Amherst College
Amherst College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Amherst College at a Glance
Amherst College is a private liberal arts college in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1821 as an attempt to relocate Williams College by its then-president Zephaniah Swift Moore, Amherst is the third oldest institution of higher education in Massachusetts. The institution was named after the town, which in turn had been named after Jeffery, Lord Amherst, Commander-in-Chief of British forces of North America during the French and Indian War. Originally established as a men's coll…
1821
205 years old
$3.9B
$3.9 billion (2025)
1,907
1,914 undergrad
338
7:1 student:faculty
1,000 acres
43
Identity
How to Apply to Amherst College
Official admissions pageJanuary 3
November 8 (Early Decision, binding)
$65
Fee waiver available
2 required
Testing policy
Recommendation letters
Essays
Fee waiver
Is Amherst College Worth It?
Amherst College delivers solid financial returns for its graduates. At $23,367/year, it's priced 15% above average, while graduates go on to earn $77,644 — 44% above the national average.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.2 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
With a 94% graduation rate, the vast majority of students finish their degree and reach these earning outcomes.
The catch: admission is extremely selective at just 9%, making this an option only for top-tier applicants.
Median student debt of $13,740 is manageable at just 18% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
Bottom line: Amherst College delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How Amherst College compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #8 of 19 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Bowdoin College | 100 | $14,398 | $82,735 |
| #2 | Colby College | 100 | $17,180 | $80,490 |
| #3 | Williams College | 100 | $17,716 | $88,665 |
| #4 | Davidson College | 100 | $17,379 | $81,400 |
| #5 | Pomona College | 94 | $19,285 | $77,779 |
| #6 | Washington and Lee University | 94 | $23,781 | $94,810 |
| #8 | Amherst College | 78 | $23,367 | $77,644 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Amherst College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 2 in MA.
Best Programs at Amherst College
The highest-earning program at Amherst College is Economics at $69,800/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is English Language and Literature, General at $31,400/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Economics graduate from Amherst College earns $69,800, while a English Language and Literature, General graduate earns $31,400. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $23,367/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economics | $69,800 | $69,800 | $19,500 |
| Mathematics | $61,000 | $61,000 | N/A |
| Political Science and Government | $49,500 | $49,500 | $12,000 |
| Area Studies | $32,100 | $32,100 | N/A |
| English Language and Literature, General | $31,400 | $31,400 | N/A |
Similar Colleges in MA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Amherst, MA
- Student Body
- 1,911 students
- Admission Rate
- 9%
- Graduation Rate
- 94%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $23,367
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $77,644
- Median Student Debt
- $13,740