2024-2025 Costs

Each year, Amherst calculates and publishes the comprehensive cost of attendance. When we calculate financial need and determine a financial aid offer, we use a student expense budget (cost of attendance) that includes expenses that are billed by the college (direct expenses) and expenses incurred by most college students (indirect expenses). The level of the expected family contribution will determine what portion of the total (direct and indirect) expenses will be the responsibility of the family or will be paid by financial aid funds.

For 2024-2025, the typical student expense budget and charges include:

Direct Costs (Billed to all students) Amount
Tuition$69,820
Housing$9,940
Meals$8,450
Fees$660
 
Indirect Costs (Estimated based on periodic survey of all students) Amount
Personal expenses$1,800
Travel/TransportationDomestic average: $730
 International average: $1,410
 
Additional Expenses (Billed to all students, but waivable)Amount 
Health Insurance (2023-24 cost shown)

$2,934 (full year)

$1,222 (fall only)
$1,712 (spring only)

Tuition Insurance (2023-24 cost shown)$126 per semester

 

The College annually evaluates its comprehensive and other fees, and makes adjustments when necessary. Financial aid offers will always be based on the costs in effect during the year of award. Students who require financial aid because of changes in costs may apply for assistance in any academic year.

It should be noted that the comprehensive fee covers only a portion of your educational expenses at Amherst. A year of education at the College actually costs approximately $134,000, but income from the College's endowment and from gifts and grants supplies the difference between that amount and the amount students are charged.


Additional Information

  • Housing: The cost of housing for a student residing in a standard on-campus room. All Amherst residence halls are billed the same.
  • Meals: All students living on campus are enrolled in a meal plan with unlimited meals per week.
  • Fees: The student activities fee of $330 per semester is used by the Association of Amherst Students to fund organizations, clubs, and special interest groups for activities. This is a mandatory billed fee for all students.
  • Personal expenses: These costs will vary by student, but Amherst applies a standard estimate for each student in determining financial aid eligibility. The amount of the estimate is based on a survey of all students every few years.
  • Travel/Transportation: This cost varies based on a student's home location, and is used in determining financial aid eligibility. Travel for students residing in the U.S. is based on two round trips per academic year. Travel for students residing outside the U.S. is based on one round trip per academic year. The amount of the estimate is based on a survey of travel data every few years.
  • Health Insurance: Health insurance is not initially included in the cost of attendance used to determine financial aid eligibility. Amherst College requires that all students participate in the College's health insurance plan or have comparable medical insurance. For students using the College’s health insurance plan and receiving financial aid, the cost is subsequently added to the cost of attendance and a Health Insurance Scholarship is available. For more information, please see our website.
  • Tuition Insurance: Tuition insurance is not included in the cost of attendance used by the Office of Financial Aid to determine aid eligibility. The charge is included in each semester bill, but is waivable. For more information, please see our website.

My Intuition Quick College Cost Estimator

Quick Cost Estimator

The My inTuition tool will give you an early cost estimate using six basic financial questions. 

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