Claremont McKenna vs. Amherst

Comparable Facts

Compare Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, CA with Amherst College in Amherst, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Amherst College is larger than Claremont McKenna based on total student enrollment (1,914 students vs. 1,393 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Claremont McKenna College is located in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting); Amherst College is in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting).
• Claremont McKenna College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Claremont McKenna College 8:1; Amherst College 6:1.

Claremont McKenna vs. Amherst Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Claremont McKenna or Amherst? 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 Claremont McKenna ($19,049 vs. $33,895).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Amherst College are 11.7% lower than at Claremont McKenna College ($18,390 vs. $20,830).
• Amherst College is 3.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Claremont McKenna (about $2,500 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $67,980.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.7% higher at Amherst than at Claremont McKenna College (about $2,500 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $67,980.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Amherst College than at Claremont McKenna College (59% vs. 43%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 30.4% larger than aid received by Claremont McKenna College students ($68,591 vs. $52,605).

Claremont McKenna vs. Amherst Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Amherst College (1540) is 20 points higher than at Claremont McKenna (1520).
• Incoming Claremont McKenna students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Amherst (34).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Claremont McKenna College 1470/1560; Amherst College 1490/1580.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Claremont McKenna College 33/35; Amherst College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Claremont McKenna - Test optional; Amherst - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Claremont McKenna Jan 5, 2027; Amherst Jan 2, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Amherst students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Claremont McKenna (3.89).
• Claremont McKenna has a higher acceptance rate (9.6%) than Amherst (9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.8% at Claremont McKenna vs. 38.8% at Amherst.

Claremont McKenna vs. Amherst Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Claremont McKenna and Amherst? 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 Claremont McKenna College's (91%).
• Graduates from Claremont McKenna College earn a median of about $15,800 more per year than Amherst graduates about ten years after starting college ($97,800 vs. $82,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $1,992 lower median loan debt than Claremont McKenna graduates ($12,975 vs. $14,967).
• Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Claremont McKenna graduates ($134 vs. $154).

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.