Hampshire College

Key Takeaways:

  • Hampshire College offers a unique, portfolio-based liberal arts education with 49 concentrations, emphasizing multidisciplinary learning.
  • The college is known for sustainability initiatives, including the award-winning R.W. Kern Center and food vision projects.
  • Tuition is $50,030 annually, with significant financial aid available, making education more accessible to a diverse student body.

Private, Four-Year Pioneer Valley Education at Hampshire

Hampshire College appears in our ranking of the 30 Best Colleges for Young Democrats.

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Ranked America’s 93rd best liberal arts school by Forbes, Hampshire College is a small nonprofit, portfolio-based Five College Consortium member in Amherst that confers a Bachelor of Arts in 49 areas of concentration with a 10:1 student-teacher ratio and 79.4 percent retention. For example, the School of Natural Science headed by Dr. Elizabeth Conlisk has an Agricultural Studies B.A. where students can conduct Cole Center research, run the Organic Farm, teach kids at the Garden Camp, intern at the Atkins Country Market, and travel to Egypt. Directed by Dr. Robert Rakoff, the Politics B.A. encourages undergrads to attend the Eqbal Ahman Lecture Series, join the Reproductive Rights Activist Service Corps, engage in the Civil Liberties & Public Policy Center, and take the Pre-Law Track.

Featured Programs

At Emily Dickinson Hall, the School of Humanities & Cultural Studies delivers a Creative Writing B.A. led by Dr. Nathalie Arnold for undergrads to publish The Omen, work with the Visiting Writer-in-Residence, join the Slam Collective, intern with Beacon Press, and attend Student Poetry Fest. Chaired by Dr. Jane Couperus, the Psychology B.A. immerses School of Critical Social Inquiry students in Event-Related Potential Lab projects, Early Learning Center practicum, Psychoanalytic Initiative meetings, and the Hampshire in Berlin semester. Other B.A. concentrations include Architecture Design, Game Development, Jewish Studies, Marine Science, Dance, Archaeology, Environmental Sustainability, Religion, Native American Studies, Linguistics, and Chemistry.

About Hampshire College

Hampshire College originated in 1958 when the presidents of Smith, Mount Holyoke, and Amherst met to create a “New College Plan” of individualized, multidisciplinary learning. In 1965, the Ford Foundation matched a $6 million gift from Harold F. Johnson to acquire its Connecticut River Valley site. In 1970, an inaugural class enrolled in Hampshire College’s selective undergrad programs. One decade later, Hampshire notably founded the National Yiddish Book Center. In 1989, the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art was organized by Hampshire. In 2005, Hampshire College inaugurated one of the United States’ first openly gay presidents, Dr. Ralph Hexter. In Fall 2012, Hampshire debuted a $25,000 scholarship fund for undocumented immigrants. In 2016, the Chronicle of Higher Education chose Hampshire as a top Fulbright Scholar producer. In April 2019, Hampshire College started the Re-Envisioning Project to raise capital and remain open.

Endowed for $52 million, Hampshire College now employs 108 full-time faculty teaching 1,175 Frogs from 48 states and 21 countries on its 434-acre, LEED-certified Springfield Metro campus near Amherst College with 70+ clubs like the Climbers Coalition. In 2018, Hampshire received the Henry P. Kendall Foundation’s New England Food Vision Prize. In 2017, its R.W. Kern Center earned the AIA Top Ten Award for Sustainable Design Excellence. Hampshire accepted a 2018 Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education Award too. The U.S. News & World Report named Hampshire the 21st most innovative school and 62nd best undergrad teacher. On Niche, Hampshire boasts America’s 54th most liberal academics and 83rd top art program. The Princeton Review positioned Hampshire College fifth for game design. Washington Monthly crowned Hampshire the 151st best institution.

