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Created Jan 0001
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latin, private, liberal arts college, neche, annapolis group, cofhe, five colleges, naicu, michael a. elliott

Amherst College

“Latin: *Collegii Amherstiensis* Motto: *Terras Irradient* Latin: *Let them enlighten the...”

Contents
  • 1. Overview
  • 2. Etymology
  • 3. Cultural Impact

Amherst College

Latin : Collegii Amherstiensis Motto: Terras Irradient Latin : Let them enlighten the lands

Type: Private liberal arts college Established: 1821; 204 years ago (1821) Accreditation: NECHE Academic affiliations:

Amherst College, a distinguished private liberal arts college nestled in Amherst, Massachusetts , stands as a testament to enduring academic tradition and intellectual rigor. Established in 1821, its genesis was rooted in an ambitious attempt to relocate Williams College , spearheaded by its then-president, Zephaniah Swift Moore . This endeavor positioned Amherst as the third oldest institution of higher learning in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts . The college bears the name of its host town, which itself was christened in honor of Jeffery, Lord Amherst , the formidable Commander-in-Chief of British forces in North America during the protracted French and Indian War . Initially conceived as an institution exclusively for men, Amherst embraced coeducation in 1975, opening its doors to a broader spectrum of talent and perspective.

With an exclusive focus on undergraduate education, Amherst College cultivates a vibrant academic community. As of fall 2024, it nurtures the intellectual growth of 1,914 full-time students. The admissions process is renowned for its exceptional selectivity, attracting a cohort of students who demonstrate outstanding academic promise and a thirst for knowledge. Students are empowered by an open curriculum , offering the freedom to explore 42 distinct major programs. This pedagogical philosophy liberates students from the constraints of a rigid core curriculum or mandatory distribution requirements, allowing them the autonomy to forge their own interdisciplinary paths of study.

Amherst’s athletic endeavors are keenly contested within NCAA Division III , where it proudly competes as a member of the prestigious New England Small College Athletic Conference . The college shares a rich tapestry of historical connections and spirited rivalries with Williams College and Wesleyan University , collectively forming the esteemed Little Three colleges. Furthermore, Amherst’s academic reach is significantly amplified through its membership in the Five College Consortium . This collaborative network provides students with unparalleled access to the academic resources of four other distinguished institutions in the Pioneer Valley : Mount Holyoke College , Smith College , Hampshire College , and the University of Massachusetts Amherst .

History

Founding and 19th Century

The Amherst graduating class of 1850, a cohort that included William Austin Dickinson , brother to the celebrated poet Emily Dickinson , offers a glimpse into the college’s early intellectual landscape. The architectural heart of the campus, College Row , comprised Williston, South, North, and Appleton halls, with the imposing Johnson Chapel standing as a central edifice. The Gothic Revival style of Fayerweather Hall and the modernist lines of Frost Library further illustrate the evolving architectural identity of the institution.

The seeds of Amherst College were sown in 1812 with the establishment of Amherst Academy, a secondary school that opened its doors in December 1814. This academy, which received its charter in 1816, later boasted an illustrious roster of students, including the visionary poet Emily Dickinson , the health reformer Sylvester Graham , and the pioneering educator Mary Lyon , the founder of Mount Holyoke College . The town, and subsequently the academy and college, were named in homage to Jeffery, Lord Amherst , a distinguished veteran of the Seven Years’ War and later the commander of British forces in North America. A pivotal moment arrived on November 18, 1817, when a resolution was adopted at the Academy to solicit funds for the free education of “indigent young men of promising talents and hopeful piety, who shall manifest a desire to obtain a liberal education with a sole view to the Christian ministry.” This ambitious undertaking necessitated significant financial contributions from benevolent benefactors.

During the intensive fundraising campaign for this noble cause, it became evident that the scope of the project would require a more substantial institutional framework than initially envisioned. This realization prompted the committee overseeing the initiative to advocate for the establishment of an entirely new institution. On August 18, 1818, the board of trustees of Amherst Academy formally endorsed this proposal and commenced the foundational work for a new college.

