Amherst College Acceptance Rate 2023 | Admissions, Requirements, & How to Apply

If your high school senior is interested in potentially enrolling at Amherst, you’ll definitely want to know about Amherst acceptance rate as you begin preparing your college applications.

Amherst acceptance rate is extremely low, but your chances are determined by the strength of your profile. Amherst College has a total enrolment of just 1,970 students. 

This makes Amherst a small, selective school that offers students an individualized approach in and out of the classroom.  If you want to be part of this select group, you need a strong application that demonstrates who you are and who you hope to become at Amherst.

Researching the Amherst application process is the first step in making a plan to get into Amherst College.  The Amherst Admissions Office accepts applications through the Common Application or Coalition Application.

Why Choose Amherst College?

Founded in 1821, Amherst College has established itself as one of the nation’s leading liberal arts schools.  Located in the picturesque town of Amherst, Massachusetts, the college is consistently known for its rigorous academic programs and small faculty-led classes. 

Academically, the school is renowned; it was ranked #2 among national liberal arts colleges by the U.S News and World Report.  The school is home to two other universities, Hampshire College and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, which foster a sense of collegiality among students and residents alike.

Amherst, a member of the Five College Consortium, offers its students the unique opportunity to cross-enroll in classes at Mount Holyoke, Hampshire, Smith, and the University of Massachusetts.

Amherst College students represent a wide range of interests and passions; the school offers over 140 registered clubs and organizations.

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Is It Hard To Get Into Amherst College?

Amherst College is a highly competitive institution, and its admissions statistics make Amherst College one of the 50 most competitive undergraduate admissions schools worldwide. 

Similar to trends at all top schools, admissions rates at Amherst College have continued to decline over the past 8 years and will almost certainly continue to decline in the future.

The Class of 2023 was the most difficult year to apply to Amherst College.  For the Class of 2023, 10,567 students applied to Amherst College, of which 1,144 students were accepted, giving an overall acceptance rate of 10.8%. 

The total number of applications increased by 8.7% compared to last year (2022-2023), from 9,722 to 10,567.

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What Is Amherst College Acceptance Rate 2023?

Amherst College’s acceptance rate is 11.3%.  Only 11 are accepted for every 100 applicants. This means that the school is extremely selective. 

Meeting the GPA and SAT/ACT requirements is very important to pass the first round of filters and prove your academic preparation.  If you don’t meet their expectations, your chance of getting in is almost zero.

Once you clear that hurdle, you’ll need to impress Amherst College application readers with other application requirements, including extracurricular, essays, and letters of recommendation.

What Is Amherst Transfer Acceptance Rate?

The transfer acceptance rate at Amherst College is 5%.  Amherst College is a very selective school.  When transferring, only one student out of twenty is enrolled.

This should not discourage you if you want to get the best form of private education.  The school accepts only brilliant minds, and if you are one of them, getting into this college will not be difficult. 

You only need to pass some basic tests and requirements to gain admission. If this college is your dream and you want to enter, then you will have to put in extra effort to become one of the twenty. 

This means that you must meet the school’s requirements; there are a number of requirements that the school has set for transfer applicants that must be met if you are to be considered for admission to this great college. 

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Acceptance Rate by Major

If you are a high school senior looking to apply to, and ultimately get into, Amherst College, it is imperative that you keep in mind what majors and programs are popular at Amherst.

After all, if you have a career path in mind while in college, you’ll want to make sure that the programs or majors offered are well-funded, well-taught, and generally highly rated.

The most popular majors at Amherst College include mathematics, general; Econometrics and quantitative economics; English language and literature, general; research and experimental psychology, other; and political science and public administration, general.

As a liberal arts school, it should come as no surprise that it has some of the best language, literature, and political science programs in the country.

For this reason, Amherst has long been considered an excellent school for young people who want to attend law school or pursue a career in politics.

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Amherst College Admission Requirements

As you begin filling out your college application, you want to make sure you are aware of each school’s specific requirements. 

Although the requirements are often similar, they are rarely exactly the same.  Here is a list of requirements for Amherst, which is provided directly on the school’s website.

