Hampshire College vs. NEC

Comparable Facts

Compare Hampshire College in Amherst, MA with New England College in Henniker, NH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

New England College is larger than Hampshire College based on total student enrollment (3,275 students vs. 844 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Hampshire College is located in Amherst, MA (Rural Fringe setting); New England College is in Henniker, NH (Distant Rural setting).
• Hampshire College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. New England College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Hampshire College 13:1; New England College 8:1.

Hampshire College vs. NEC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hampshire College or NEC? 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 New England College than Hampshire College ($27,398 vs. $27,895).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Hampshire College are 8.9% lower than at New England College ($15,958 vs. $17,526).
• Hampshire College is 40.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than NEC (about $16,958 more per year; $58,896.00 vs. $41,938.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 40.4% higher at Hampshire College than at New England College (about $16,958 more per year; $58,896.00 vs. $41,938.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hampshire College than at New England College (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Hampshire College students is 43.8% larger than aid received by New England College students ($46,145 vs. $32,095).

Hampshire College vs. NEC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Hampshire College or NEC? 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 NEC and Hampshire College.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Hampshire College - Test-free; NEC - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Hampshire College Jan 15, 2027.
• NEC has a higher acceptance rate (92.1%) than Hampshire College (75.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.4% at Hampshire College vs. 8.8% at NEC.

Hampshire College vs. NEC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hampshire College and NEC? 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).

• Hampshire College's six-year graduation rate (61%) is higher than New England College's (38%).
• Graduates from New England College earn a median of about $2,300 more per year than Hampshire College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,400 vs. $37,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Hampshire College graduates have a $3,469 lower median loan debt than NEC graduates ($23,531 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Hampshire College graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NEC graduates ($243 vs. $279).
• More Hampshire College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NEC students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 54%)

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.