Mount Holyoke College vs Hampshire College
Mount Holyoke College and Hampshire College, both esteemed liberal arts institutions in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts, offer distinct educational experiences. Mount Holyoke, a women's college, boasts a long history of academic excellence and a vibrant community, while Hampshire, a coeducational institution, emphasizes interdisciplinary studies and experiential learning. With acceptance rates of 34% and 44%, respectively, both colleges are highly selective, attracting students with strong academic records and a passion for intellectual exploration. While Mount Holyoke's popular majors include psychology, English, and biology, Hampshire students often pursue interdisciplinary programs such as social justice and the arts, and environmental studies. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more about these colleges' student body demographics, graduation rates, and other key differences, and make an informed decision about which institution aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Hampshire College |
![]() Mount Holyoke College |
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Overview |
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Location | Amherst, Massachusetts | South Hadley, Massachusetts |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: Large |
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% | 91.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 75.1% | 52.3% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$60
Graduate:
$50
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SAT range | N/A | 1300 - 1510 |
ACT range | N/A | 31 - 35 |
Students submitting SAT score | 24.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 11.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 1,340 | 3,971 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,007 | 2,077 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 133 | 608 |
Yield rate | 13.2% | 29.3% |
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 |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $66,658 | $73,438 |
Average net price | $30,168 | $29,218 |
Tuition | $51,000 | $56,300 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,520
Meal plan:
$5,912
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Room/dormitory:
$8,320
Meal plan:
$8,260
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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 $30,351 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
64.0%
Average amount $4,793 |
42.0%
Average amount $4,906 |
Students taking out private loans |
1.0%
Average amount $8,793 |
7.0%
Average amount $4,982 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
472
Men 38.1% Women 61.9% |
2,220
Men 0.1% Women 99.9% |
Graduate students | N/A |
122
Men 13.1% Women 86.9% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 6.4% | 23.1% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 1,180 | 2,171 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | Mississippi New York California Connecticut Florida |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 11:1 | 10:1 |
Institutional accreditation | New England Commission on Higher Education | New England Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 62.4% | 85.0% |
Dropout rate | 37.3% | 2.9% |
Transferred out | N/A | 11.9% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
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International Relations and National Security Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Education, Other (Master's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Anthropology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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