• Amherst College Writing Supplement
• $65 application fee (nonrefundable) or fee waiver (requested through the Common Application, Coalition Application, or Amherst’s Quick Pass).
• School report
• High school transcript
• Counselor recommendation (college counselor/counselor)
• Two recommendations for teachers (English, math, science, social science or foreign language).
• Standardized test scores for the SAT or ACT (self-report or official scores) are not required.
• Early Decision Agreement (for ED applicants)
• Grades of the first assessment period for the last year (for ED applicants
• High School Report Form (as soon as first trimester/first semester grades are available)
• Mid-Year Transcript (as soon as first trimester/first semester grades are available)
• TOEFL or IELTS scores (if required for foreign applicants): We do not accept self-provided TOEFL or IELTS scores; only official results reports are allowed for these tests.  For more information on acceptable versions of the TOEFL and IELTS tests, please visit our International Student Applicants page.

Amherst College Transfer Requirements

• Minimum average score: A minimum college grade point average of 3.5 is required to be considered for transfer admission.
• Official transcripts: Official high school transcripts are required of all applicants.  Official transcripts from previously attended institutions are required of all applicants for admission consideration.
• SAT Scores: All applicants are encouraged to submit standardized test scores.
• Letters of recommendation: Two college faculty evaluations are required for transfer.
• Essay: Your application requires a personal essay of 250 to 500 words describing your reasons for transferring and the goals you hope to achieve.
• Application fee: There is a $60 non-refundable fee unless you request a fee waiver.
• Interview: An interview is not required to be considered for admission.
• Other requirements: In addition to the General Transfer Application, the following must be submitted: Application Supplement, College Transfer Report, and Arts/Sports Supplements (if applicable).

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What GPA Do I Need To Get Into Amherst College?

With a 4.07 GPA, Amherst College requires you to be at the top of your class.  You’ll need near A’s in all your classes to compete with other applicants.  Plus, you have to take tough classes — AP or IB courses — to show that college-level academics are a breeze.

If you’re a current junior or senior, it’s difficult to change your GPA in time for college.  If your GPA is at or below the 4.07 high school GPA, you will need a higher SAT or ACT score to make up for it.  This will help you compete effectively with other applicants who have higher GPAs than you.

What Is Amherst College Tuition And Fees?

The average student debt of 2021 graduates was about $21,772 per student, excluding those with no debt.  For context, compare that number to the average national debt, which is about $36,000 per borrower.

Some aid is available on a first-come, first-served basis, so fill out the FAFSA as soon as possible.  Visit the FAFSA website to apply for student aid. 

Remember, the first F in FAFSA stands for FREE!  No one should ever have to pay to fill out a FREE Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), so don’t give your money (or information!) to any website that claims you do.

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What Are The Amherst College Decision Dates?

Just as you need to be mindful of application requirements, you also need to be mindful of important application dates.  There are two different ways to apply to Amherst: Early Decision and Regular Decision.

• Early Decision applications are due on Nov. 16.
• Regularly Decision applications are due on Jan. 4.

If you are determined to attend Amherst and it is your favorite school overall, you should consider applying through Early Decision.  Typically, about 10 percent of applicants choose the mandatory early decision option, which essentially says you’ll attend Amherst if you’re accepted to the school.

How To Apply To College Decision

Amherst accepts the Common Application, Coalition Application, or QuestBridge Application, as well as the Amherst Application. 

The application fee is $60.  Students must also take either the SAT or ACT.  A writing or essay section is recommended.  You are not required to take the SAT Subject Tests, but you can do so if you wish. 

You must also send two checks to English, math, science, social studies (or history) or foreign language teachers.  Your advisor must send an academic report and a mid-term report.

Amherst College International students can apply online through Common Applications. To begin the Amherst College admissions process, applicants must complete the following steps to complete their application:

• Apply online through the University’s Common Applications and create an account
• Fill in all the required information for your chosen program
• Review your application, then upload the required documents
• Pay the application fee

Conclusion

The acceptance rate at Amherst is 12%.  It ranks third in Massachusetts and 26th in the nation for lowest acceptance rate.  Amherst is a very competitive school for admissions with a low chance of acceptance for typical applicants. 

The school has exceptionally high admissions requirements for SAT and ACT scores, usually accepting students in the top 3% (SAT 1430/1560 ACT 32/35). 

Amherst College typically admits and attracts high school seniors with an average GPA of around 3.91.  Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top ten percent of their average class.  35% of those accepted decided to enter the school.

Amherst College Acceptance Rate 2023 FAQs

References

• prepscholar.com – Amherst College Requirements for Admission
• admissionsight.com – Amherst Acceptance Rate

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