Hampshire College Accreditation Details

On May 4, 2018, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (CIHE) sent an official notification letter to Hampshire College that reaffirmed the Level II accreditation through 2027-28 under the seventh president, Dr. Miriam E. Nelson, a Brookdale National Fellow who won the AMWA Honors Award. Located 93 miles east via Route 2 in Burlington, this superb six-state Northeast Region accreditor is recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (MADHE).

Hampshire College Application Requirements

Admission at Hampshire College is classified “moderately difficult” by Peterson’s because only 1,448 of the 2,305 Fall 2018 applicants were chosen for selective 63 percent acceptance. First-year Frogs age 17 and older must be on track to successfully receive a high school diploma or GED equivalent. Filling a secondary curriculum with four years of college-prep English and Math is suggested. Freshmen can transfer credit with at least 4 Advanced Placement or 5 International Baccalaureate exam scores. The Class of 2022 had an average GPA of 3.71. The middle 50th percentile had SAT scores of 1200-1400. Mid-range admitted ACT scores were 25-31. Eligible transfers must be in good academic standing with minimum 2.5 GPAs at accredited colleges. Three or more semesters must be completed in residence at Hampshire. Foreign learners must meet the 91 TOEFL iBT or 6.5 IELTS English score minimum.

Hampshire College has published first-year deadlines of November 15th for Early Decision I, December 1st for Early Action, and January 1st for Early Decision II. Regular Decision freshman apply until January 15th for Fall or November 1st for Spring. Domestic transfers apply during two rounds ending on March 15th and May 1st. International transfers must apply before March 15th. The James Baldwin Scholars Program closes on February 1st. Accordingly, complete the Common Application online for $0. Forward official transcripts to 893 West Street in Amherst, MA 01002. Send supplemental materials, such as the Hampshire Writing Supplement, transfer mid-term report, academic recommendation letter, optional test score, college report, English proficiency exam, and project sample. Contact (877) 937-4267 or admissions@hampshire.edu with questions.

Tuition and Financial Aid

For 2019-20, Hampshire College is billing full-time undergrads $25,015 each semester or $50,030 annually. Bachelor of Arts majors cover the $190 activity fee, $400 health service fee, and $29 EMT fee each term. Unless waived, student health insurance is $1,633 by semester. Students pay the one-time $480 campus security deposit and $230 orientation fee. Some courses incur a $8,338 field study fee. On-campus parking stickers have a $170 annual price. Living at the Amherst housing like Merrill House adds $4,260 for semester rent. The Cafe Card for the Dining Commons costs $400 extra each term. Hampshire budgets $850 for books and $1,050 for miscellaneous expenses. Annual bachelor’s attendance equals about $67,174 on-site and $53,568 at home.

According to the NCES College Navigator, the Financial Aid Office on R.W. Kern Center’s 2nd Floor links 94 percent of full-time Hampshire Frogs to median tuition assistance of $30,615 apiece for $36.34 million combined. Institutional funds include the Stoddard Writing Scholarship, Marion Taylor Endowed Scholarship, Tom Joslin Grant, Stephen Blos Memorial Photography Award, Dan Meadows Sustainability Scholarship, Earl Urbell Science Information Award, Larry Beede Southwest Studies Scholarship, Ruth Moore ASL/Deaf Studies Scholarship, Sander Thoenes Division III Research Award, and Harris-Veit Artists’ Grant. The Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship gifts $5,000 to member transfers with associate GPAs of 3.5 and higher. The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts has 130+ local options like the Arrighi Memorial Scholarship, Ruth Brocklebank Memorial Scholarship, and Lilliana Marie Cordes Scholarship. Federal resources, such as the Pell Grant and SEOG Grant, require free applications coded 004661. Bay State natives can also claim the Mass Grant, Gilbert Matching Grant, Public Service Grant, and Educational Rewards Grant.

Learn more about the unique Divisional System that builds 49 bachelor’s concentrations placed 339th overall by The Wall Street Journal at the Hampshire College website.