Thus, Amherst College was officially founded in 1821, evolving directly from the Amherst Academy. Its inception was intrinsically linked to the perceived precariousness of Williams College , which was then grappling with financial instability. While Williams ultimately persevered, Amherst emerged as a distinct and robust academic entity, charting its own course.

Establishment and Early Years

Moore, who held the esteemed position of President of Williams College , harbored reservations about Williamstown ’s suitability as a long-term location for a college. Upon the establishment of Amherst College, he was unanimously elected as its inaugural president on May 8, 1821. At its inception, Amherst welcomed a modest cohort of forty-seven students. A significant contingent of fifteen students, representing approximately one-third of the total enrollment and about one-fifth of the students in the relevant classes at Williams, followed President Moore to the new institution. Tragically, President Moore’s tenure was cut short by his death on June 29, 1823. He was succeeded by Heman Humphrey , a respected trustee of Williams College.

A charming, albeit apocryphal, anecdote persists among Williams alumni, suggesting a clandestine transfer of books from the Williams College library to Amherst College. This tale, while officially debunked in 1995 by Williams president Harry C. Payne , continues to hold a place in the college’s lore.

In 1826, Edward Jones achieved a historic milestone, becoming Amherst’s first Black graduate. This marked a significant step forward in the college’s commitment to inclusivity.

Amherst experienced rapid growth, and for a brief period in the mid-1830s, it ascended to the position of the second-largest college in the United States, trailing only Yale . In 1835, Amherst embarked on an ambitious academic experiment by proposing a curriculum that diverged from the traditional classical liberal arts education. This parallel course emphasized modern languages such as English, French, and Spanish, alongside subjects like chemistry and economics, while de-emphasizing the study of Greek and Latin . Although this innovative approach did not immediately supplant the classical curriculum, its foundational principles would influence academic thought in subsequent centuries.

Amherst was established as a non-sectarian institution with the explicit mission “for the classical education of indigent young men of piety and talents for the Christian ministry,” as articulated by W. S. Tyler in his seminal work, “A History of Amherst College.” A distinctive feature of the early college was its Charity Fund , an early iteration of financial aid designed to cover the tuition expenses of less affluent students. Despite its officially non-denominational status, Amherst was perceived as a bastion of religious conservatism, deeply influenced by Calvinism and the pervasive cultural sway of the Puritans in Massachusetts.

This conservative leaning led to considerable deliberation within the Massachusetts government regarding the college’s official charter. A charter was eventually granted on February 21, 1825, an event symbolically represented on the Amherst seal. Religious conservatism remained a defining characteristic of Amherst until the mid-nineteenth century, with students facing expulsion for infractions such as consuming alcohol or playing cards. The college also witnessed numerous Christian revivals . However, as the nineteenth century drew to a close, Amherst began a discernible shift toward secularism, a transition often marked, perhaps symbolically, by the demolition of the college church in 1949.

Development and Academic Reform

The academic hoods worn in the United States traditionally feature lining colors that reflect the official hues of the wearer’s alma mater, intended to visually identify their educational lineage. Amherst’s hoods are a distinctive purple, the official color of Williams College , accented with a white stripe or chevron, a design choice often interpreted as a symbolic nod to Amherst’s origins from Williams. The college holds the distinction of being one of the earliest American institutions to implement a system of Latin honors , with records dating back to 1881. Amherst remained an exclusively male institution until the late 1960s, when a limited number of female students from participating schools within the Four-College Consortium (Amherst, Mount Holyoke, Smith, and UMass) were permitted to attend on an experimental basis. In a significant move, the faculty voted in favor of coeducation in October 1974, and this decision was ratified by the board of trustees in November 1974, paving the way for the admission of female students beginning in the 1975–1976 academic year. This pivotal transition occurred during the presidency of John William Ward . In June 1975, nine women who had already been participating in inter-college exchange programs were formally admitted as transfer students. They subsequently became the first female graduates of the college in June 1976.

