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Summary
Amherst College is a private institution that was founded in 1821. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,744, its setting is rural, and the campus size is 1,000 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Amherst College's ranking in the 2011 edition of Best Colleges is National Liberal Arts Colleges, 2. Its tuition and fees are $40,862 (2010-11).
Amherst College, located in Amherst, Mass., is known for its rigorous academic climate. Amherst is a member of the Five Colleges consortium, which also includes Smith, Mount Holyoke, Hampshire, and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Students may take courses at any of these colleges. Amherst offers more than 140 student organizations; the college banned fraternities in 1984. Amherst claims to have the oldest athletics program in the nation, along with the third oldest football field. The Amherst Lord Jeffs participate in NCAA Division III sports in the New England Small College Athletic Conference. The school is also part of the unofficial Little Three athletic conference with Williams and Wesleyan, which has lasted more than 100 years. Freshmen are required to live on campus in one of seven residence halls.
Amherst is an undergraduate college that offers degrees in 35 different majors. Amherst, known as "the singing college," has many a cappella groups, including the Zumbyes, the Bluestockings, and Route 9, to name a few. Amherst is also taking great strides to become more sustainable, and it protects 500 acres of open land and water in its wildlife sanctuary. Notable alumni include former U.S. President Calvin Coolidge, Prince Albert II of Monaco, and former Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Harlan Fiske Stone.
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Amherst College is widely regarded as one of the nation's very best liberal arts colleges. Enrolling 1,600 students from nearly every state and more than 40 countries, Amherst features an open curriculum and offers the BA in 33 fields of study. Amherst is part of the Five College Consortium with Smith College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. |
General Information
| School type | Private |
| Year founded | 1821 |
| Religious affiliation | N/A |
| Academic calendar | semester |
| Setting | rural |
| 2009 Endowment | $1,305,943,737 |
Applying
When applying to Amherst College, it's important to note the application deadline is January 1, and the early decision deadline is November 15. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due December 31. The application fee at Amherst College is $60. It is most selective, with an acceptance rate of 16.0 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
| Selectivity | most selective |
| Fall 2009 acceptance rate | 16% |
| Application deadline | January 1 |
| SAT/ACT scores must be received by | December 31 |
Academic Life
The student-faculty ratio at Amherst College is 8:1, and the school has 75.1 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Amherst College include: Biology/Biological Sciences, General; Economics, General; English Language and Literature, General; Political Science and Government, General; and Psychology, General. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 97.8 percent.
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| Student-faculty ratio | 8:1 | ||||||||||
| 4-year graduation rate | 85% - High | ||||||||||
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Student Life
Amherst College has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,744, with a gender distribution of 49.8 percent male students and 50.2 percent female students. 97.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 3.0 percent of students live off campus. Amherst College is part of the NCAA III athletic conference.
See what students are saying about life at Amherst College.
| Total enrollment | 1,744 |
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| Collegiate athletic association | NCAA III |
Campus Info & Services
Amherst College offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, women's center, placement service, health service, and health insurance. Amherst College also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, student patrols, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). 35 percent of students have cars on campus. Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at Amherst College.
| Students who have cars on campus | 35% - Low |
| Health insurance offered | Yes |
| Students required to own/lease a computer | No |
More About Campus Info & Services
Paying for School
At Amherst College, 58.2 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $39,451.
Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.
| Tuition and fees | $40,862 (2010-11) |
| Room and board | $10,660 (2010-11) - High |
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* Overview details based on 2009 data
