About Amherst

Amherst College prepares students to make a difference in the world. Our financial aid program is among the most substantial in the nation, and our student body is among the most diverse. At Amherst, you are part of a lively, inquisitive, devoted community of students, faculty, staff and alumni who find inspiration in one another and in the process of learning.

Since our 1821 founding, Amherst has demonstrated steadfast confidence in the value of the liberal arts and the importance of critical thinking. Small classes, an open curriculum and a singular focus on undergraduate education ensure that leading scholars engage daily with talented, curious students, equipping them for leadership in an increasingly global and complex world.
 

Diversity is a natural condition of the modern world. And, not coincidentally, it is a foundational part of an Amherst education. We believe that a great intellectual community should look like the world, and with every incoming student, that community comes to life here.
 

Diversity Programs for Prospective Students

Amherst is proud of its work to recruit, admit and enroll a diverse student body. As part of these efforts, the Office of Admission hosts Access to Amherst (A2A) to introduce prospective applicants to Amherst's campus, student body, faculty, and classes. Diversity Outreach Interns provide information and personal perspectives on what the Amherst College community has to offer.