The college demonstrated its commitment to interdisciplinary studies by establishing the Black Studies Department in 1969. In 1973, it launched the nation’s first undergraduate program in Neuroscience . Further expanding its academic offerings, the Department of Asian Languages and Literatures was founded in 1983, later evolving into the Department of Asian Languages and Civilizations.

In 1984, the college took the decisive step of abolishing on-campus fraternities. The buildings previously occupied by these fraternities, which were owned by the college, were repurposed as residence halls. The Department of Women’s and Gender Studies, subsequently renamed the Department of Sexuality, Women’s, and Gender Studies, was established in 1987, followed by the creation of the Department of Law, Jurisprudence, and Social Thought in 1993.

A significant advancement in academic accessibility occurred in March 2013 when the faculty adopted an open-access policy . Eight years later, in 2021, the college made the bold decision to eliminate legacy admissions , concurrently enhancing its financial aid programs to foster greater access for students from low and middle-income backgrounds, thereby promoting increased socioeconomic diversity within the student body.

Presidents

The following individuals have held the esteemed position of president of Amherst College:

No.ImagePresidentTerm startTerm endRef.
1Zephaniah Swift Moore18211823
2Heman Humphrey18231845
3Edward Hitchcock18451854
4William Augustus Stearns18541876
5Julius Hawley Seelye18761890
6Merrill Edwards Gates18901899
7George Harris18991912
8Alexander Meiklejohn19121924
9George Daniel Olds19241927
10Arthur Stanley Pease19271932
11Stanley King19321946
12Charles Woolsey Cole19461960
13Calvin Hastings Plimpton19601971
14John William Ward19711979
15Julian Gibbs19791983
Acting: G. Armour Craig19831984
16Peter Pouncey19841994
17Tom GeretyJuly 1, 1994June 30, 200327 28
18Anthony MarxJuly 1, 2003June 30, 2011 [a]29 30
Acting: Gregory S. CallJuly 1, 2011July 31, 201131
19Carolyn “Biddy” MartinAugust 1, 2011July 31, 202232 33
20Michael A. ElliottAugust 1, 2022present34

^ Resigned to lead the New York Public Library .

Campus

This section requires further expansion to fully capture the essence of Amherst College’s campus. Consider this a placeholder for future insights.

Amherst College is situated in the picturesque town of Amherst in western Massachusetts. The college boasts a total of 34 residence halls, with seven specifically designated for first-year students. Following their initial year, sophomores, juniors, and seniors are afforded the flexibility to reside off-campus, with options for Themed Houses such as the Russian House and French House, although this choice is typically limited to two years of residency. First-year students are mandated to live on campus, fostering a sense of community from the outset.

Beyond its academic buildings and residences, the college also owns and operates the Emily Dickinson Museum , a vital historical site dedicated to preserving the legacy and illuminating the life of the renowned poet Emily Dickinson . Adjacent to the main campus, the Inn on Boltwood provides additional accommodation and hospitality services.

Sustainability Initiatives

Amherst College is actively engaged in reducing its environmental footprint through a multi-pronged approach to sustainability. A sophisticated computerized monitoring system optimizes energy consumption by managing lighting efficiency. Furthermore, the college operates an efficient cogeneration facility, which harnesses a gas turbine to generate electricity while simultaneously producing steam for campus heating. This integrated system significantly minimizes energy waste. Amherst also champions a robust composting program, diverting a substantial portion of food waste from its dining halls to a local farm in Vermont, thereby contributing to a circular economy and reducing landfill burden.

