Amherst vs. U of R

Comparable Facts

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

University of Rochester is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (11,946 students vs. 1,914 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); University of Rochester is in Rochester, NY (Midsize City setting).
• Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Rochester is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Amherst College 6:1; University of Rochester 9:1.

Amherst vs. U of R Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Amherst or U of R? 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 U of R ($19,049 vs. $40,462).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Amherst College are 7.1% lower than at University of Rochester ($18,390 vs. $19,792).
• Amherst College is 5.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than U of R (about $3,400 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $67,080.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.1% higher at Amherst than at University of Rochester (about $3,400 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $67,080.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Rochester than at Amherst College (72% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 50.7% larger than aid received by University of Rochester students ($68,591 vs. $45,500).

Amherst vs. U of R Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Amherst or U of R? 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 U of R and Amherst.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Amherst College (1540) is 60 points higher than at U of R (1480).
• Incoming Amherst students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at U of R).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 1490/1580; University of Rochester 1410/1540.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 33/35; University of Rochester 31/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Amherst - Test optional; U of R - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027; U of R Jan 5, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Amherst students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at U of R (3.75).
• U of R has a higher acceptance rate (40.1%) than Amherst (9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 15.4% at U of R.

Amherst vs. U of R Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Amherst and U of R? 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 Rochester's (83%).
• Graduates from Amherst College earn a median of about $11,000 more per year than U of R graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,000 vs. $71,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $11,525 lower median loan debt than U of R graduates ($12,975 vs. $24,500).
• Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $119 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than U of R graduates ($134 vs. $253).
• More Amherst graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former U of R students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 79%)

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.