Amherst College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Amherst College charges a net price of $23,367/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $93,468. Graduates earn a median $77,644 ten years after entry, $29,284/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 3.2 years — a 20-year net return of $492,212, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Amherst College's 3.2-year payback ranks #196 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 85% of them, and #15 of 85 in Massachusetts.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $23,367/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $93,468 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $77,644 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $29,284/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $13,740 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 3.2 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $492,212 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Amherst College's own numbers. Net price $23,367 × 4 years = $93,468 total. Median earnings $77,644 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $29,284 a year of premium. $93,468 ÷ $29,284 = 3.2 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $492,212. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Amherst College students graduate with?
A median $13,740 in federal loans among completers, or 18% of the $77,644 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Amherst College students graduate?
94% finish their degree. Spread the $93,468 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $99,434 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Amherst College expensive compared with other Massachusetts colleges?
Its $23,367 net price runs $1,516 below the $24,883 median across the 85 Massachusetts colleges we profile, and $6,064 less across the full degree.