Academics

Amherst College offers a comprehensive academic landscape, featuring 41 distinct fields of study encompassing over 850 courses across the sciences, arts, humanities, mathematics and computer sciences, social sciences, foreign languages, classics, and a variety of interdisciplinary fields, including premedical studies. The college is distinguished by its remarkably open curriculum , which liberates students from the constraints of a prescribed core curriculum or distribution requirements. This academic freedom extends to the possibility of students designing their own unique interdisciplinary majors, fostering a personalized and deeply engaging educational experience. The curriculum is structured to allow freshmen to enroll in advanced courses and seniors to explore introductory ones, reflecting a fluid and adaptable approach to learning. Amherst College holds accreditation from the New England Commission of Higher Education .

The academic prowess of Amherst students is reflected in their pursuit of knowledge. For the class of 2019, an impressive forty-five percent of graduates pursued double majors, indicative of their broad intellectual curiosity. Amherst College has pioneered undergraduate departments in the interdisciplinary fields of American Studies , Law, Jurisprudence and Social Thought, and Neuroscience , and has been instrumental in fostering the development of other innovative programs, such as Asian Languages and Civilizations. As of the graduating class of 2021, the most popular majors were:

  • Mathematics (40)
  • Econometrics and Quantitative Economics (34)
  • Research and Experimental Psychology (31)
  • Political Science and Government (25)
  • History (22)
  • Biology/Biological Sciences (21)
  • Neuroscience (19)
  • American/U.S. Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence (19)

The Amherst library, a repository of knowledge, bears the name of the distinguished faculty member and acclaimed poet Robert Frost . The college maintains an exceptionally favorable student-faculty ratio of 7:1, with a remarkable 84% of classes having fewer than 30 students, ensuring personalized attention and fostering close mentorship between students and faculty.

Among its esteemed faculty are notable figures such as the modern literature and poetry critic William H. Pritchard ; Howell Chickering, the translator of Beowulf ; Ilan Stavans , a renowned scholar of Jewish and Latino studies; novelist and legal scholar Lawrence Douglas ; physicist Arthur Zajonc ; Pulitzer Prize -winning biographer of Nikita Khrushchev , William Taubman ; African art specialist Rowland Abiodun ; expert in Natural Law Hadley Arkes ; mathematician Daniel Velleman; biblical scholar Susan Niditch; law and society expert Austin Sarat ; Asian American studies scholar and former Director of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center Franklin Odo ; and the Pulitzer Prize -winning composer and professor emeritus of music, Lewis Spratlan .

Reputation and Rankings

Johnson Chapel, a focal point of the Amherst campus, stands as a symbol of the college’s architectural heritage and academic gravitas.

Since the inception of the U.S. News & World Report rankings in 1987, Amherst College has consistently been recognized for its academic excellence, achieving the number one ranking among all liberal arts colleges in the United States on ten occasions. In 2022, it held the second position, closely following Williams College . The WSJ/College Pulse 2024 Best College Rankings lauded Amherst College as the premier liberal arts college and the eighth-best college or university overall in the United States. In 2022, The Wall Street Journal similarly recognized Amherst as the leading liberal arts college nationwide. Forbes has consistently ranked Amherst among the top institutions, placing it as the 24th best college or university in the United States for their 2024–25 rankings and the 16th best in 2021.

Kiplinger’s Personal Finance has also acknowledged Amherst’s value, ranking it 11th in its 2016 assessment of the best value liberal arts colleges in the United States.

Furthermore, Amherst secured the 6th position in the 2021 Washington Monthly liberal arts college rankings, an evaluation that emphasizes contributions to the public good across three key areas: social mobility, research impact, and the promotion of public service.

Academic Freedom Debate

In 2013, Amherst College found itself at the center of a contentious debate concerning academic freedom and institutional responsibility, sparked by the writings of Professor of Political Science Hadley Arkes on the subject of homosexuality . A group of alumni petitioned the college trustees and President Biddy Martin to publicly distance the institution from Arkes’s views, which they characterized as “divisive and destructive.” The controversy intensified following Arkes’s May 2013 comparison of homosexuality to bestiality , pedophilia , and necrophilia . The alumni argued that Amherst College could not credibly uphold its commitment to an inclusive community while remaining silent in the face of a faculty member disparaging members of its community through widely accessible media.

