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.
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![]() Hampshire College |
![]() Prescott College |
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Overview |
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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% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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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 |
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Tuition and Fees |
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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
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Room/dormitory:
$6,990
Meal plan:
$2,530
|
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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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 |
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Students and Campus |
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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 |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 11:1 | 9:1 |
Institutional accreditation | New England Commission on Higher Education | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 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)
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Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (Master's Degrees)
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