Amherst Acceptance Rate: Class of 2030 Admissions Statistics

Amherst College’s Class of 2029 recorded an overall acceptance rate of 7.72%, admitting 1,222 out of 15,819 applicants. These admissions numbers place Amherst among the most selective liberal arts colleges.

Amherst offers binding Early Decision (ED), but detailed ED figures for the Class of 2030 have not yet been publicly released. Full admissions statistics, including ED and Regular Decision (RD) breakdowns, are typically finalized after the RD cycle concludes in the spring.

In this blog, we’ll break down Amherst’s most recent overall, early, regular, waitlist, and transfer acceptance rates and explore how selectivity has evolved throughout the years.

• Amherst Acceptance Rates
• Amherst Early Decision Acceptance Rate
• Amherst Regular Decision Acceptance Rate
• Amherst Transfer Acceptance Rate
• Amherst Waitlist Acceptance Rate
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

Amherst Acceptance Rates

Amherst’s acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 fell to 7.72%, down from 9.01% for the Class of 2028. This drop was largely the result of a surge in applications, rising from 13,743 to 15,819, while the number of admitted students stayed almost the same (1,238 compared to 1,222).

Over the past decade, Amherst has become increasingly selective in its admissions. Here’s the full breakdown:

Note: All data has been compiled from Amherst’s Common Data Set.

Amherst has seen a steady rise in applications over the past decade, growing from 9,285 applicants for the Class of 2021 to 15,819 for the Class of 2029. Meanwhile, the number of admitted students has remained relatively stable, typically ranging between 1,000 and 1,200 admits each year.

Because admissions capacity has stayed fairly consistent while applications have increased, Amherst’s acceptance rate has declined overall, making admission more competitive. The highest acceptance rate during this period was 12.90% for the Class of 2021, while the lowest was 7.26% for the Class of 2026.

Amherst Early Decision Acceptance Rate

The most recent ED data comes from the Class of 2029, when Amherst received 971 applications and admitted 216 students, for a 22.25% acceptance rate. For the Class of 2028, 735 students applied and 216 were admitted, yielding a significantly higher acceptance rate of 29.39%.

Amherst Early Decision acceptance rate trends

Amherst’s early admissions data show rising selectivity over the past decade. Here’s the complete breakdown:

Note: All ED data has been sourced from Amherst’s Common Data Set.

Amherst’s ED pool has expanded notably in recent years, growing from 472 applicants for the Class of 2022 to 971 for the Class of 2029. Despite the larger applicant pool, the number of students admitted through ED has remained fairly consistent, typically around 200 admits each year.

During this period, the highest ED acceptance rate was 38.35% for the Class of 2022, while the lowest was 22.25% for the Class of 2029. As early applications increased while the number of available seats stayed relatively stable, the ED acceptance rate gradually declined.

While ED still offers higher odds than RD, the trend reflects growing demand and intensifying competition.

Amherst Regular Decision Acceptance Rate

For the Class of 2029, Amherst received 14,848 RD applications and extended 1,006 offers of admission, resulting in a 6.78% RD acceptance rate. This represents a modest drop from 7.86% for the Class of 2028.

Amherst Regular Decision acceptance rate trends

Amherst’s RD acceptance rate has shown a steady increase in recent years. Here’s a look at how Amherst’s RD rates have evolved across recent admissions cycles:

Note: RD figures are estimates derived by subtracting ED data from overall totals in Amherst’s Common Data Set.

During this period, the highest RD acceptance rate was 11.67% for the Class of 2021, while the lowest was 6.06% for the Class of 2026. As the applicant pool expanded while the number of available seats stayed similar, the RD acceptance rate gradually declined, making admission more competitive.

Amherst’s RD pool also increased from 8,783 applicants for the Class of 2021 to 14,848 for the Class of 2029. Despite this surge in applications, the number of admitted students has remained relatively stable, typically about 1,000 admits each year.

Even with minor year-to-year fluctuations, Amherst’s RD round remains considerably more competitive than its ED cycle.

Amherst Transfer Acceptance Rate

For Fall 2025, Amherst reported a 7.74% transfer acceptance rate. Here’s the breakdown:

Note: Fall 2025 transfer data is from Amherst’s Common Data Set for 2025-2026, the same reporting year that includes Class of 2029 first-year admissions data.

Amherst’s Fall 2025 transfer cycle was also highly competitive, with a 7.67% transfer acceptance rate, roughly in line with the 7.72% first-year acceptance rate for the Class of 2029.

Amherst Waitlist Acceptance Rate

The most recent waitlist data come from the Class of 2029, when Amherst had a 5.95% waitlist acceptance rate. Here’s the breakdown:

For the Class of 2029, Amherst College admitted 44 students from the 740 who confirmed their waitlist spots, resulting in a 5.95% waitlist acceptance rate. By comparison, Amherst’s overall acceptance rate that year was 7.72%, meaning waitlisted students faced tougher competition than the already selective general pool.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Amherst’s current acceptance rate?

The most recent confirmed overall acceptance rate for Amherst College is 7.72% for the Class of 2029. Out of 15,819 applicants, Amherst admitted 1,222 students.

2. Is it easier to get into Amherst through Early Decision or Regular Decision?

Historically, Amherst’s ED acceptance rate is higher than RD. For the Class of 2029, the ED rate was 22.25%, compared to 6.78% for RD. However, ED is binding, and the early applicant pool is typically highly competitive.

3. How hard is it to transfer to Amherst?

For Fall 2025, Amherst reported a 7.67% transfer acceptance rate. This rate is almost similar to its overall Class of 2029 first-year acceptance rate of 7.72%.

4. What are my chances of getting off Amherst’s waitlist?

Waitlist outcomes vary by year and enrollment needs. For the Class of 2029, Amherst admitted 44 students from the waitlist, resulting in a 5.95% waitlist acceptance rate. Although movement is possible, admission from the waitlist remains uncertain.

5. Why is Amherst’s acceptance rate so low?

Amherst’s acceptance rate is low because demand far exceeds its small class size. With only around 1,200 students admitted per class and rising application numbers, competition remains intense, keeping acceptance rates in the single digits.

Takeaways

• Amherst College’s acceptance rate has grown increasingly competitive in recent years, falling from 12.90% for the Class of 2021 to 7.72% for the Class of 2029.
• Applying through ED provides a clear statistical edge. For the Class of 2029, the ED acceptance rate was 22.25%, compared to 6.78% in RD, though the early pool is typically composed of highly qualified and committed applicants.
• Transfer and waitlist outcomes are also less predictable. For Fall 2025, Amherst’s transfer acceptance rate was 7.67%, and for the Class of 2029, the waitlist acceptance rate was a mere 5.95%.
• With competition this intense, crafting a focused and compelling application is important. Strategic preparation with a college admissions expert can help you present a strong academic narrative, highlight meaningful impact, and stand out in Amherst’s selective admissions process.