 3%
  • % International
  • Amherst 10%
  • UMass 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Amherst 4%
  • UMass 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Amherst 13%
  • UMass 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Amherst 70%
  • UMass 22%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Massachusetts Amherst is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (31,726 students vs. 1,914 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); University of Massachusetts Amherst is in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting).
  • Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Amherst College 6:1; University of Massachusetts Amherst 17:1.

Amherst vs. UMass Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Amherst or UMass? 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 UMass ($19,049 vs. $22,948).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Amherst are 9.1% lower than at Amherst College ($16,710 vs. $18,390).
  • Amherst College is 296.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMass (about $52,708 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $17,772.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 74.2% higher at Amherst than at University of Massachusetts Amherst (about $30,031 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $40,449.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Massachusetts Amherst than at Amherst College (81% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 423.2% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Amherst students ($68,591 vs. $13,110).

Amherst vs. UMass Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Amherst College (1540) is 130 points higher than at UMass (1410).
  • Incoming Amherst students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at UMass).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 1490/1580; University of Massachusetts Amherst 1310/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 33/35; University of Massachusetts Amherst 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Amherst - Test optional; UMass - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027; UMass Jan 15, 2027.
  • 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 (59.7%) than Amherst (9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 17.9% at UMass.

Amherst vs. UMass Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Amherst and UMass? 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 University of Massachusetts Amherst's (67%).
  • Graduates from Amherst College earn a median of about $26,800 more per year than UMass graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,000 vs. $55,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $11,025 lower median loan debt than UMass graduates ($12,975 vs. $24,000).
  • Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $114 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.