Acceptance Rate
75%
Avg. SAT
1360
75th percentile
“The tiny Massachusetts college where students scrap traditional majors and grades to craft their own paths amid a consortium of peers.”
Amherst, MA
Location
Rural
Campus Setting
Hampshire College opened its doors in 1970 in Amherst, Massachusetts, as a bold experiment in liberal arts education, ditching grades and majors for student-led learning. You'll thrive here if you're fiercely independent, creative, and comfortable steering your own course without rigid structures—think artists, activists, and thinkers who chafe at conventional paths. The school's personality radiates quirky nonconformity, with a campus dotted by student-built junk sculptures and a farm where classes sometimes wander among the animals. Amherst anchors a vibrant college town shared with Amherst College, UMass Amherst, Smith, and Mount Holyoke through the Five College Consortium, letting you cross-register for classes and ride free buses between them. The small size, around 500 undergrads, fosters tight-knit bonds but means fewer peers and specialized offerings. Winters bring heavy snow to this rural-edged setting, and tuition tops $50,000 before aid.
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Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
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Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Degree Levels Offered
Hampshire's academic heart beats through its three-division system: exploratory Div I courses, focused Div II projects with faculty committees, and a self-designed Div III thesis often presented publicly like a performance or exhibition. Classrooms buzz with seminars where you debate, create, and collaborate, supported by narrative evaluations instead of letter grades that push deep reflection over competition. The Five College Consortium opens thousands of courses across schools, from UMass labs to Smith sciences, making research accessible despite Hampshire's scale. You'll find strengths in film, environmental studies, and interdisciplinary pursuits like cognitive science meets poetry. Small classes, often under 20, mean direct faculty access, but self-direction demands discipline—those craving pre-packaged majors or grade benchmarks might struggle. Limited on-campus facilities steer ambitious projects to consortium partners.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
844 undergrad • 0 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
59%
Black / African American
7%
Hispanic / Latino
13%
Asian
3%
Other / Multi-racial
18%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Amherst, MA
Varsity Athletics
Campus life pulses with student initiative: you might join a co-op house cooking vegan feasts, bike to a Five College dance party, or build installations for the annual Moviemaker Festival. Residential villages cluster in quads with themes like arts or sustainability, where communal dinners and late-night critiques blend study and socializing. Traditions include Div III showcases that turn the gym into a gallery of films, zines, and prototypes, drawing the whole community. The social scene skews artsy and low-key, with open mics and hackathons over frat bashes, though the small size can feel insular if you seek massive crowds. Amherst offers cafes, bookstores, and trails for off-campus escapes, connected by a free bus loop. Cold, snowy winters push activities indoors, and high regional living costs pinch budgets beyond tuition.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
NCAA
ROTC & Veteran Support
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
Net Annual Cost by Household Income
Household Income
Avg. Net Cost
$0 – $30K
$19,536
$30K – $48K
$17,177
$48K – $75K
$23,545
$75K – $110K
$32,426
$110K+
$41,692
Apply for Financial Aid
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Costs shown are before financial aid. Most students receive some form of aid. Complete the FAFSA to see what you qualify for.
Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
78%
4 Years Graduation Rate
56%
6 Years Graduation Rate
65%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$46,938
78% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at Hampshire College and return in the fall. 56% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 65% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
56%
4-6 years
9%
Non-grad
35%
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Key Statistics
Type
Private
Tuition
$52,714
Acceptance
75%
Undergrads
844
4-Year Grad Rate
56%
Endowment
$35M
Amherst, MA 01002-5001