President Martin, however, articulated a nuanced perspective, drawing parallels to past instances where the college initially maintained silence on controversial political matters, such as the Vietnam War and apartheid in South Africa, before eventually taking a public stance. She emphasized the importance for colleges to “avoid taking institutional positions on controversial political matters, except in extraordinary circumstances,” while simultaneously striving to “protect their communities from discrimination and disrespect” and “cherish a diversity of viewpoints.” This stance underscored the delicate balance between fostering an environment of open discourse and ensuring the well-being and respect of all community members.

The Kirby Memorial Theater, a venue for artistic and intellectual expression, stands as a significant landmark on the Amherst campus, embodying the college’s commitment to the performing arts and public discourse.

Five College Consortium

Amherst College is an integral member of the Five Colleges , a dynamic academic partnership that significantly enhances the educational opportunities available to its students. This collaboration grants Amherst students the privilege of enrolling in classes at four other esteemed Pioneer Valley institutions: Mount Holyoke College , Smith College , Hampshire College , and the University of Massachusetts Amherst . Beyond the 850 courses offered directly on the Amherst campus, students gain access to an additional 5,300 courses through the Consortium, without incurring any supplementary tuition fees. Moreover, this affiliation provides access to an expansive collection of 8 million library volumes. The Five Colleges are geographically proximate, fostering seamless integration through the buses that run between the campuses .

The collaborative spirit of the Five Colleges extends to the sharing of resources and the development of innovative common academic programs. Museums10 represents a consortium of local art, history, and science museums, enriching the cultural landscape for students. The joint Five College Dance Department stands as one of the largest and most comprehensive in the nation. The collaborative Astronomy department jointly manages the Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory , an institution whose contributions were recognized with a share of the 1993 Nobel Prize in Physics.

Further exemplifying the interdisciplinary focus of the consortium, the Five College Coastal and Marine Sciences Program offers undergraduates a specialized curriculum in this crucial field.

Admissions

Admissions Statistics2022 Entering ClassChange vs. 2017
Admit rate7.2%−5.7%
Yield rate43%+4%
Test Scores (middle 50%)
SAT EBRW700–760
SAT Math720–790
ACT Composite32–35
High School GPA
Top 10%90%+7%
Top 25%96%+2%
Top 50%100%No change

Note: 2022 data pertains to students who chose to submit scores. GPA data is based on students whose schools provided rankings.

U.S. News & World Report consistently categorizes Amherst as among the “most selective” liberal arts colleges in the United States. The Carnegie Foundation further classifies Amherst as one of the “more selective” institutions, indicating that its first-year students’ test scores place the college within roughly the top fifth of all baccalaureate institutions . For the class that matriculated in fall 2021, Amherst received a staggering 13,999 applications, accepting 1,224 students, resulting in an admit rate of 8.7%. Ultimately, 514 students enrolled. Among this cohort, 91% ranked in the top 10% of their high school classes. The middle 50% of enrolled students achieved scores between 1440 and 1540 on the SAT and between 32 and 35 on the ACT. The first-year class represented a diverse geographic tapestry, with students hailing from 38 states and 23 countries. A significant 55% of these students received financial aid, and 11% were the first in their families to attend college. Additionally, 16 transfer students joined the student body.

Despite its considerable cost of attendance—the comprehensive tuition, room, and board fee for the 2022–23 academic year amounted to $80,250—Amherst College remains steadfast in its commitment to meeting the full demonstrated financial need of every admitted student. A substantial 60% of current students benefit from scholarship aid, with the average financial aid package award reaching $62,071. The college’s annual expenditure per student approximates $109,000.

