Amherst College
Amherst, MA
Affordability & debt
- Average net price
- $23,367per year, after aid
- Undergraduates with a federal loan
- 8%
- Undergraduates receiving a Pell grant
- 20%need-based, not repaid
- Typical debt at graduation
- $13,740federal loans, students who finished
- Reducing their balance within 3 years
- 80%of borrowers who entered repayment
What that debt costs to repay. Typical debt here is about $13,740. At 7% over 10 years — the standard federal plan — that is roughly $160 a month, about $19,144 repaid in total, of which $5,404 is interest.
Stretch the same balance over 25 years and the payment drops to $97 a month — but the total climbs to $29,133, roughly $9,989 more in interest. A smaller payment is not a smaller loan.
An estimate, not financial advice: straight amortization at a fixed rate, ignoring fees, interest accrued while enrolled, and any forgiveness or income-driven plan. Figures on this page are averages and medians — what any one family borrows and pays varies widely. Try your own numbers.
Amherst College’s net price calculator — every college is required to publish one. It is the only way to get a cost estimate based on your family’s own finances rather than an average.
Published tuition
- In-state tuition
- $70,480published rate
- Out-of-state tuition
- $70,480published rate
The sticker price before any aid. Most students pay less than this — the net price above is what aided students actually paid on average.
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 9%
- Average SAT
- 1,533of admitted students
- Average ACT
- 33of admitted students
Context for the class as a whole, not a prediction about any one applicant.
Outcomes
- Median earnings
- $77,64410 years after entry
Median earnings of former students who received federal aid, measured 10 years after they started.
Campus life
- Campus setting
- City: Small
- Residential character
- Highly residential — most students live on campus
Most common fields of study
- Social sciences20%
- Biological & biomedical sciences12%
- Computer & information sciences11%
- Mathematics & statistics8%
- Ethnic, cultural & gender studies7%
- Psychology7%
Share of degrees awarded, by broad field.
Athletics
NCAA Division III with football
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Diving
- Field Hockey
- Football
- Golf
- Ice Hockey
- Lacrosse
- Soccer
- Softball
- Squash
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Volleyball
What borrowing would really cost
Starting from the typical debt at Amherst College. Change any figure to see your own.
Standard plan — 10 years
$160per month
- Total repaid
- $19,144
- Interest paid
- $5,404
Longer term — 25 years
$97per month
- Total repaid
- $29,133
- Interest paid
- $15,393
Borrow $13,740 and repay it over 25 years instead of 10, and you pay $9,989 more — $29,133 in all, about 2.1× what you borrowed. The monthly payment is smaller; the loan is not.
An estimate, not financial advice. Straight amortization at a fixed rate: it assumes every payment is made on time and the rate never changes, and it leaves out fees, interest that accrues while you’re still enrolled, and any forgiveness or income-driven plan. Planning4College is not a financial advisor and sells no loans. Check real terms with your school’s financial aid office and studentaid.gov.
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