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.

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.

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

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.