In a landmark announcement in July 2007, Amherst declared its intention to replace all loans with grants in its financial aid packages, commencing with the 2008–09 academic year. This move built upon Amherst’s prior distinction as the first institution to eliminate loans for low-income students. With this policy shift, Amherst joined the ranks of Princeton University , Cornell University , and Davidson College as one of the few colleges at the time to eliminate loans entirely from need-based financial aid. This commitment to equitable access has demonstrably increased the enrollment of highly qualified students from lower-income backgrounds, fostering a greater degree of opportunity at Amherst compared to many other elite American colleges.

The academic year of 2008–2009 marked another significant stride in Amherst’s commitment to global inclusivity, as the college extended its need-blind admission policy to international applicants. In 2021, Amherst further solidified its dedication to meritocracy and diversity by abolishing preferences for students whose parents are alumni (“legacies”) , a move aimed at leveling the playing field and ensuring admission is based solely on academic merit and potential.

Student Life

Amherst’s comprehensive resources, distinguished faculty, and vibrant academic life collectively contribute to attracting students with a diverse array of talents, interests, and aspirations. The student body represents a broad spectrum of backgrounds, encompassing individuals from 48 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and sixty-six countries. The median family income of Amherst students is $158,200, with 51% of students originating from the top 10% highest-earning families and 24% from the bottom 60%, illustrating a commitment to socioeconomic diversity. A remarkable 98% of students reside on campus, fostering a close-knit community. The retention rate is exceptionally high, with 98% of Amherst freshmen enrolled in Fall 2020 returning for their sophomore year, and 92% of the most recent cohort graduating within six years, underscoring the college’s supportive and engaging environment. The college boasts over 200 student-led organizations, catering to a wide range of interests. Furthermore, more than a third of the student body actively participates in varsity athletics, demonstrating a commitment to physical well-being and competitive spirit.

Students actively pursue their passions and interests through a plethora of student-led organizations, supported by student fees and managed by the student government. These groups encompass a diverse array of cultural and religious affiliations, publications, fine and performing arts initiatives, and political advocacy and service organizations. Among the more unique offerings are a medieval sword-fighting club, a knitting club, and a club dedicated to performing random acts of kindness. Community service initiatives, both locally through the Center for Community Engagement and on national and international levels, have been a significant priority at Amherst and for former President Anthony Marx , who played a key role in establishing a secondary school for Black students in apartheid South Africa.

A cherished and long-standing tradition at the college revolves around the Sabrina statue. Classes, differentiated by even and odd years, engage in a spirited, often elaborate, competition to gain possession of this historic statue, a tradition that injects an element of playful rivalry and camaraderie into campus life.

Sexual Assault Allegations and Policy Review

In 2012, President Biddy Martin initiated a comprehensive, community-wide review of the college’s policies and procedures concerning sexual misconduct and disciplinary actions. This review was prompted by a confluence of factors, including the controversial T-shirt design of an underground fraternity, which critics deemed misogynistic, and a poignant essay published in The Amherst Student by Angie Epifano , in which she detailed her accusations of the college’s mishandling of a sexual assault case. In January 2013, a dedicated college committee released a report that acknowledged the prevalence of sexual assault at Amherst as being comparable to that at other colleges and universities, while also proposing a series of recommendations aimed at addressing the issue. In a decisive move in May 2014, the Amherst board of trustees enacted a ban on students joining any underground or off-campus fraternities, seeking to mitigate potential risks and enhance oversight.

Following a formal complaint filed in November 2013 by Epifano and an anonymous former student, the U.S. Department of Education launched an investigation into the college’s handling of sexual violence allegations and potential violations of Title IX . In May 2014, the Department of Education publicized a list of 55 colleges and universities, including Amherst, that were under active investigation.

A report issued by Amherst College revealed that between 2009 and 2011, the institution recorded 35 instances of “forcible sex offenses,” a broad classification encompassing rape, attempted rape, and other forms of sexual contact.

