Amherst vs. Worcester State University

Should I go to Amherst College or Worcester State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Amherst or Worcester State University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

Williams Tufts Swarthmore Middlebury Dartmouth Brown Vassar Harvard Hamilton College Wellesley Cornell Pomona
Amherst College vs. Worcester State University comparison
Amherst College Worcester State University College 3 College 4
Amherst College Worcester State University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Amherst Worcester State University
Location Amherst, MA Worcester, MA
Setting Town Fringe Midsize City
Enrollment 1,910 5,611
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #15 #565
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website amherst.edu worcester.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Amherst Worcester State University
Tuition (In State) $66,650 $970
Tuition (Out of State) $66,650 $7,050
Room & Board $17,560 $12,999
Avg Net Price $17,965 $14,307
Avg Grant Aid $65,623 $7,332
% Receiving Grant Aid 58% 75%

Admission

Amherst Worcester State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,727 4,745
Admitted 1,250 4,264
Acceptance Rate 9.8% 89.9%
Enrolled % 39% 21.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.91 3.3
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Elite Challenging
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range 31/35
SAT Range 1360/1550 1008/1280
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 Jun 1, 2026

Academics

Amherst Worcester State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 7:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • English and Literature (12%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Psychology (15%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Biology (6%)

Outcomes

Amherst Worcester State University
Graduation Rate 96% 47%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $82,000 $49,200
Making Student Loan Payments 83% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $12,975 $20,000
Median Loan Payment $134 $206

Diversity

Amherst Worcester State University
% Men 0% 3%
% Women 0% 13%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 42% 71%
% Black 12% 8%
% Hispanic 13% 9%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 10% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 4%

Students

Amherst Worcester State University
% In-State 9% 92%
% Out-of-State 77% 6%

Campus

Amherst Worcester State University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Worcester State University is larger than than Amherst based on total student enrollment (5,611 students vs. 1,910 students)

Amherst vs. Worcester State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Amherst or Worcester State University?

  • Amherst College is 6,771.1% more expensive to attend than Worcester State University for in-state tuition ($66,650.00 vs. $970.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 845.4% higher at Amherst than Worcester State University ($66,650.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Worcester State University than Amherst ($14,307 vs. $17,965)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Worcester State University are 35.1% lower than costs at Amherst College ($12,999 vs. $17,560)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Worcester State University than Amherst College (75% vs. 58%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 795% larger than aid received Worcester State University ($65,623 vs. $7,332)

Amherst vs. Worcester State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Amherst or Worcester State University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Worcester State University or Amherst .

  • The average SAT score at Amherst College (1451) is 431 points higher than at Worcester State University (1020)
  • Incoming Amherst students have a 10 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at Worcester State University (23)
  • Accepted freshman Amherst students have a 0.61 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Worcester State University (3.3)
  • Worcester State University has a higher acceptance rate (89.9%) than Amherst (9.8%)

Amherst vs. Worcester State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Amherst or Worcester State University? 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 Worcester State University and Amherst.

  • The graduation rate at Amherst is higher than Worcester State University (96% vs. 47%)
  • Graduates from Amherst College earn on average $32,800 more per year than Worcester State University graduates after ten years. ($82,000 vs. $49,200)
  • Amherst College students graduate with a $7,025 lower median federal student loan debt than Worcester State University graduates. ($12,975 vs. $20,000)
  • Amherst graduates are paying $72 less per month on federal student loans than Worcester State University graduates. ($134 vs. $206)
  • More Amherst graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Worcester State University students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 66%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/