CAMPUS · AMHERST, MA · PRIVATE

Amherst College

9.8%

01Acceptance 02Tuition 03Transfer 04ROI 05AP Credit 06Majors 07Housing 08International

Sticker Price vs What You Actually Pay

22% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating Amherst enrolls a meaningful share of lower-income students.

Full Cost Breakdown

Room & Board	$17,560
Total Cost of Attendance	$87,640

What You'll Actually Pay (Net Price by Income)

After financial aid, the real cost depends on your family's income. These are average net prices for students receiving aid.

Family Income	Annual Net Price	4-Year Total
$0-30k	$1,086	$4,344
$30-48k	$1,570	$6,280
$48-75k	$17,478	$69,912
$75-110k	$23,639	$94,556
$110k+	$47,521	$190,084

Financial Aid & Student Debt at Amherst College

22.0%

Pell Grant Recipients

$13,740

Median Debt at Graduation

Is Amherst College Worth the Cost? (ROI Analysis)

$77,644

Median Earnings (10yr)

$13,740

Median Debt

5.7x

Earnings-to-Debt Ratio

A ratio above 2x generally means the investment pays off. Amherst College — 5.7x ratio is excellent — graduates earn well relative to their debt burden.

Amherst College True Cost by Family Income

22% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating Amherst enrolls a meaningful share of lower-income students.

Family Income	Annual Net Price	4-Year Total
$0-30k	$1,086	$4,344
$30-48k	$1,570	$6,280
$48-75k	$17,478	$69,912
$75-110k	$23,639	$94,556
$110k+	$47,521	$190,084

Cost Breakdown

Room & Board	$17,560
Total Cost of Attendance	$87,640

Financial Aid & Student Debt

22.0%

Pell Grant Recipients

Students from low-income families

$13,740

Median Debt at Graduation

Federal loans only

$62,537

Median Earnings (6yr)

6 years after enrollment

Amherst College Tuition & Cost FAQs

How much does Amherst College actually cost per year?

Amherst College's sticker price (cost of attendance) is $87,640/yr — that includes tuition, room and board, and fees. After financial aid, the average family pays just $18,259/yr, a 79% discount off sticker price.

Does Amherst College offer good financial aid?

22% of Amherst College students receive Pell Grants (federal need-based aid). Most US colleges including Amherst College also award institutional grants on top of federal aid — apply via FAFSA, plus the CSS Profile if Amherst College requires it.

What income bracket pays the least at Amherst College?

Families earning under $30,000/yr typically pay around $1,086/yr at Amherst College after financial aid, while families earning over $110,000/yr pay closer to $47,521/yr. The full breakdown by income bracket is in the True Cost table above.

Is Amherst College worth the cost?

Amherst College graduates earn a median of $77,644 10 years post-graduation. Against a 4-year sticker cost of about $350,560 (less for most families with aid), grads typically recoup the investment within several years of work.