Since its founding in 1821, Amherst College has become one of the premier liberal arts colleges in the nation, enrolling some 1,600 talented, energetic and diverse young men and women.

Renowned for its talented students, committed faculty, and rigorous academic life, Amherst offers the B.A. degree in 34 fields of study. With a faculty-student ratio of 1 to 8, Amherst’s classes are characterized by spirited interchange among students and acclaimed faculty skilled at asking challenging questions. Students participate in sophisticated research, making use of state-of-the-art equipment and facilities. And Amherst’s open curriculum allows each student—with the help of a faculty adviser—to chart an individual course through the more than 800 courses offered at the college; there are no distribution requirements. Honors work is encouraged and in recent years has been undertaken by nearly half of the graduating class.

Amherst College seeks to provide the very best liberal arts education to undergraduate students and outstanding support to a faculty engaged in teaching and research. The College brings a diverse group of distinguished faculty members and exceptional students together in a residential setting conducive to personal and intellectual development; it encoursges faculty to contribute to their disciplines and to society through scholarship, performance or professional work. Amherst promotes breadth of study for all students through its advising system and depth through its departmental majors. An Amherst educatioin fosters critical thought and creative achievement in the sciences, arts and humanities by emphasizing close interaction between faculty and students and by offering vigorous support for independent research.

Amherst College is located in Amherst, Massachusetts, a town of 35,000 people in the western part of the state. The college's 1,000-acre campus is adjacent to downtown Amherst.