In 2022, in response to the anonymous sharing of sexual assault experiences at Amherst College on the Instagram account @amherstshareyourstory, then-President Biddy Martin announced the commencement of a new, comprehensive review focused on addressing sexual misconduct and assault on campus. According to the 2023 NECHE Interim Crediting Report, listening sessions and interviews were conducted, and a dedicated website for anonymous reporting of concerns was established. The NECHE interim report indicated that the findings of the review were anticipated to be published in Spring 2023. However, as of the current date, there has been no further update or public disclosure regarding the 2022 review.

Mascot History

In the second decade of the 21st century, the original, unofficial mascot of Amherst College, Lord Jeffery Amherst , became a subject of significant concern within the Amherst community. Many individuals advocated for a dissociation of the school from the problematic legacy of Lord Jeffery Amherst, particularly his documented advocacy for the use of biological warfare against Native Americans .

In May 2014, a peculiar incident occurred when a wild moose wandered onto the Amherst College campus and entered the backyard of the college president’s residence. This unusual event sparked a student-led campaign on Facebook to adopt the moose as the school’s official mascot. The Facebook page rapidly gained traction, attracting over 900 “likes” in under two weeks, and inspired the creation of dedicated Twitter and Tumblr accounts for the proposed new mascot. At the Commencement ceremony for the class of 2014, President Biddy Martin referenced the moose mascot in her address, and the Dining Hall featured Moose Tracks ice cream, complete with an ice sculpture of a moose.

Discussions surrounding a mascot change continued in February 2015 when the editorial board of The Amherst Student, the college’s official student-run newspaper, publicly endorsed the “moose-scot.” In November 2015, both the student body and the faculty overwhelmingly voted to vacate the existing mascot. In that same month, a sit-in protest against racism held at the college library saw several hundred students among their demands call for the college to cease its use of the Lord Jeff mascot. The decision to officially discontinue the mascot was formalized by the college’s trustees on January 26, 2016.

In April 2017, Amherst announced its selection of the mammoth as its official mascot. The mammoth emerged victorious over other finalists, including “Valley Hawks,” “Purple and White,” “Wolves,” and “Fighting Poets,” through a ranked-choice election process. The mammoth’s association with Amherst stems from the long-standing presence of a Columbian Mammoth skeleton on display at the Beneski Museum of Natural History on campus. This remarkable specimen was excavated in the 1920s by Amherst professor Frederic Brewster Loomis in Melbourne, Florida, connecting the college’s natural history collection to its contemporary identity.

Athletics

Men’s SportsWomen’s Sports
BaseballBasketball
BasketballCross Country
Cross CountryField Hockey
FootballGolf
GolfIce Hockey
Ice HockeyLacrosse
LacrosseSoccer
SoccerSoftball
SquashSquash
Swimming & DivingSwimming & Diving
TennisTennis
Track & Field ¹Track & Field ¹
Volleyball

¹ Includes both indoor and outdoor track & field.

A historical photograph captures an Amherst College “Lord Jeffs” versus Cornell ice hockey game on Beebe Lake , Ithaca, on January 14, 1922.

Amherst College actively participates in the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Division III , the Eastern College Athletic Conference , and the New England Small College Athletic Conference . The NESCAC comprises Bates , Bowdoin , Colby , Connecticut College , Hamilton , Middlebury , Trinity , Tufts , Wesleyan , and Williams . Amherst is also a proud member of the “Little Three ,” alongside Williams and Wesleyan. While an informal Little Three champion is often recognized based on head-to-head records, formal three-way competitions are held in certain sports.

Amherst proudly claims its athletics program as the oldest in the nation, citing the implementation of a compulsory physical fitness regimen in 1860. Although the mandate for all students to participate in sports or physical education has since been discontinued, this historical precedent underscores the college’s long-standing commitment to athletic development. Amherst and Williams played what is widely recognized as the first college baseball game on July 2, 1859.

