Amherst College vs Kenyon College
Amherst College and Kenyon College, both esteemed liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Amherst, located in Massachusetts, boasts a lower acceptance rate (10.4%) compared to Kenyon's (24.5%) in Ohio. Amherst's student body is slightly larger, with an undergraduate enrollment of 1,850 students, while Kenyon's is 1,680. In terms of popular majors, Amherst students often pursue Economics, English, and Political Science, while Kenyon students frequently choose English, Biology, and Economics. Amherst's graduation rate stands at 94%, while Kenyon's is 89%. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table below, highlighting key differences between these two exceptional colleges.
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![]() Amherst College |
![]() Kenyon College |
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Overview |
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Location | Amherst, Massachusetts | Gambier, Ohio |
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 |
Students retention rate | 98.0% | 91.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 8.7% | 36.5% |
Application fees | $60 | |
SAT range | 1370 - 1550 | 1340 - 1500 |
ACT range | 32 - 34 | 31 - 34 |
Students submitting SAT score | 36.0% | 25.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 31.0% | 28.0% |
Total number of applicants | 13,999 | 7,601 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,224 | 2,778 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 515 | 508 |
Yield rate | 42.1% | 18.3% |
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 | $80,270 |
Average net price | $18,809 | $38,927 |
Tuition | $60,700 | $63,060 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,700
Meal plan:
$7,400
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$13,310 |
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 |
79.0%
Average amount $32,553 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
10.0%
Average amount $5,233 |
26.0%
Average amount $3,119 |
Students taking out private loans |
3.0%
Average amount $16,803 |
13.0%
Average amount $3,894 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
1,971
Men 48.6% Women 51.4% |
1,875
Men 45.6% Women 54.4% |
Graduate students | N/A | N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 10.4% | 10.3% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | Town: Distant |
Dormitory capacity | 2,000 | 1,868 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | Yes |
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 | 9:1 |
Institutional accreditation | New England Commission on Higher Education | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 92.4% | 86.5% |
Dropout rate | 2.5% | 6.5% |
Transferred out | 3.6% | 6.9% |
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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Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
International/Global Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
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