Hampshire College
Amherst, Massachusetts · Private Nonprofit · 75.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 27/100 · Poor Value
Hampshire College scores 27 (Poor Value) on the CampusROI scale. The data is clear and unfavorable: $24,900 in median 6-year earnings against a $24,034 net price produces a 19.8-year payback period and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.08 — meaning graduates carry more debt than their annual salary. The only program with Scorecard data is Liberal Arts and Sciences, which reports 0 graduates in the recent cohort (a suppressed or near-zero count), $21,113 year-one, $36,508 at year four, with an F ROI grade. The 54.3% completion rate means nearly half of students do not graduate, compounding the debt risk. Hampshire is a distinctive progressive liberal arts college in Amherst, Massachusetts, with a self-designed curriculum and no traditional grades. Its model attracts independent, intellectually driven students who are not pursuing conventional career paths. The Scorecard metrics are a poor fit for an institution whose value proposition centers on intellectual development and unconventional outcomes, but the data is what it is: median earnings of $24,900 at six years against $26,893 in median debt is financially difficult for most graduates.
The data raises concerns about Hampshire College
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score27/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Debt-to-earnings1.08 - Advisors recommend total student debt stay below one year of salary (ratio under 1.0).
- Payback period19.8 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Hampshire College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $58,896/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $58,896/yr |
| Average net price | $24,034/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $96,136 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $46,938 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $24,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,893 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $285 |
| Estimated payback period | 19.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 54.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 839 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Hampshire College is $58,896/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $24,034/year, or roughly $96,136 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $13,749/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $37,221/year.
The median graduate leaves with $26,893 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $285 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $46,938 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 1.08 - above the recommended threshold where total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $13,749 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $15,251 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,165 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $25,447 |
| $110,001+ | $37,221 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $13,749 per year at Hampshire. Four-year cost around $55,000 against $24,900 in median 6-year earnings is a difficult financial equation for low-income students. The 54.3% completion rate and debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.08 mean that low-income students face real financial stress, particularly if they do not complete. Hampshire's aid is meaningful but the cost-outcome mismatch is significant at this income level.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $18,165, and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $25,447. At $18,000-$25,000 per year, four-year costs of $72,000-$102,000 represent a major investment against $24,900 in median six-year earnings. Middle-income families should evaluate whether the Hampshire experience — its intellectual independence model and community — provides non-financial value that justifies this cost premium over state school alternatives.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $37,221 per year. Four-year cost around $149,000 against $24,900 median 6-year earnings produces the worst cost-to-earnings ratio of any institution in this batch. Full-pay Hampshire enrollment is a purely values-driven decision; the Scorecard financial case is essentially absent. Families need to honestly assess whether Hampshire's pedagogical model is worth the premium over comparable unconventional colleges at lower price points.
Earnings by Major
Top 1 most popular majors at Hampshire College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $36,508 | F |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Liberal Arts and Sciences is the only Scorecard-reported program at Hampshire: 0 reported graduates (suppressed cohort), $21,113 year-one, $36,508 at year four, ROI grade F, debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.255 with $26,500 median debt. Year-one earnings of $21k against $26,500 in debt reflects a cohort entering low-wage creative, nonprofit, social service, and graduate school tracks. The F ROI grade reflects the near-term financial reality. Hampshire graduates' long-run outcomes in unconventional careers are not fully captured by the six-year Scorecard window.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 70.7% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 73.7% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 74.6% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 80.8% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 75.3% |
| Enrollment | 839 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 39.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,085 |
Hampshire admits 75.3% of applicants and Scorecard does not report test score data. The admission filter is primarily motivation and intellectual fit with the self-designed curriculum model rather than test scores. Hampshire's approach requires students who can structure their own learning; students who benefit from conventional curriculum structure may struggle.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Hampshire's Scorecard peer set includes American International College, Amherst College, Chestnut Hill College, Lees-McRae College, and Be'er Yaakov Talmudic Seminary. This is not a meaningful peer comparison. Hampshire's natural comparisons are the Five College Consortium members and progressive peer institutions like Bennington, Evergreen State, and Marlboro College. Among those, Hampshire's financial profile is consistently weak by Scorecard metrics. Evergreen State produces similar program-free outcomes at much lower public-school prices.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hampshire College (this school) | 27 | $24,034 | $46,938 |
| Amherst College | 90 | $23,367 | $77,644 |
| American International College | 38 | $23,274 | $53,124 |
| Lees-McRae College | 28 | $28,340 | $43,415 |
| Chestnut Hill College | 28 | $27,970 | $52,015 |
| Be'er Yaakov Talmudic Seminary | 25 | $4,543 | $17,360 |
Who Thrives Here
Hampshire admits 75.3% of applicants. Scorecard does not report SAT or ACT ranges. Enrollment is 839. The Pell grant rate of 39.3% is above average, indicating meaningful lower-income enrollment for a private college with $58,896 tuition. Hampshire's self-designed curriculum, no traditional grades, and Division III project-based model attract students who do not fit conventional academic structures. This is a high-risk, high-individuality institution: completion rates (54.3%) reflect both the model's selectivity of mindset and the financial strain of the price. The financial data is an important counterweight to the institution's distinctive appeal.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Hampshire College. With a net cost of $24,034 per year and median graduate earnings of only $46,938 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 19.8 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and high debt relative to what graduates earn and a long payback period.
Median debt of $26,893 against $46,938 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.