Amherst, Massachusetts — USA
Amherst College
Completely need-blind for ALL international applicants — freshmen and transfers — with 100% of demonstrated need met through all-grant, no-loan packages. Asking for a full ride will not hurt your admission chances.
Last updated July 2026. Always confirm details on the school's official page before applying.
Amherst College offers full need-based financial aid — up to 100% of demonstrated need — to international students. Here's what makes Amherst genuinely special: they are completely need-blind for both freshman AND transfer international applicants, making them one of only a small handful of U.S. institutions with a true need-blind policy for all internationals. Your application is judged entirely on its merits, and applying for a complete full-ride scholarship will not hurt your admission chances. If admitted, Amherst meets 100% of your calculated financial need with all-grant packages — no student loans, nothing to pay back. There are no merit, academic, or athletic scholarships here; every dollar of aid is based on your family's demonstrated need.
At a glance
- SAT Required
- No — Amherst is fully test-optional for first-year applicants. Your application receives the same holistic review with or without SAT/ACT scores.
- English Proficiency Required
- Yes, if English isn't your native language — TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, or Duolingo accepted. Waived only if you completed the most recent two years of secondary education completely in English.
- Apply With CSS Profile
- Yes — the CSS Profile is required for need-based aid, or you can use the free ISFAA instead.
- CSS Fee Waiver
- No CSS fee waiver codes — but there's a free alternative.
- CSS Waiver Type
- After submitting your application, log into the Amherst Admission Portal and request to complete the ISFAA (International Student Financial Aid Application) — entirely free, and it carries identical weight to the CSS Profile.
- Acceptance Rate (Freshman)
- ~7–9%
- Application Fee (Freshman)
- $75 — request a waiver inside the Common App or Coalition App, or use Amherst's internal "Quick Pass" fee waiver for financial hardship.
- Transfer Students
- Yes — treated identically to freshmen: 100% need-blind for international transfers, 100% of demonstrated need met, no loans. Very few slots, though.
- Acceptance Rate (Transfer)
- ~5–7% — extremely selective due to very few transfer slots
- Application Fee (Transfer)
- $75 — waivers fully accessible on the transfer portal.
What “full scholarship” means here
This school guarantees it will meet 100% of your demonstrated financial need. In simple English: if you get accepted and you've applied for financial aid and you don't have any money to attend, they can give you a full scholarship to cover your cost of attendance. Both conditions matter — and the CSS Profile is how you prove your need.
Amherst Need-Based Financial Aid (100% demonstrated need)
Need-based · Bachelor's
What it covers
- Up to 100% of your demonstrated financial need
- All-grant packages — no student loans, nothing to repay
Who qualifies
All admitted students, including international freshmen and transfer students. Amherst is completely need-blind for international applicants — requesting a full ride cannot hurt your chances of being accepted. All aid is need-based; there are no merit, academic, or athletic scholarships.
Key deadlines
How to apply
- 1Apply through the Common Application, Coalition Application, or QuestBridge Application ($75 fee — request a waiver inside the Common App or Coalition App, or use Amherst's internal "Quick Pass" fee waiver for financial hardship).
- 2Complete the Amherst College Writing Supplement.
- 3Submit your official high school transcripts, plus the School Report and counselor recommendation.
- 4Provide two teacher letters of recommendation.
- 5Submit English proficiency scores (TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, or Duolingo) if required.
- 6Complete the CSS Profile — or, if you can't afford the CSS fee, log into the Amherst Admission Portal after submitting your application and request the free ISFAA instead. It carries identical weight to the CSS Profile.
Good to know
- Because Amherst is need-blind for every international applicant, apply for the full amount of aid you actually need — hiding your need gains you nothing here.
- No merit, academic, or athletic scholarships exist at Amherst — don't go hunting for a separate scholarship application. All funding flows through the need-based aid process.
- Transfer applicants need the Common App for Transfer, all college transcripts, a final high school transcript with graduation date, a College/Registrar's Report, a Mid-Term Report with your in-progress college grades, two academic letters of recommendation (preferably from university professors), English proficiency scores, and the CSS Profile or free ISFAA by the transfer aid deadline.
- The free ISFAA trick: Amherst gives no College Board CSS waiver codes, but the ISFAA — requested through the Amherst Admission Portal after you apply — costs nothing and carries identical weight to the CSS Profile.
Frequently asked questions
Does Amherst College give full scholarships to international students?
Yes. Amherst meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for admitted international students with all-grant packages — no student loans. If you get accepted and you've applied for financial aid and your family can't pay, your full calculated need is covered. All aid is need-based; there are no merit, academic, or athletic scholarships.
Is Amherst College need-blind for international students?
Yes — completely, for both freshman and transfer applicants. Amherst is one of only a small handful of U.S. institutions with a true need-blind policy for all international students. Your application is evaluated entirely on its merits, and applying for a complete full-ride will not hurt your admission chances.
Does Amherst College require the SAT for international students?
No. Amherst is fully test-optional for first-year applicants — you are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores, and your application receives the same holistic review with or without them.
Does Amherst College require an English proficiency exam for international students?
Yes, if your native language is not English. Amherst accepts the TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, or Duolingo English Test. The requirement is waived only if you completed the most recent two years of your secondary education completely in English.
Is there a CSS Profile fee waiver for international students at Amherst?
Amherst doesn't provide College Board CSS fee waiver codes — but there's a free alternative that works just as well. After submitting your application, log into the Amherst Admission Portal and request to complete the ISFAA (International Student Financial Aid Application). It's entirely free and carries identical weight to the CSS Profile.
What is Amherst College's acceptance rate?
Approximately 7–9% overall for freshman applicants. Transfer admission is even more selective at roughly 5–7%, because Amherst has very few transfer slots each year.
Does Amherst College accept international transfer students with full funding?
Yes — and transfers are treated identically to freshmen: 100% need-blind for international transfer applicants, 100% of demonstrated need met, and no loans. The catch is space, not money — transfer acceptance runs around 5–7% because there are very few slots. The $75 transfer fee can be waived directly on the transfer portal.
What is required to apply to Amherst College as an international freshman?
The Common Application, Coalition Application, or QuestBridge Application; the Amherst College Writing Supplement; official high school transcripts; the School Report and counselor recommendation; two teacher letters of recommendation; English proficiency scores if applicable; and the CSS Profile or the free ISFAA if applying for aid. The $75 application fee can be waived through the Common App, Coalition App, or Amherst's "Quick Pass" waiver.
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