Is Amherst or Colby harder to get into?

Colby is harder to get into than Amherst. Colby's 7.1% acceptance rate is lower than Amherst's 9.0%.

Which is cheaper, Amherst or Colby?

Colby costs less on average. After grants and scholarships, Colby's average net price is $17,180 vs $23,367 at Amherst.

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

Colby graduates earn more on average. Median earnings 10 years after entry are $77,644 at Amherst and $80,490 at Colby.

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

Metric	Amherst	Colby
Acceptance rate	9.0%	7.1%
SAT mid-50%	1490–1580	1460–1550
ACT mid-50%	33–35	32–34
Cost of attendance	$87,640	$85,420
Avg net price (after aid)	$23,367	$17,180
Undergrad enrollment	1,911	2,407
6-yr graduation rate	93.9%	88.8%
Median earnings (10yr)	$77,644	$80,490
Setting	Amherst, Massachusetts	Waterville, Maine

The Real Differences

Colby is modestly harder to get into. The 1.9-point gap matters at the margin but doesn't change the overall difficulty tier. Both schools draw similar applicant pools and admit similar profiles.

Amherst draws stronger test scores. Mid-50% SAT range tops out at 1580 vs 1550 at the other school. Differences in test profile usually reflect a school's STEM-vs-humanities mix and the self-selection of applicants, not raw academic quality.

Colby is significantly cheaper after aid. The average net price gap is $6,187 per year, $24,748 over four years. For most families that difference is the deciding factor when both schools admit you.

Geographic difference matters more than the campus tour suggests. Amherst is in Amherst, Massachusetts; Colby is in Waterville, Maine. 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.

Amherst's graduation rate is meaningfully higher (93.9% vs 88.8% 6-year completion). Graduation gaps at this level usually reflect support-system differences, financial aid adequacy, or degree-flexibility — worth verifying with each school's first-year retention and major-change policies.

Student Body Composition

The two schools have different student body compositions. Amherst is 54.9% women, 13.1% international, and 16.5% Asian-American. Colby is 51.2% women, 11.2% international, and 10.2% Asian-American.

Demographic	Amherst	Colby
Women	54.9%	51.2%
International	13.1%	11.2%
White	36.4%	54.9%
Asian	16.5%	10.2%
Hispanic	13.8%	8.4%
Black	8.9%	4.8%

Personalized estimate

What are your odds at Amherst vs. Colby?

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

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The Verdict

Pick Amherst if

Your odds are realistic at Amherst (slightly easier admit)
Higher 6-year graduation rate
the open curriculum

Pick Colby if

Net price matters: Colby costs $6,187 less per year on average
Higher median post-grad earnings ($80,490 vs $77,644)
Jan Plan month-long term

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

Colby College

7.1% accept · Waterville, Maine

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. Colby College