Maryland vs. Amherst

Comparable Facts

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

University of Maryland College Park is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (41,725 students vs. 1,914 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Maryland College Park is located in College Park, MD (Large Suburban setting); Amherst College is in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting).
• University of Maryland College Park is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Maryland College Park 17:1; Amherst College 6:1.

Maryland vs. Amherst Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Maryland 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 University of Maryland College Park than Amherst ($16,581 vs. $19,049).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maryland College Park are 13.2% lower than at Amherst College ($15,958 vs. $18,390).
• Amherst College is 496.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Maryland (about $58,671 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $11,809.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 71.1% higher at Amherst than at University of Maryland College Park (about $29,294 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $41,186.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Amherst College than at University of Maryland College Park (59% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 433.1% larger than aid received by University of Maryland College Park students ($68,591 vs. $12,867).

Maryland vs. Amherst Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Maryland 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 Maryland.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Amherst College (1540) is 70 points higher than at Maryland (1470).
• Incoming Amherst students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at Maryland).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland College Park 1400/1530; Amherst College 1490/1580.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland College Park 32/35; Amherst College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Maryland - Test optional; Amherst - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Amherst students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Maryland (3.84).
• Maryland has a higher acceptance rate (44.8%) than Amherst (9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at Maryland vs. 38.8% at Amherst.

Maryland vs. Amherst Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Maryland 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 University of Maryland College Park's (82%).
• Graduates from Amherst College earn a median of about $13,700 more per year than Maryland graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,000 vs. $68,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $6,525 lower median loan debt than Maryland graduates ($12,975 vs. $19,500).
• Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $67 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Maryland graduates ($134 vs. $201).
• More Amherst graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Maryland students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 80%)

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.