- Acceptance rate: 9% for fall 2024
- SAT, middle 50%: 740–780 reading and writing, 750–800 math
- ACT, middle 50%: 33–35 composite
- Average net price: $17,965 a year (2022–23)
On this page · 7 sections
How does your GPA compare?
Don't know your GPA? Calculate my GPA
Where you standEnter your GPA
Add a test score to compare it with what Amherst College reported: an acceptance rate of 9% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 33–35.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Amherst College reviews each application.
Amherst College GPA requirements
Amherst College doesn't require a high school GPA from first-year applicants but considers one if it's submitted, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Federal data doesn't include GPA averages, and Amherst College hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.
Amherst College acceptance rate
Amherst College admitted 1,238 of 13,743 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 9%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Amherst College is a private nonprofit 4-year college in Amherst, Massachusetts, with 1,914 undergraduates.
SAT and ACT scores
Scores of the first-year students who entered Amherst College in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:
| Test | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading and Writing | 740 | 760 | 780 |
| SAT Math | 750 | 780 | 800 |
| ACT Composite | 33 | 34 | 35 |
| ACT English | 34 | 35 | 36 |
| ACT Math | 32 | 34 | 35 |
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1533 for admitted students.
Admission requirements
What Amherst College looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Required |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Required |
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Considered if submitted |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Considered if submitted |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Considered if submitted |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Considered if submitted |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Considered if submitted |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Considered if submitted |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Not considered |
AP credit
Amherst College doesn't award college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25.
It doesn't award credit for life experience.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $17,965 a year at Amherst College in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have a chance at Amherst College with a 3.5 GPA?
GPA alone can't tell you here. Amherst College admitted 9% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It considers a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.5 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
What percent of applicants does Amherst College accept?
Amherst College's acceptance rate was 9% for fall 2024: it admitted 1,238 of 13,743 first-year applicants, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Amherst College hard to get into?
Yes. Fewer than 1 in 10 applicants got in, which makes it one of the hardest colleges to get into. Amherst College admitted 9% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
What GPA does Amherst College look for?
Amherst College doesn't require a high school GPA but considers one if submitted, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. It hasn't published an average GPA we could verify, so we don't list one.
Do you need SAT or ACT scores to apply to Amherst College?
Check Amherst College's admissions website for the current rule: testing policies change from year to year. Amherst College was test optional: it considered SAT or ACT scores if you sent them, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education (fall 2024). Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 39% sent SAT scores and 22% sent ACT scores.
How much does GPA matter at Amherst College?
It's one factor among several: Amherst College requires high school record, recommendations and essay or personal statement. It considers high school GPA, high school class rank, college preparatory program, test scores, demonstration of competencies and work experience if you send them. It doesn't consider other tests and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
What are Amherst College's SAT and ACT score ranges?
The middle 50% of Amherst College's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 740–780 in reading and writing and 750–800 in math; ACT composite 33–35, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.
Does Amherst College accept AP credit?
No. Amherst College reported to the U.S. Department of Education that it doesn't award credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams for 2024–25.
How much does Amherst College cost after financial aid?
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $17,965 a year at Amherst College in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Does it matter at Amherst College if a parent went there?
No. Amherst College doesn't consider whether a parent or other relative attended, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Before you apply, check Amherst College's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: Amherst CollegeU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).
Wrong result or missing a feature? Send feedback
Similar colleges in Massachusetts
With a similar acceptance rate and size.
- Williams CollegeHighly selective · 8.2% admitted
- Wellesley CollegeVery selective · 14% admitted
- Babson CollegeVery selective · 17% admitted
- Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyHighly selective · 4.5% admitted
- College of the Holy CrossVery selective · 18% admitted
- Smith CollegeVery selective · 21% admitted
See all colleges in Massachusetts →