In recent years, Amherst’s burgeoning athletics program has become a subject of discussion and analysis due to perceived disparities in the racial and socioeconomic composition of its student athletes compared to the broader student body. Furthermore, concerns have been raised regarding the concentration of athletes within specific academic departments and a perceived divide on campus between varsity athletes and other students. Athletic prowess is a recognized factor in admissions decisions, influencing between 28% and 35% of each incoming class.

Amherst also fields a variety of club athletic teams , including ultimate , soccer, crew, rugby union , water polo , equestrian , mountain biking , fencing , sailing , and skiing. The college also offers intramural sports such as soccer, tennis, golf, basketball, volleyball, and softball, providing ample opportunities for athletic engagement across the student body.

The sport of Ultimate was notably originated and named at Amherst College in the mid-1960s by Jared Kass, marking a significant contribution to the world of recreational sports.

Alumni

Despite its relatively small size, Amherst College has produced an extraordinary number of accomplished alumni. Its graduates include recipients of Nobel Prizes , the Crafoord Prize , and the Lasker Award , as well as winners of MacArthur Fellowships and Pulitzer Prizes . The college’s alumni have also received the National Medal of Science and the National Book Award , and have achieved accolades in the arts, including Academy Awards , Tony Awards , Grammy Awards , and Emmy Awards . Notable alumni include a U.S. President , the current Sovereign Prince of Monaco , two Prime Ministers and one Foreign Minister of Greece, a President of Kenya , a President of El Salvador , a Chief Justice of the United States , three Speakers of the U.S. House of Representatives , a U.S. Poet Laureate , the legal architect of the landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education , and the inventor of the blood bank . Amherst alumni have distinguished themselves as leaders in various fields, including science, religion, politics, the Peace Corps, medicine, law, education, communications, and business, as well as achieving acclaim as actors, architects, artists, astronauts, engineers, human rights activists, inventors, musicians, philanthropists, and writers.

Among its alumni, faculty, and affiliated individuals are six Nobel Prize laureates and twenty Rhodes Scholars . President Calvin Coolidge , Chief Justice Harlan F. Stone , and numerous other distinguished writers, academics, politicians, entertainers, businesspeople, and activists are among the college’s esteemed graduates.

With approximately 23,000 living alumni, about 45% make an annual financial contribution to Amherst, representing one of the highest alumni participation rates among colleges nationwide. This strong alumni engagement underscores the enduring connection and loyalty fostered by the institution.

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Bibliography

  • Applegate, Debby , The Most Famous Man in America: The Biography of Henry Ward Beecher (Doubleday, 2006).
  • Opal, J. M. “The Making of the Victorian Campus: Teacher and Student at Amherst College, 1850-1880.” History of Education Quarterly 42.3 (2002): 342–367.
  • Pick, Nancy, and Frank Ward, Curious Footprints: Professor Hitchcock’s Dinosaur Tracks & Other Natural History Treasures at Amherst College (Amherst College Press, 2006).
  • W. S. Tyler , History of Amherst College during its first half century, 1821–1871 (C. W. Bryan, 1873).
  • Exercises at the Semi-Centennial of Amherst College (1871).
  • William S. Tyler, A History of Amherst College (1894).
  • Passages of Time, Narratives in the History of Amherst College, edited and with several selections by Douglas C. Wilson, son of William E. Wilson (Amherst College Press, 2007).
  • Pick, Nancy, Eye Mind Heart: A View of Amherst College at 200 (Amherst College, 2020).

External links

Amherst College

Presidents of Amherst College

Five College Consortium

QuestBridge partner institutions

Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts (AICUM)

Annapolis Group

Oberlin Group of Libraries

Consortium of Liberal Arts Colleges

New England Small College Athletic Conference

Authority control databases

  • International: ISNI, VIAF, GND, FAST
  • National: United States, France (BnF data), Czech Republic, Norway, Greece, Poland, Vatican, Israel
  • Geographic: MusicBrainz place
  • Other: IdRef, SNAC, Yale LUX

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