Policy on Outside Funding
Amherst allows outside funding and employer tuition benefits to first replace self-help (need-based student employment) rather than scholarship in a financial aid offer. Outside funding in excess of student employment will reduce the Amherst College scholarship aid that would otherwise be provided. With the scholarship sponsor's permission, outside funding can be deferred to subsequent years, or used to purchase a personal computer to minimize the Amherst College scholarship reduction. Outside funding cannot be used to replace the expected family contribution.
Policy on Health Insurance
The state of Massachusetts requires all students to have health insurance. If a student is not covered by an insurance plan or if the coverage is not substantially equivalent while at Amherst, the Amherst grant will be increased to pay for the $3,586 student health insurance plan (2025-2026 school year).
Policy on Travel Allowance
This cost varies based on a student's home location and is used to estimate aid. Travel for students residing in the U.S. is based on two round trips per academic year. Travel for students residing outside the U.S. is based on one round trip per academic year. The amount of the estimate is based on a survey of travel data every few years.
Policy on Student Contribution
The student contribution is expected to go toward personal expenses (the non-billed portion of your student expense budget). This contribution can be met in a variety of ways, including savings from a summer job, wages from campus employment, or borrowing a loan.
Requirements Associated with Maintaining this Award
All financial aid is need-based; there are no athletic or merit-based awards. In general, you are eligible to receive financial aid at Amherst for a total of eight semesters. A student who is approved for a ninth semester of enrollment at the College may also receive financial aid. You may continue to receive financial aid at Amherst providing the following requirements are met:
- An application for renewal of financial aid must be submitted.
- Continued demonstration of financial need, as evidenced by information submitted in the renewal application.
- Students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress in accordance with federal regulations and academic policies set by the College.
Special Note
Your financial aid offer is just the first piece of support that Amherst College provides; Amherst's resources are intended to support students throughout their college experience as they look ahead to shaping their own financial future. There are a number of financial aid enhancements available at Amherst College to eligible students.
The Access Grant automatically distributes funds to a student's account each semester, which can be used to help purchase items like laptops, mobile phones, winter clothing, move-in expenses, additional travel needs, specialty programs, or to cover job search expenses and other items to support your Amherst experience. Typically, eligible students have an Amherst Grant (scholarship) of $87,000 or higher, which includes students admitted through the QuestBridge Match.
The Student Emergency Fund assists students experiencing financial strain who need supplemental resources due to temporary and one-time hardship. The funding is intended to assist students with meeting immediate needs so they can continue their studies with minimal disruption. Criteria may be limited.
Learn more about financial aid enhancements on the Amherst College website.
Amherst College’s Financial Aid Overview
Amherst College is committed to providing financial aid to meet the full difference between what Amherst costs and what is calculated your family is able to contribute toward those costs. Amherst's financial aid meets your full calculated need - there is no gap or unmet need in your financial aid offer. Financial aid offers at Amherst consist solely of scholarship and work, with no expected student loan component. For this reason, many Amherst students graduate with low or no debt.
Because of their commitment to need-based aid for all of our students, Amherst will select students through the National College Match whose families qualify for a zero, or close to zero, contribution to the cost of an Amherst education.
Students who choose not to apply, or are not selected, for the Match are encouraged to apply as Early or Regular Decision candidates, and as with all students offered admission and qualifying for aid, have their full calculated financial need met for four years, without packaged student loans. Amherst financial aid offers usually include a scholarship and a work opportunity. All QuestBridge Scholars can expect to receive an aid offer meeting their full calculated need for each of the four years they are at Amherst.
Making an Amherst Education More Affordable
Over the past several years, the College started new initiatives to make an Amherst education more affordable and reduce unexpected costs. In 2022, Amherst eliminated course fees and now provides for materials such as personal lab equipment, art supplies, and courseware.. Starting in the 2024-25 academic year, ACTS, the College's new textbook program, provides all required course materials as part of the comprehensive fee. This allows every enrolled student to access required materials on or before the first day of class and ensures that the cost of textbooks and other course materials is never a barrier to taking a class. Learn more here.
