Hampshire College vs Prescott College

Hampshire College and Prescott College, both bastions of progressive education, offer unique experiences for students seeking transformative learning environments. Hampshire, located in Amherst, Massachusetts, boasts a highly selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 44%, while Prescott, nestled in Prescott, Arizona, welcomes a larger proportion of applicants with an acceptance rate of 70%. While Hampshire's student body is predominantly white (67%) and female (63%), Prescott's student population is more diverse, with 53% identifying as white and 56% identifying as female. Both institutions excel in student satisfaction, with Hampshire's 88% retention rate and Prescott's 85% retention rate indicating high levels of student engagement. Explore the detailed comparison table below to delve into further distinctions between these two exceptional institutions, and discover which college best aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Hampshire College logo

Hampshire College

Prescott College logo

Prescott College

Overview

Location Amherst, Massachusetts Prescott, Arizona
Campus setting Suburb: Large City: Small
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 72.0% 75.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 75.1% 99.3%
Application fees
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants 1,340 147
Total number of admissions given out 1,007 146
Admitted students who chose to enroll 133 37
Yield rate 13.2% 25.3%
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 Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $66,658 $45,804
Average net price $30,168 $17,082
Tuition $51,000 $32,976
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $8,520

Meal plan: $5,912
Room/dormitory: $6,990

Meal plan: $2,530
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%
Average amount $36,653
100.0%
Average amount $27,801
Students receiving federal student loan 64.0%
Average amount $4,793
44.0%
Average amount $4,976
Students taking out private loans 1.0%
Average amount $8,793
2.0%
Average amount $19,000

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 472
Men 38.1% Women 61.9%
388
Men 34.0% Women 66.0%
Graduate students N/A 659
Men 18.2% Women 81.8%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 6.4% 0.3%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large City: Small
Dormitory capacity 1,180 104
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • English Language and Literature
  • Social Sciences
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Ethnic Studies
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Natural Resources and Conservation
Students to faculty ratio 11:1 9:1
Institutional accreditation New England Commission on Higher Education Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 62.4% 40.0%
Dropout rate 37.3% 22.9%
Transferred out N/A 37.1%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $19,720
  • Year 2: $19,829
  • Year 3: $23,704
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $43,426
  • Year 3: N/A

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