Amherst College vs Hillsdale College
Amherst College and Hillsdale College, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, stand apart in their unique offerings and distinct academic experiences. Amherst, a liberal arts college nestled in the heart of Massachusetts, boasts an acceptance rate of 13.2%, while Hillsdale, a private liberal arts college in Michigan, maintains a slightly higher acceptance rate of 24.4%. Both colleges offer a diverse range of majors, with Amherst excelling in the social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences, and Hillsdale emphasizing the liberal arts, business, and education. While Amherst's student body comprises 54% female and 46% male students, Hillsdale's student population leans slightly more towards males, with a 48% female and 52% male ratio. With graduation rates of 94% and 88% respectively, both colleges demonstrate a strong commitment to student success. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve deeper into the nuances that set these two
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![]() Amherst College |
![]() Hillsdale College |
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Overview |
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Location | Amherst, Massachusetts | Hillsdale, Michigan |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | Town: Distant |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 98.0% | 94.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Undenominational | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 8.7% | 23.7% |
Application fees | $60 |
Undergraduate:
$35
Graduate:
$25
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SAT range | 1370 - 1550 | 1340 - 1510 |
ACT range | 32 - 34 | 30 - 34 |
Students submitting SAT score | 36.0% | 22.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 31.0% | 38.0% |
Total number of applicants | 13,999 | 2,994 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,224 | 709 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 515 | 397 |
Yield rate | 42.1% | 56.0% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $80,050 | $45,382 |
Average net price | $18,809 | $24,057 |
Tuition | $60,700 | $28,730 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,700
Meal plan:
$7,400
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Room/dormitory:
$6,020
Meal plan:
$6,120
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
61.0%
Average amount $58,644 |
100.0%
Average amount $20,535 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
10.0%
Average amount $5,233 |
0.0%
Average amount $0 |
Students taking out private loans |
3.0%
Average amount $16,803 |
34.0%
Average amount $10,497 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
1,971
Men 48.6% Women 51.4% |
1,515
Men 50.6% Women 49.4% |
Graduate students | N/A |
87
Men 67.8% Women 32.2% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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N/A |
Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 10.4% | N/A |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | Town: Distant |
Dormitory capacity | 2,000 | 1,124 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | New York California New Jersey Connecticut Pennsylvania | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 7:1 | 8:1 |
Institutional accreditation | New England Commission on Higher Education | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 92.4% | 87.6% |
Dropout rate | 2.5% | 8.3% |
Transferred out | 3.6% | 3.9% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
Area Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
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N/A |
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