Amherst College
MA · Private · Northeast · Liberal arts college · Top 10 tier · 1,901 undergraduates (small)
Admission rates
Latest admit rates
How much of the class comes from ED
~45% of enrolled freshmen were admitted through Early Decision.
This is a share of the freshman class, not an admit rate.
† Regular round (est.) = (all admitted students − Early Decision admits) ÷ (all applicants − Early Decision applicants).
Trends, Fall 2019–Fall 2025
Admission rates
ED share of the enrolled freshman class (% of first-years admitted ED, not an admit rate)
Early plans
Fall 2027 applicants
Testing
Testing policy
Superscoring
What this means:
- SAT
- Superscores
- ACT
- Superscores
Source ↗ · checked Nov 3, 2026
Test-optional for fall 2027 entry. Score Choice allowed.
How to send scores
Self-report accepted; official scores only after admission/enrollment
Send all scores? Score Choice allowed
School’s words: “Students who are admitted and subsequently decide to enroll at Amherst will be required to submit official score reports when enrolling. ... For official score reporting, applicants are free to use the SAT Score Choice option and the ACT option.”
Source ↗ · checked Nov 3, 2026
Students submitting scores
‡ Est. % submitting scores adds the share of enrolled first-years who submitted the SAT to the share who submitted the ACT.
Score ranges (middle 50%)
Enrolled first-years who submitted scores, Fall 2025. A quarter scored below the range and a quarter above.
Trends, Fall 2019–Fall 2025
Share of enrolled students submitting scores
SAT composite, middle 50%
ACT composite, middle 50%
Year-by-year data, Fall 2019–Fall 2025
| CDS year | Admitted | Admit rate | ED rate | ED share of class | Est. % submitting | % SAT | % ACT | SAT mid-50 | ACT mid-50 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 ↗ | 1,195 | 11.3% | 35.9% | 40% | Not reported | 59% | Not reported | 1420-1530 | 31-34 | |
| 2020-21 ↗ | 1,254 | 11.8% | 31.8% | Not reported | 100% | 66% | 45% | 1410-1530 | 31-34 | |
| 2021-22 ↗ | 1,224 | 8.7% | 24.3% | 41% | 66% | 35% | 31% | 1440-1540 | 32-35 | |
| 2022-23 ↗ | 1,079 | 7.3% | 31.8% | 47% | 61% | 40% | 21% | 1450-1550 | 32-35 | |
| 2023-24 ↗ | 1,250 | 9.8% | 27.1% | Not reported | 55% | 38% | 17% | 1480-1550 | 31-35 | |
| 2024-25 ↗ | 1,238 | 9% | 29.4% | 45% | 61% | 39% | 22% | 1500-1560 | 33-35 | |
| 2025-26 ↗ | 1,222 | 7.7% | 22.2% | Not reported | 56% | 40% | 16% | 1470-1540 | 33-35 |
Waitlist admit rate
Share of students who stayed on the waitlist and were later admitted, by entering class.
- 2025: 6%
- 2024: 1%
- 2023: 8%
- 2022: 4%
- 2021: 0%
Test policy in each Common Data Set
History only. The current policy is under Testing above.
- Fall 2027 Test-optional2025-26 CDS
- Fall 2026 Test-optional2024-25 CDS
- Fall 2025 Not reported2023-24 CDS
- Fall 2023 Test-optional2022-23 CDS
- Fall 2023 Test-optional2021-22 CDS
- Fall 2022 Test-optional2020-21 CDS
- Fall 2021 Required2019-20 CDS
From the school's website
Figures from the school’s own pages that add to its Common Data Set. Each links its source.
Amherst reports 15,819 applicants, 1,222 admitted (8%) and 485 enrolled. Enrolled students who submitted scores: SAT Reading & Writing 730–770, Math 730–790, ACT 33–35. Admitted students: Reading & Writing 740–780, Math 750–790. Early Decision made up 43% of the class.
Source: Amherst Class of 2029 admission and enrollment profile ↗