Updated February 11, 2025

Amherst College – Acceptance Rate and Statistics

What is attending Amherst College like?

Originally founded in 1821 as an attempt to move Williams College to a different Massachusetts town, the liberal arts college is still standing strong as the third oldest educational institute in the state. The rural campus in Amherst, Massachusetts allows students to remain close with their peers: through small class sizes, research opportunities, and personal connection with professors, the academic rigor of Amherst College is renowned.

Amherst College also has an open curriculum, meaning there are no core classes that all students are required to take. This allows students to choose from their many passions and explore their academic curiosites through courses like individual music lessons, Philosophical Questions, The Modern World, and even Witches, Vampires, and Other Monsters.

With over 42 majors and an emphasis on experiential learning and research, Amherst allows students to truly individualize their academic journey.

As one of the oldest colleges in Massachusetts, Amherst has welcomed thousands of passionate students since 1821.

Amherst College 2023-2024 Admissions Data

Amherst College Admissions Statistics

Amherst College’s acceptance rate has historically hovered between 8-11%, including both Early Decision and Regular Decision applicants. According to the Amherst site, around 10% of applicants usually apply Early Decision, which is a binding agreement to attend Amherst if accepted.

Both are competitive processes, but if you’ve decided already that Amherst is the place for you, you can demonstrate your commitment to the school by applying during the Early Decision cycle.

2023-2024 Amherst College (Class of 2028) Acceptance Rate

Admission CycleNumber of applicantsNumber admittedAcceptance rate
All Applicants13,7431,2389%

Amherst College Acceptance Rate History

YearNumber of applicantsNumber admittedAcceptance rate
2023-2024 (Class of 2028)13,7431,2389%
2022-2023 (Class of 2027)14,8641,0797.3%
2021-2022 (Class of 2026)13,9991,2248.7%
2020-2021 (Class of 2025)10,6031,25411.8%
2019-2020 (Class of 2024)10,5691,19511.3%

Amherst Class of 2028 Middle 50% score range of admitted students (25th and 75th percentiles)*

SAT Math770–800
SAT ERW740–780
ACT Math32–35
ACT English35–36
ACT Composite33–35

*What does this mean? The middle 50% score range refers to students from the 25th to the 75th percentile of admitted students. So if 100 students were admitted and we ranked their SAT scores from lowest to highest, we’d be looking at 50 students’ stats (from student 25 through student 75).

What is Amherst looking for?

Amherst’s admissions site lays out lots of information about the kind of students they’d like to admit. A few qualities they highlight include:

  • Exceptional students of strong and vibrant intellectual promise
  • Students with qualities of mind and character that will enable them to thrive in our dynamic academic and social environment
  • Students who will take advantage of Amherst’s remarkable resources
  • Someone who will embrace the academic freedom provided by our open curriculum and engage with our talented and accomplished professors
  • Someone who will contribute significantly to a student population whose diversity of both background and perspective fosters a process of mutual education within and beyond the classroom curriculum

They also emphasize that they take the Amherst mission, “Let them give light to the world,” into account during the admissions process.

You can demonstrate your unique perspective through your essays, academic profile, teacher recommendations, and activities.

Other colleges you may be interested in:

College NameNumber of applicants (Class of 2028)Number admitted (Class of 2028)Acceptance rate (Class of 2028)
Swarthmore College13,0659757.5%
Pomona College12,2498116.6%
Dartmouth College31,6571,6855.3%

PrepMaven can help you in the admissions process

Wondering how to get into Amherst College? PrepMaven can help you along the way. Whether you’re looking to boost your test scores, write a killer personal statement, or improve your GPA, we can be a helpful resource. With tutors who are graduates of top universities, valedictorians, National Merit Finalists, and National AP Scholars, we’re here to help you no matter what step you’re at in the admissions process.

Give us a call at 609-945-2264 or fill out our website form to learn how our flexible packages can work for you.

Alexis

Alexis is a tutor, writer, and producer. She graduated from Columbia University with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. As a tutor, she loves to help students explore their unique stories and share their personal journeys through impactful essay writing.

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