[updated for 2024-2025 admission data]
How hard is Amherst College to get into?
This page provides the latest information on Amherst College (Amherst)'s admission process, acceptance rate, and student profile. Amherst's acceptance rate is 9.01% for 2024-2025 admission. A total of 13,743 students applied and 1,238 were admitted to the school. Its acceptance rate is very low, which means it is very hard to get into Amherst.
To apply to Amherst, recommendations and personal statement (or essay) are required to submit. The SAT and ACT score is not required, but considered for admission. In addition, english proficiency test score is also considered (required).
Admission Statistics
For the academic year 2024-25, Amherst's acceptance rate is 9.01% and the yield (also known as enrollment rate) is 38.77%. 6,121 men and 6,776 women applied to Amherst and 508 men and 652 women students were accepted.
473 applicants who has another gender applied and 33 were accepted.45 accepted students' gender is unknown.
Among them, 196 men and 255 women were enrolled in Amherst. You can explore the Amherst's admission rates and SAT score trends over the past decade, including year-by-year data and analysis, by visiting Admission Trends page.
Median SAT and ACT Score
For the academic year 2025, 187 students (39% of enrolled students) submitted SAT scores and 105 students (22% of enrolled students) submitted ACT scores as part of the admission process at Amherst.
The median SAT score for admitted students is 1,540, including 760 in SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) and 780 in SAT Math. The 75th percentile SAT EBRW score is 780 and the 25th percentile is 740. For SAT Math, the 75th percentile score is 800 and the 25th percentile is 750.
The median ACT composite score is 34, with a 75th percentile score of 35 and a 25th percentile score of 33 at Amherst. The median ACT Math score is 34 and the median ACT English score is 35.
How competitive is Amherst's score?
The SAT and ACT scores at Amherst College are competitive and high compared to similar colleges (SAT: 1,295, ACT: 29 - private (not-for-profit) baccalaureate college - arts & sciences).
Application Requirements
It requires to submit High School Record (or Transcript), Recommendations, English Proficiency Test, and Personal statement or essay to its applicants.
The SAT and ACT test score is not required, but considered in admission process at Amherst. The english proficiency test is required .
The next table summarizes the application requirements to apply Amherst College.
For more admission information such as minimum GPA and deadlines, see its online application page .
General Admissions Information
The following provides general admission information for applying to Amherst:
Amherst Admission Frequently Asked Questions
Amherst is extremely competitive to get into, with an acceptance rate of 9.01%.
Amherst recommends submitting SAT or ACT scores, but they are not strictly required for admission. The average SAT score required for admission to Amherst is 1,540, and the average ACT score is 34. Meeting or exceeding these scores will improve your chances of admission.
Yes, Amherst requires applicants to submit a personal essay or statement as part of the application.
Yes, Amherst requires applicants to submit a recommendation letter as part of the application.
Amherst does not require an application fee for undergraduate or graduate admission.
Yes, Amherst requires applicants to submit high school record or transcript as part of the admission process.
Yes, Amherst requires international applicants to submit an English proficiency test (like TOEFL or IELTS) as part of the application.
The institutional SAT code for Amherst is 3003 and 4-digit ACT code is 1774.