UNIVERSITY · CDS 2024-2025
Amherst College
Amherst, MA 1,898 undergrad Updated 2026-04-22
NESCACTop LACOpen Curriculum
Accept
9.0%
Yield
38.8%
Test
Optional
Academic Profile · CDS C9 / C11
The numbers a parent will ask about first.
SAT Total (mid 50%, computed)
1490–1580
SAT EBRW (mid 50%)
740–780
SAT Math (mid 50%)
750–800
ACT Composite (mid 50%)
33–35
GPA
Not reported
GPA NOTE93% in top 10% of class
METHODTotal SAT range is computed by summing the reported EBRW and Math mid-50% ranges from the school’s CDS (Section C9). Use as an approximation — a student’s actual total places them within, not at, the summed endpoints.
Decision Plans · CDS C1 / C21
When and how the school reads applicants.
| Plan | Deadline | Accept rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plan details not yet recorded. | |||
Cost & Aid · CDS H Series
What it costs and what families actually pay.
Tuition
$69,820
Total COA
$88,870
Avg need-based aid
$68,154
Avg merit award
None
Net price after avg need aid
$20,716
Amherst meets 1% of demonstrated need on average.
ImportantAmherst does not award non-need merit scholarships. All institutional aid is need-based. Use this honestly with families: a strong applicant here gets in, but the price is set by the FAFSA/CSS, not by stats.
AP Impact Calculator
What the student's APs are actually worth here.
Amherst's AP Policy
Amherst College does not award credit for AP exams. However, some academic departments may use AP scores for placement purposes.
Min score
3
Credit cap
0 credits
Mode
Placement only
Per-score grid
Exam-level
Add the student's APs
No APs selected. Click Add AP exam to start, or use the sample profile to see what a strong student might recover.
What They Value · CDS C7
Every CDS factor, weighted exactly as the admissions office files it.
- Rigor of secondary school recordVery Important
- Class rankConsidered
- Academic GPAVery Important
- Standardized test scoresConsidered
- Application EssayVery Important
- Recommendation(s)Very Important
Mission & Narrative
What this school says it is — in their own words.
Amherst College educates students of exceptional potential from all backgrounds so that they may seek, value, and advance knowledge, engage the world around them, and lead principled lives of consequence.
Distilled Themes
Exceptional potential from all backgroundsSeek, value, and advance knowledgeEngage the worldPrincipled lives of consequenceLearning through close colloquy
The Coach's Read
What 'what they value' actually means at the table.
- 01They want intellectually curious students who will contribute to a diverse, close-knit community.
- 02Amherst is looking for leaders who will make a difference in the world, not just academics.
- 03A passion for learning and a desire to engage with different perspectives are key.
Application Targets
What a strong application here should signal.
- 01Demonstrate intellectual vitality through the application essay and recommendations.
- 02Highlight extracurricular activities that show leadership and a commitment to community.
- 03Show genuine interest in Amherst's open curriculum and small, residential community.
Quiet Disqualifiers
Things that hurt applicants here, even when they look fine on paper.
- A lack of intellectual curiosity or a focus on grades over learning
- An application that feels generic and doesn't show a genuine interest in Amherst
- Arrogance or a sense of entitlement in the application or interview
Signature Programs
Where this school is genuinely best-in-class.
LawJurisprudenceand Social Thought; Neuroscience; Economics; Political Science; English
Application calendar
Every date the family needs to know.
Deadlines & Decision Dates · 2025-2026
Family deadline matrix
Plan
Deadline
Decision release
Early Decision I
Binding
Decision release is early-to-mid December.
Nov 7, 2025
→ Dec 15, 2025
Regular Decision
Non-binding
Jan 5, 2026
→ Mar 20, 2026
Early Decision II
Not offered
—
Early Action
Not offered
—
Restrictive Early Action
Not offered
—
Rolling Admission
Not offered
—
See every school side-by-side on the Deadline Tracker →
CDS C7 · Level of applicant's interest
Does effort toward this school move the needle?
Demonstrated Interest·CDS C7 (2024-2025)
Not trackedWeight: Considered
Amherst College explicitly states it does not track demonstrated interest, though its CDS indicates interest is 'Considered.'
Save the energy
Do not spend effort on interest signals—focus on essays and academics instead.
Provenance