Amherst vs. Penn

Comparable Facts

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

University of Pennsylvania is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (29,109 students vs. 1,914 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Amherst vs. Penn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Amherst or Penn? 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 Penn ($19,049 vs. $23,570).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Amherst College are 4.1% lower than at University of Pennsylvania ($18,390 vs. $19,174).
• Amherst College is 2.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn (about $1,794 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $68,686.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.6% higher at Amherst than at University of Pennsylvania (about $1,794 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $68,686.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Amherst College than at University of Pennsylvania (59% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 4.8% larger than aid received by University of Pennsylvania students ($68,591 vs. $65,458).

Amherst vs. Penn Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Amherst College (1540) is the same as at Penn (1540).
• Incoming Penn students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 34 at Amherst).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 1490/1580; University of Pennsylvania 1510/1570.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 33/35; University of Pennsylvania 34/36.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Amherst - Test optional; Penn - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027; Penn Jan 5, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Penn students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Amherst (3.91).
• Amherst has a higher acceptance rate (9%) than Penn (5.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 68% at Penn.

Amherst vs. Penn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Amherst and Penn? 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).

• The graduation rate at Amherst is the same as at University of Pennsylvania (96% vs. 96%).
• Graduates from University of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $41,600 more per year than Amherst graduates about ten years after starting college ($123,600 vs. $82,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $7,658 lower median loan debt than Penn graduates ($12,975 vs. $20,633).
• Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $79 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn graduates ($134 vs. $213).
• More Penn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Amherst students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 83%)

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.