Menlo vs. Hampshire College

Comparable Facts

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

Hampshire College is larger than Menlo based on total student enrollment (844 students vs. 810 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Menlo College is located in Atherton, CA (Large Suburban setting); Hampshire College is in Amherst, MA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Menlo College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Hampshire College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Menlo College 14:1; Hampshire College 13:1.

Menlo vs. Hampshire College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Menlo or Hampshire College? 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 Hampshire College than Menlo ($27,895 vs. $32,563).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Hampshire College are 12.5% lower than at Menlo College ($15,958 vs. $18,236).
• Hampshire College is 9.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Menlo (about $5,266 more per year; $58,896.00 vs. $53,630.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.8% higher at Hampshire College than at Menlo College (about $5,266 more per year; $58,896.00 vs. $53,630.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Menlo College as at Hampshire College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Hampshire College students is 17.8% larger than aid received by Menlo College students ($46,145 vs. $39,174).

Menlo vs. Hampshire College Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Menlo - Test-free; Hampshire College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Menlo Apr 1, 2027; Hampshire College Jan 15, 2027.
• Hampshire College has a higher acceptance rate (75.3%) than Menlo (68.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 5.3% at Menlo vs. 14.4% at Hampshire College.

Menlo vs. Hampshire College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Menlo and Hampshire College? 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 Menlo College's (34%).
• Graduates from Menlo College earn a median of about $16,800 more per year than Hampshire College graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,900 vs. $37,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Menlo College graduates have a $2,469 lower median loan debt than Hampshire College graduates ($21,062 vs. $23,531).
• Among borrowers, Menlo graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Hampshire College graduates ($217 vs. $243).
• More Hampshire College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Menlo students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 55%)

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.