Amherst, Massachusetts Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Amherst, Massachusetts shows: median public in-state tuition $58,896 (+968.5% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $71,631 (+31.9% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 43.9% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $22,763 (+69.5% vs U.S.) 26,421 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 3 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 26,421 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $58,896 (+968.5% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $71,631 (+31.9% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 43.9% (-44.0 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $23,367 (+134.4% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $22,763 (+69.5% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $18,927
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 83.3%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 91.9%
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Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Amherst, Massachusetts—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against Massachusetts and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Amherst vs Massachusetts & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst, Massachusetts | $58,896 | $23,367 | $22,763 | 83.3% | 26,421 |
| Massachusetts (state median) | $6,732 | $12,244 | $21,974 | 66.7% | 311,375 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Amherst, Massachusetts vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst, Massachusetts | $71,631 | 43.9% | 91.9% | 3.0% | — | 81.1% | 0.32 |
| Massachusetts (state median) | $63,494 | 21.8% | 83.9% | 3.7% | — | 82.2% | 0.39 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Massachusetts (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst, Massachusetts | $58,896 | $23,367 | $22,763 | 83.3% | 26,421 | $71,631 | 43.9% |
| Boston | $38,110 | $26,678 | $24,900 | 67.4% | 89,548 | $64,680 | 24.2% |
| Worcester | $51,356 | $27,048 | $19,500 | 76.9% | 23,178 | $74,895 | 23.3% |
| Cambridge | $57,160 | $31,152 | $17,884 | 77.8% | 13,886 | $101,817 | 64.4% |
| Springfield | $44,702 | $25,282 | $26,250 | 64.0% | 10,306 | $53,124 | 20.3% |
| Springfield | $44,702 | $25,282 | $26,250 | 64.0% | 10,306 | $53,124 | 20.3% |
| Springfield | $44,702 | $25,282 | $26,250 | 64.0% | 10,306 | $53,124 | 20.3% |
| Fall River | $5,832 | $21,734 | $8,243 | N/A | 6,197 | N/A | N/A |
| North Andover | $53,962 | $37,927 | $6,333 | 70.0% | 4,464 | $75,584 | 7.9% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Top 10 colleges in Amherst, Massachusetts by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 93.9%, Amherst College
Amherst College
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 83.3%, University of Massachusetts-Amherst
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
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Rank 3, Graduation Rate, 54.3%, Hampshire College
Hampshire College
Top 10 colleges in Amherst, Massachusetts by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 59.3%, Amherst College
Amherst College
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 43.9%, Hampshire College
Hampshire College
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Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 16.7%, University of Massachusetts-Amherst
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Top 10 most selective colleges in Amherst, Massachusetts (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 9.0%, Amherst College
Amherst College
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 59.7%, University of Massachusetts-Amherst
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
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Rank 3, Admission Rate, 75.3%, Hampshire College
Hampshire College
Top 10 colleges in Amherst, Massachusetts by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $100,596, Amherst College
Amherst College
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $89,327, University of Massachusetts-Amherst
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
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Rank 3, Entry-Level Earnings, $21,113, Hampshire College
Hampshire College
Top 10 colleges in Amherst, Massachusetts by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $142,680, Amherst College
Amherst College
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $123,519, University of Massachusetts-Amherst
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
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Rank 3, Early-Career Earnings, $36,508, Hampshire College
Hampshire College
Top 10 colleges in Amherst, Massachusetts by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $62,537, Amherst College
Amherst College
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $60,347, University of Massachusetts-Amherst
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
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Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $22,195, Hampshire College
Hampshire College
Top 10 colleges in Amherst, Massachusetts by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $86,438, Amherst College
Amherst College
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $66,904, University of Massachusetts-Amherst
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
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Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $34,148, Hampshire College
Hampshire College
Top 10 colleges in Amherst, Massachusetts by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $77,644, Amherst College
Amherst College
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $71,631, University of Massachusetts-Amherst
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
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Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $46,938, Hampshire College
Hampshire College
Top 10 colleges in Amherst, Massachusetts by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $291,918, Amherst College
Amherst College
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $213,320, University of Massachusetts-Amherst
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $42,946, Hampshire College
Hampshire College
Top 10 most affordable colleges in Amherst, Massachusetts (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $22,383, University of Massachusetts-Amherst
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
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Rank 2, Net Price, $23,367, Amherst College
Amherst College
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Rank 3, Net Price, $24,034, Hampshire College
Hampshire College
Top 10 colleges in Amherst, Massachusetts by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 97.3%, Amherst College
Amherst College
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 91.9%, University of Massachusetts-Amherst
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
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Rank 3, First-Year Retention, 78.4%, Hampshire College
Hampshire College
In-state tuition: Amherst, Massachusetts vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Amherst, Massachusetts median in-state tuition is $58,896, +968.5% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Amherst, Massachusetts vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Amherst, Massachusetts is $22,763 (+69.5% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $18,927.
Median earnings (10 years out): Amherst, Massachusetts vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Amherst, Massachusetts center around $71,631 (+31.9% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Amherst, Massachusetts vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 43.9% at the median Amherst, Massachusetts campus (-44.0 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Amherst, Massachusetts median public in-state tuition is $58,896, about +968.5% vs the national median. Versus the New England region, tuition is +526.4%.
Median graduate debt is $22,763 (+69.5% above the U.S. median of $13,432). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Amherst, Massachusetts are $71,631, about +31.9% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 43.9% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (-44.0 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 91.9% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 3.0% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 81.1% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Amherst College (59.3%), Hampshire College (43.9%), University of Massachusetts-Amherst (16.7%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Amherst, Massachusetts is 83.3% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in Amherst?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 3 campuses in Amherst, Massachusetts with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Amherst?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Amherst is $58,896 and median net price is $23,367. For Massachusetts overall, medians are $6,732 and $12,244; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in Amherst?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Amherst is $71,631 vs $63,494 for Massachusetts and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for Amherst colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Amherst is $22,763 vs $21,974 for Massachusetts and $13,432 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Amherst?
EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include Amherst College (graduation) and Amherst College (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Amherst?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 3 College Scorecard campuses in Amherst, Massachusetts, none are flagged as HBCUs or tribal colleges in IPEDS, and none meet our 25% Hispanic-enrollment HSI proxy or report a religious affiliation in IPEDS.
Sources & related
- Massachusetts college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON