Lana Oconnell
Amherst College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in Massachusetts, United States. The college has a long history of attracting talented students from diverse backgrounds, including international students. In 2008, Amherst College extended its need-blind admission policy to international students, becoming one of the few colleges in the United States to do so. This means that Amherst does not consider an international applicant's financial situation during the admissions process, and they award financial aid to international students based on their financial need, just like domestic students. The college meets 100% of the calculated financial need for all admitted international students who apply for need-based financial aid. With this policy, Amherst aims to attract the most accomplished and promising students worldwide, regardless of their financial standing.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Need-blind admission policy for international students | Yes |
| Number of international students | 116 admitted in the last year |
| Number of applicants for financial aid | 1,498 applied for financial aid in the last year |
| Percentage of international students | 12-15% |
| Number of countries represented | 55-70 |
| English proficiency tests accepted | TOEFL (iBT, Home Edition), IELTS Academic, or the Duolingo English Test (DET) |
| Average class size | 19 students |
| Student-faculty ratio | 7:1 |
| Bachelor of Arts degree majors offered | 43 |
| Total cost of attendance for 2024-2025 | $88,820-$91,290 |
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What You'll Learn
- Amherst College is need-blind for international students
- International students must demonstrate English proficiency
- Amherst meets 100% of the calculated financial need of international students
- Amherst's financial aid packages are among the most generous in the US
- Amherst's admissions committee is familiar with various education systems
Amherst College is need-blind for international students
Amherst College is a need-blind institution for international students. This means that Amherst does not consider an applicant's financial need or ability to pay when making admissions decisions. The college welcomes applications from international students and typically, about 12-15% of its students come from secondary schools outside the United States. Amherst offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in 43 majors in the arts, sciences, social sciences, and humanities. With an average class size of 19 students and a student-faculty ratio of 7-to-1, the college is committed to providing a personalised educational experience.
Amherst's need-blind policy for international students was implemented in 2008, making it one of the first colleges in the United States to adopt such a policy. The college recognises the value of attracting talented students from around the world and aims to create a diverse and inclusive community. Amherst also provides generous financial aid packages and meets 100% of the calculated financial need for all admitted international students who apply for need-based financial aid. The college considers various factors in its admissions process, including grades, test scores, essays, recommendations, and achievements outside the classroom.
To apply to Amherst College, international students must follow the same first-year or transfer application process as domestic students, with the additional requirement of demonstrating English proficiency. Amherst requires international applicants whose first language is not English to submit score reports from English proficiency tests such as TOEFL, IELTS Academic, or the Duolingo English Test. The college does not offer provisional admission or English-as-a-Second-Language instruction, emphasising the importance of proficiency in English for the rigorous academic demands of the institution.
Amherst College's need-blind policy ensures that applicants are evaluated based on their merits and accomplishments, regardless of their financial circumstances. The college is committed to accessibility and affordability, providing equal opportunities for students from all socioeconomic backgrounds. This policy aligns with Amherst's long-standing dedication to accessibility and financial aid, including its history of eliminating loans for low-income and undergraduate students.
In conclusion, Amherst College's need-blind policy for international students demonstrates its commitment to creating a diverse and talented student body. By removing financial considerations from the admissions process, Amherst ensures that students from all over the world have the opportunity to access its academic programmes and resources. The college's need-blind policy, combined with its generous financial aid offerings, makes Amherst a highly inclusive and accessible institution for international students seeking a top-tier liberal arts education in the United States.
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International students must demonstrate English proficiency
Amherst College is a need-blind institution that does not consider an applicant's financial situation when evaluating their application for admission. Amherst was one of the first institutions in the United States to adopt a need-blind admission policy, and in 2008, the college extended this policy to include international students. The college welcomes applications from international students, with about 15% of its students coming from secondary schools outside the United States. Amherst meets 100% of the calculated financial need for all international students who are admitted and apply for need-based financial aid.
International students applying to Amherst College must demonstrate English proficiency as an additional application requirement. This is because Amherst's academic demands require proficiency in the comprehension and expression of both spoken and written English. Amherst does not offer provisional admission or English-as-a-Second-Language instruction. Therefore, international applicants whose first language is not English must take and submit score reports from English proficiency tests. The accepted English proficiency tests are TOEFL (iBT, Home Edition), IELTS Academic, and the Duolingo English Test (DET).
The TOEFL iBT test is the internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language. It is a widely recognised English proficiency test that evaluates non-native English speakers' reading, listening, speaking, and writing skills. The TOEFL Home Edition is a temporary option for test-takers who are unable to take the test at a test centre due to COVID-19 restrictions. The IELTS Academic test, on the other hand, assesses a non-native English speaker's English proficiency in listening, reading, writing, and speaking in an academic context. Finally, the Duolingo English Test is an online English proficiency test that focuses on listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills.
It is important to note that Amherst College does offer application fee waivers for students from low-income families for whom the application fees would pose a financial burden. International applicants can review the "Fee Waiver" section of the Common Application "Profile" to determine their eligibility for a College Board fee waiver. Additionally, Amherst College offers an open curriculum with no distribution requirements, allowing students to focus on the courses that interest them the most. With an average class size of 19 students and a student-faculty ratio of 7-to-1, Amherst faculty are committed to supporting the success of their students.
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Amherst meets 100% of the calculated financial need of international students
Amherst College is "
Once a student is admitted, Amherst will review their family's financial circumstances and use a "need analysis" formula to determine what the student and their family can afford to pay, also known as the "family contribution." This analysis takes into account various factors, including tuition, housing, meals, travel, health insurance, and personal expenses.
Amherst College meets 100% of the calculated financial need for all international students who are admitted and apply for need-based financial aid. This means that the college will provide the necessary financial support to cover the remaining cost of attendance after subtracting the family contribution. Amherst's financial aid packages are known for their generosity, and they do not include student loans, ensuring that students can graduate with less financial burden.
The college's commitment to meeting the full financial need of its students extends to both first-year and transfer applicants, ensuring a consistent approach regardless of the student's entry point into the college. Additionally, Amherst treats international transfer applicants the same as international first-year applicants, demonstrating fairness and equality in their financial aid processes.
Amherst College's need-blind admission policy and its commitment to meeting 100% of the calculated financial need of international students make it a leader in accessibility and affordability. This approach ensures that talented individuals from around the world have the opportunity to benefit from the college's academic excellence and renowned educational programs.
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Amherst's financial aid packages are among the most generous in the US
Amherst College is "'need-blind' in its evaluation of international students, meaning that the college makes admission decisions without considering an applicant's financial situation. Amherst was one of the first colleges in the US to adopt a need-blind admission policy, and in 1999, it became the first to eliminate loans for low-income students. In 2008, Amherst extended its need-blind policy to international students, making it one of only eight colleges and universities in the US to do so at the time.
Amherst's need-blind policy and generous financial aid packages allow the college to attract and admit the most talented and promising students from around the world, regardless of their financial standing. The college's commitment to accessibility and affordability ensures a diverse student body with students from a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds. Amherst's open curriculum further enhances its appeal to international students, offering over 800 courses across 43 majors in the arts, sciences, social sciences, and humanities, with no distribution requirements. With a low student-faculty ratio of 7-to-1, Amherst's faculty are dedicated to supporting each student's success.
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Amherst's admissions committee is familiar with various education systems
Amherst College is need-blind for all applicants, including international students. This means that the college makes admission decisions without considering an applicant's financial situation. Amherst welcomes applications from international students and, typically, about 12%-15% of their students come from secondary schools outside the United States.
For international applicants, the only additional application requirement is a demonstration of English proficiency. International students must submit score reports from English proficiency tests such as TOEFL, IELTS Academic, or the Duolingo English Test. Amherst does not offer provisional admission or English-as-a-Second-Language instruction, so proficiency in English comprehension and expression is required before admission.
Amherst meets 100% of the calculated financial need for all admitted international students who apply for need-based financial aid. The college uses a ""need analysis" formula to determine a family's expected contribution, taking into account factors such as tuition, housing, meals, travel, health insurance, and personal expenses. Amherst's financial aid packages are consistently among the most generous in the United States, and the college was one of the first to eliminate loans for low-income students in 1999.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Amherst College is need-blind for international students. Amherst was one of the first colleges in the country to adopt a need-blind admission policy, and in 2008, it extended this policy to international students. The college meets 100% of the calculated financial need for all international students who are admitted and apply for need-based financial aid.
"Need-blind" means that a school makes admission decisions without considering an applicant's financial situation. Amherst College evaluates applicants based on their merit and accomplishments and does not hold financial need against them.
International students applying to Amherst College must demonstrate English proficiency by submitting score reports from English proficiency tests such as TOEFL, IELTS Academic, or the Duolingo English Test. Amherst does not offer provisional admission or English-as-a-Second-Language instruction. The college treats international transfer applicants the same as international first-year applicants.
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