Out of the 13,700 applicants received, Amherst College admitted 9% of applicants. This marks an increase of 1,000 applications since last year, though the acceptance rate stayed the same for the second year in a row.
Amherst College recently reported their regular decision results. According to the Dean of Admission and Financial Aid, the college received 13,700 applications to the Class of 2028 — an 8% increase in applications from last year.
Number of First-Year Applications | Accepted Students | Acceptance Rate | |
---|---|---|---|
Class of 2025 | 13,948 | 1,182 | 8% |
Class of 2026 | 14,684 | 1,079 | 7.3% |
Class of 2027 | 12,700 | 1,143 | 9% |
Class of 2028 | 13,700 | ~1,233 (est) | 9% |
The Class of 2028 was the second cohort in the college’s history where legacy applications (applicants with a parent who attended the college) weren’t given preferential treatment in the admissions process. For the Class of 2027, the legacy admission rate dropped to 4%. This data isn’t available for the Class of 2028 yet.
While there were fewer legacy students admitted into the Class of 2027, the number of international students grew to 12%. There were a total of 54 countries represented in the admissions process. In addition, Amherst College accepted students from 49 states across the United States, including the Northern Mariana Islands and Washington DC.
The Class of 2028 is the first to be admitted after the Supreme Court struck down Affirmative Action in June 2023. Admissions officers have not yet been able to view information about students’ racial identities throughout the admissions process. Data about the racial and ethnic makeup of the incoming class won’t be available until summer 2024, when enrollment has been completed.
Amherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1821, it is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the country and is consistently ranked among the top liberal arts colleges in the United States. The college has an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 1,800 students and offers degrees in more than 40 fields of study, ranging from the humanities and social sciences to the natural sciences and mathematics.
Amherst College is known for its rigorous academic program, which emphasizes critical thinking, interdisciplinary study, and personalized learning. The college has a student-to-faculty ratio of 7:1, and all classes are taught by faculty members, not graduate assistants. Students are encouraged to engage in research and experiential learning opportunities both on and off-campus, and the college has a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, with a need-blind admissions policy and a robust financial aid program.
In addition to its academic programs, Amherst College is also known for its strong athletic tradition. The college has 27 varsity sports teams and is a member of the NCAA Division III and the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC).
Amherst College has a rich history and has produced many notable alumni, including two U.S. presidents, Nobel Prize winners, and Pulitzer Prize winners. The college is located in the vibrant town of Amherst, which is home to several other colleges and universities and is situated in the picturesque Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts.
According to US News, Amherst College ranks as as the second best Liberal Arts Colleges in the United States. Most college admissions experts agree that the number of students applying to top universities will continue to grow, especially if schools continue making standardized testing optional.
Crimson Education helps thousands of students gain admission to their dream schools. Despite enormous applicant pools and low acceptance rates at top universities, Crimson’s acceptance numbers are increasing! This year, more than 200 of our students were accepted to top universities in the US in the early round alone. Here is a breakdown of Crimson’s early-round numbers.