Is Amherst or CMC harder to get into?

Amherst is harder to get into than CMC. Amherst's 9.0% acceptance rate is lower than CMC's 9.6%.

Which is cheaper, Amherst or CMC?

Amherst costs less on average. After grants and scholarships, Amherst's average net price is $23,367 vs $28,849 at CMC.

Which has higher post-graduation earnings, Amherst or CMC?

CMC graduates earn more on average. Median earnings 10 years after entry are $77,644 at Amherst and $104,736 at CMC.

Amherst vs. CMC: Acceptance Rate, SAT, Cost & Outcomes Compared

Metric	Amherst	CMC
Acceptance rate	9.0%	9.6%
SAT mid-50%	1490–1580	1470–1560
ACT mid-50%	33–35	33–35
Cost of attendance	$87,640	$86,500
Avg net price (after aid)	$23,367	$28,849
Undergrad enrollment	1,911	1,388
6-yr graduation rate	93.9%	91.4%
Median earnings (10yr)	$77,644	$104,736
Setting	Amherst, Massachusetts	Claremont, California

The Real Differences

Selectivity is essentially the same. Amherst's 9.0% acceptance rate and CMC's 9.6% are within a percentage point of each other. For an unhooked applicant, the difference is statistical noise. Apply to whichever you genuinely prefer.

Amherst is significantly cheaper after aid. The average net price gap is $5,482 per year, $21,928 over four years. For most families that difference is the deciding factor when both schools admit you.

CMC graduates earn $27,092 more on average at the 10-year mark. This usually reflects major distribution more than school quality — schools that concentrate in CS, engineering, and finance pull higher medians than schools with more humanities and social science graduates. Amherst grads' earnings within the same major category are typically comparable.

Geographic difference matters more than the campus tour suggests. Amherst is in Amherst, Massachusetts; CMC is in Claremont, California. Climate, cost-of-living, and proximity to job markets in your target field shape the four-year experience and post-grad pipeline more than most prospective students realize.

Student Body Composition

The two schools have different student body compositions. Amherst is 54.9% women, 13.1% international, and 16.5% Asian-American. CMC is 49.9% women, 14.8% international, and 17.1% Asian-American.

Demographic	Amherst	CMC
Women	54.9%	49.9%
International	13.1%	14.8%
White	36.4%	35.7%
Asian	16.5%	17.1%
Hispanic	13.8%	14.8%
Black	8.9%	4.1%

Personalized estimate

What are your odds at Amherst vs. CMC?

Get a probability for both schools calibrated to your full profile, not the headline rate.

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The Verdict

Pick Amherst if

Net price matters: Amherst costs $5,482 less per year on average
Higher 6-year graduation rate
the open curriculum

Pick CMC if

Your odds are realistic at CMC (slightly easier admit)
Higher median post-grad earnings ($104,736 vs $77,644)
the research institutes

Headline numbers favor one school or the other on each axis, but neither is unambiguously “better.” The right answer depends on your major fit, geographic preference, financial need, and personal odds at each. Most applicants who get into one of these schools also get into the other.

Full School Pages

For complete admissions data, supplemental essay strategy, and class profile breakdowns:

Full profile

Amherst College

9.0% accept · Amherst, Massachusetts

Full profile

Claremont McKenna College

9.6% accept · Claremont, California

Sources

U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard for acceptance rates, test ranges, financial aid, demographics, completion, and earnings.
IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) for the underlying federal data.
Each school's most recent published Common Data Set for cycle-specific admissions stats.

Last verified May 2026. Stats reflect each school's most recent publicly published admit cycle.

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Amherst College vs. Claremont McKenna College