Amherst College vs Skidmore College

Amherst College and Skidmore College, both esteemed liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Amherst, known for its rigorous academics and selective admissions, boasts an acceptance rate of 13.2%, while Skidmore, with its focus on interdisciplinary learning and creative expression, has an acceptance rate of 44.6%. Amherst's student body is slightly larger, with an undergraduate enrollment of 1,851 compared to Skidmore's 2,500. Both colleges offer a diverse range of majors, with popular choices at Amherst including Economics, English, and Political Science, and popular choices at Skidmore including Business, Psychology, and Studio Art. While Amherst has a slightly higher graduation rate of 94%, Skidmore's 88% graduation rate is still impressive. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these aspects and more, providing valuable insights into the unique strengths and characteristics of

	Amherst College	Skidmore College
Overview
Location	Amherst, Massachusetts	Saratoga Springs, New York
Campus setting	Suburb: Large	Suburb: Small
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%	90.0%
Common app member	Yes	Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	8.7%	30.6%
Application fees	$60	$65
SAT range	1370 - 1550	1270 - 1440
ACT range	32 - 34	29 - 33
Students submitting SAT score	36.0%	26.0%
Students submitting ACT score	31.0%	11.0%
Total number of applicants	13,999	11,176
Total number of admissions given out	1,224	3,419
Admitted students who chose to enroll	515	719
Yield rate	42.1%	21.0%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Not required	Not required
Recommendation letters	Required	Required
High school transcript	Not required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	Required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$80,050	$68,266
Average net price	$18,809	$31,553
Tuition	$60,700	$59,064
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $8,700 Meal plan: $7,400	Room/dormitory: $9,500 Meal plan: $6,568
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Prepaid tuition plan Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	61.0% Average amount $58,644	59.0% Average amount $43,391
Students receiving federal student loan	10.0% Average amount $5,233	39.0% Average amount $4,879
Students taking out private loans	3.0% Average amount $16,803	4.0% Average amount $26,954

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	1,971 Men 48.6% Women 51.4%	2,686 Men 40.8% Women 59.2%
Graduate students	N/A	N/A
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Low
Out-of-state students	N/A	68.4%
International students	10.4%	9.1%
Campus local/setting	Suburb: Large	Suburb: Small
Dormitory capacity	2,000	2,188
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	New York Mississippi Connecticut New Jersey California

Academics
Popular study areas	Physical Science Social Sciences Mathematics and Statistics Biological and Biomedical Sciences Ethnic Studies	Biological and Biomedical Sciences Social Sciences Visual & Performing Arts Education Foreign Languages and Literatures
Students to faculty ratio	7:1	8:1
Institutional accreditation	New England Commission on Higher Education	Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome
Graduation rate	92.4%	83.6%
Dropout rate	2.5%	3.5%
Transferred out	3.6%	12.6%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Economics (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $78,775 Year 2: $74,576 Year 3: $94,870 Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $64,970 Year 2: $67,660 Year 3: $85,992 History (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $43,271 Year 2: $74,576 Year 3: $84,030 Area Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: N/A Year 3: $53,743 Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $51,419 Year 2: $48,432 Year 3: $46,160 English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $27,744 Year 2: $33,993 Year 3: $36,173 Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $36,896 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $96,310 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $67,101 Year 3: N/A Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $37,208 Year 3: N/A	Economics (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $49,572 Year 2: $46,087 Year 3: $67,188 Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $50,235 Year 2: $43,575 Year 3: $56,001 International Relations and National Security Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $41,193 Year 3: $43,062 Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $34,416 Year 2: $36,668 Year 3: $40,557 Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $35,722 Year 2: $32,563 Year 3: $39,834 English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $18,677 Year 2: $26,933 Year 3: $37,589 Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $29,585 Year 2: $20,682 Year 3: $30,907 Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $24,359 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $27,085 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A Neurobiology and Neurosciences (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $25,194 Year 3: N/A

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key academic differences between Amherst College and Skidmore College?

Amherst College is known for its rigorous, highly selective liberal arts curriculum with a strong emphasis on research and graduate school preparation. It offers a more traditional, structured academic environment. Skidmore College, while also a liberal arts college, provides a more flexible and interdisciplinary approach, encouraging students to design their own majors and explore diverse fields. Skidmore also has a strong emphasis on the arts and experiential learning.
How does the student body differ at Amherst and Skidmore?

Amherst College has a slightly smaller student body, fostering a close-knit community. It attracts highly academically driven students. Skidmore College has a larger and more diverse student body, known for its creative and independent spirit. Both colleges have a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, but the student body at Skidmore may reflect a broader range of interests and backgrounds.
What is the campus environment like at Amherst versus Skidmore?

Amherst College boasts a classic New England campus with historic buildings and a strong sense of tradition. The campus is located in a quintessential college town. Skidmore College has a more modern campus with a blend of architectural styles, including a significant arts center. It is located in Saratoga Springs, a vibrant city known for its arts, culture, and outdoor recreation.
How do the social scenes compare at Amherst and Skidmore?

Amherst College's social scene is centered around campus activities, clubs, and events. The social life is often more contained within the college community. Skidmore College offers a more diverse social scene, with a strong emphasis on arts and cultural events, as well as access to the social opportunities of Saratoga Springs, including restaurants, music venues, and outdoor activities.
What are the strengths of the faculty at Amherst and Skidmore?

Both Amherst and Skidmore have highly qualified and dedicated faculty. Amherst College faculty are known for their scholarly achievements and commitment to undergraduate teaching within a research-focused environment. Skidmore College faculty are known for their accessibility, mentorship, and commitment to fostering creativity and interdisciplinary learning. Both colleges emphasize small class sizes and close student-faculty interaction.
How does the cost of attendance compare between Amherst and Skidmore?

Both Amherst and Skidmore are private institutions with relatively high tuition costs. However, both colleges offer generous financial aid packages, including need-based grants and scholarships, to make attendance accessible to students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. It's recommended to compare the net cost (after financial aid) for each institution based on your individual financial circumstances.
What are the career services like at Amherst and Skidmore?

Both Amherst and Skidmore offer robust career services to help students with internships, job searches, and graduate school applications. Amherst College's career services often leverage its strong alumni network and focus on preparing students for competitive fields. Skidmore College's career services emphasize career exploration, experiential learning, and connecting students with opportunities in the arts, business, and other fields, often leveraging its location in a city with a thriving arts and business community.
Which college is better for students interested in the arts?

Skidmore College is generally considered to have a stronger emphasis on the arts, with a dedicated arts center, numerous studio spaces, and a vibrant arts community. While Amherst College also offers arts programs, Skidmore's focus and resources are more extensive. However, both colleges provide opportunities for students to engage with the arts.
How does the location of each college impact the student experience?

Amherst College's location in a small college town provides a focused academic environment with easy access to other Five College Consortium institutions. Skidmore College's location in Saratoga Springs offers a more diverse experience, with access to a vibrant city, cultural events, outdoor recreation, and proximity to larger cities like Albany and New York City.
What are the athletic programs like at Amherst and Skidmore?

Amherst College has a strong athletic program and competes in NCAA Division III. Skidmore College also competes in NCAA Division III athletics. Both colleges offer a wide range of varsity sports and opportunities for students to participate in intramural and club sports. Amherst is known for its competitive athletics, while Skidmore offers a more balanced approach, with a strong emphasis on both academics and athletics.

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