Amherst College
Amherst College searches for exceptional students from across the country and around the world. And we offer one of the most comprehensive, ambitious financial aid programs in the country. The liberal arts experience at Amherst is rooted in the flexibility and freedom of our open curriculum, a curriculum that very few other institutions offer. With no distribution or general education requirements, Amherst allows you to choose the courses that define the shape of your education. The breadth and depth of diversity in our student body creates a lively community on our campus and in our surrounding Five College Consortium.
Accepts first-year applicationsNew EnglandPrivateSuburbanSmall (2,000 and under)Co-Ed
Academic programs
- Research
- Science
- Liberal Arts
- Education
- Music
- Art & Design
- Economics
- Government/Political Science
- Performing Arts
- Social Science
- Visual Arts
- Computer Science
Student experience
- Athletics
- Co-op/Internship Opportunities
- Disability Services
- Intramural/Club Sports
- LGBTQIA Services
- Military/Veteran Services
- On-Campus Housing
- ROTC Program
- Study Abroad
- Undergraduate Research
- Veteran Fee Waiver
Application information
First-year
First-year students may submit applications for admission under either the Early Decision or Regular Decision options. Students who have completed college coursework as part of a dual enrollment program or any program of early graduation from secondary school or other accelerated completion of secondary school are considered first-year applicants. Applicants otherwise eligible for transfer status (see below) may instead elect to apply for first-year admission.
Transfer
A student may apply for transfer admission to Amherst after completing the equivalent of 32 semester hours of transferable liberal arts coursework at another college or university. (Courses in progress at the time of application are included in determining transferable credit.) We do not accept applications from individuals who have already earned a bachelor's degree. Nor do we accept transfer applications from students whose only college coursework was completed during secondary school or as part of any program of early graduation from secondary school.
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Additional information
We’re committed to making an Amherst education affordable to every admitted student. Our admission process is need-blind for all students, domestic and international. The majority of our students pay less—often far less—than the cost of attendance. We meet 100% of our students’ Amherst-calculated need for domestic and international students. We were one of the first colleges in the country to adopt a no-loan policy, replacing loans in our financial aid offers with scholarships. Visit our website to learn more about Amherst financial aid.
Amherst College has a test-optional admission policy for SAT/ACT testing. This test-optional policy applies to all applicants: first-year and transfer, domestic and international. At their own discretion, applicants may still submit SAT or ACT scores for consideration. Visit our website to learn more.
Amherst College has a test-optional admission policy for SAT/ACT testing. This test-optional policy applies to all applicants: first-year and transfer, domestic and international. At their own discretion, applicants may still submit SAT or ACT scores for consideration. Visit our website to learn more.
Visit us
We love having visitors on campus! We encourage you to visit Amherst to see the campus for yourself and meet our students, staff and professors. You can find more information on all of our visiting opportunities on our website, and while you’re there, don’t forget to check out our campus tour video.
Amherst College is a place where curiosity, discovery, intellect, and character are highly valued, and where equity and inclusion are a way of life. We search for exceptional students from across the country and around the world, and we offer one of the most comprehensive, ambitious financial aid programs in the country. The liberal arts experience at Amherst is rooted in the flexibility and freedom of our open curriculum, a curriculum that very few other institutions offer.