Amherst Acceptance Rate: Class of 2029

Amherst College is a small liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts. It was ranked the #2 Best Liberal Arts College by the U.S. News & World Report for 2025. Amherst offers an open curriculum that extends into the surrounding Five College Consortium which includes Mount Holyoke College, Hampshire College, Smith College, and the University of Massachusetts—Amherst.  

AMHERST ACCEPTANCE RATE

Amherst, one of the so-called “Little Ivies,” received a record-high 15,818 applications to the Class of 2029 and admitted 1,175 applicants for an acceptance rate of about 7%, according to The Amherst Student. Last year’s overall acceptance rate was 9%. Amherst remains test-optional.

The Class of 2029 is the second class to be admitted following the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling banning affirmative action. Amherst saw a much less diverse freshman class last year, with the percentage of Black students dropping from 11% (Class of 2027) to just 3% (Class of 2028).

However, 25% of the admitted students this year identify as first generation college students, a record high for the school. Amherst has also upped recruiting in rural areas, leading to a 37% increase in admitted students with home addresses in rural regions.

TTA TOP TIP: For many small liberal arts colleges, including Amherst, admissions officers review roughly 1,000 applications each in the early round (compared to nearly 10,000 at most Ivy League institutions). With fewer applicants, high-impact extracurriculars and powerful essays can get you a closer read in the early round at these colleges. It’s also easier to connect with your admissions officer and receive more personalized attention from faculty, coaches, and student representatives on campus. Since many of these schools offer evaluative interviews, don’t forget to use the summer to prepare!

At Top Tier Admissions, we are committed to making the college admissions process more transparent. Easy access to clear data helps families understand trends in college admissions to make more informed decisions. This year we’re once again collecting acceptance rate data at selective schools and providing insight and analysis of our own.

WANT TO READ MORE?

Are you thinking about applying to Amherst College? Curious about admissions trends and strategies to improve your odds? Contact us to discuss our Application Boot Camp® or Private Counseling program— we look forward to supporting you!

• The Value of Attending a Liberal Arts College
• Little Ivies: Class of 2028 Acceptance Rates
• What Are the Little Ivies?
• Average ACT Scores at Top Colleges
• Average GPA and Class Rank at Top Colleges

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Siena Swift

Creative Content Coordinator at Top Tier Admissions

Siena is a Pomona College graduate and award-winning student journalist with a passion for impactful communication and global education. After guiding prospective students as a tour guide at Pomona and spearheading sustainability initiatives across the Claremont Colleges, Siena honed her skills in social media strategy and event programming as an admissions office intern. Since graduating, she has worked with Top Tier Admissions, where she now serves as the Creative Content Coordinator. In this role, Siena manages social media strategies, creates engaging content, and supports webinars. Her work combines her love for communication, education, and creativity, all while contributing to the growth and engagement of the Top Tier Admissions community.

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