Amherst students have many opportunities to enrich their educations through co-curricular and extracurricular activities. A student might go to hear a guest speaker in anthropology, take a karate class, sing in an a cappella concert, and help paint a house with Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity—all in a single week. Explore the many aspects of social life at Amherst and see which ones excite you the most.

Jazz at Schwemm's

Student Organizations

Students lead more than 100 autonomous organizations (known as Registered Student Organizations), including groups for activism, religious  cultural affinity groups, intramural sports, arts clubs, a debate team, a radio station, and more.

All Organizations RSO Resources
greenway dorms at night with a full moon rising over the mountains

Housing

97 percent of students live on campus, and housing is guaranteed for all four years. First-year students live in new or renovated residences on the Main Quad. Our Theme Houses offer learning-by-living opportunities.

Residence Halls Theme Houses
spacious interior of Valentine Dining Hall

Dining

The Amherst College dining experience is much more than great food. It is a community experience focused on great service, culinary expertise, and fresh, local and natural ingredients with a commitment to environmental and social responsibility.

Dining Services
green illustration of an apple, people running and moving in a wheelchair, and a tree

Health, Safety & Wellbeing

The safety and wellbeing of everyone on campus is a critical aspect of thriving at Amherst — individually and as a community. We have dedicated staff and comprehensive programs to support health, safety, and the many aspects of wellbeing. 

Wellbeing and more
two students hold a jackolantern at fall festival

Events

Amherst always has a full calendar with lots of community events — including fall and winter festivals, our internationally themed City Streets Festival, the formal but friendly Pindar Dinners, and much more. 

Calendar Events at a Glance
Family Weekend game 2015

Fitness & Recreation

Athletics are a vibrant part of life at Amherst, from recreation to intramurals to 27 NCAA Division III teams. Facilities include playing fields, a fitness center, a pool, courts, and an ice rink.

Athletics Wellness & Fitness
class being taught outdoors with mountains in the distance

Our Beautiful Campus

Located adjacent to Amherst, a town of 35,000 people in the western part of the state, Amherst College has a scenic 1,000-acre campus and includes a 500-acre wildlife sanctuary. See a slideshow and more on our Visiting Amherst page.

Visiting Amherst

Town Life

Antonio's Pizza Shop
Close Caption Local Pizza Is the Best Pizza

Grabbing a Slice at Antonio’s — an Amherst tradition since 1991.

Learn more about Town Life
Calvin Theater
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The Calvin Theater in nearby Northampton is a top venue for major acts.

Calvin Show Schedule
Running on the Rail Trail
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Enjoy bicycling, jogging or cross-country skiing? The 11-mile Norwottuck Rail Trail passes through Amherst’s Wildlife Sanctuary and connects to Hadley and Northampton.

Watch a video about our Wildlife Sanctuary
downtown Amherst
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Amherst’s bustling center has food and shopping for all tastes. A few examples: French cuisine, farm-to-table Chinese, independent bookstores and A.J. Hastings for your Amherst gear.

AmherstArea.com
Outdoor event at the Emily Dickinson Museum
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The Emily Dickinson Museum comprises two homes—and the beautiful grounds—that helped shape one of the world’s most influential poets.

Emily Dickinson Museum
Amherst Coffee
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Amherst Coffee or Share — which will be your favorite? We like both, for different reasons.

Learn more about Town Life