Education at Hampshire College prepares students to understand and participate responsibly in a complex world. Through its actions and policies, the college sets an example of the responsible and creative behavior it expects of its students.
As a liberal arts college, Hampshire helps students develop confidence in their intellect, creativity, and values. It encourages their desire to be lifelong learners and their capacity to advance the cause of social justice and the well being of others. The college fosters these attitudes through: a multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural curriculum; self-initiated, individual programs of study negotiated with faculty mentors; students� active participation in original research; and the diverse communities, on campus and off, in which learning takes place. Within the college�s residential community students encounter and learn to respect difference and appreciate diversity, thereby enhancing their capacity to live together well.
Through commitment to testing and evaluating new ideas and new approaches to learning, national efforts to promote inquiry-based learning and teaching, and constructive civic and social engagement, Hampshire's actions serve as models for those of its students.
Hampshire College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1965 as an experiment in alternative education, to be in association with four other colleges in the Pioneer Valley: Amherst College, Smith College, Mount Holyoke College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Together they are now known as the Five Colleges.
The College is widely known for its alternative curriculum, its focus on portfolios rather than distribution requirements, and its reliance on narrative evaluations instead of grades and GPAs. It is known particularly for facilitating the study of film, theater, and the visual arts. In some fields it is among the top undergraduate institutions in graduate-school enrollment: fifty-six percent of its alumni have at least one graduate degree and it is ranked 41st among all US colleges in the percentage of its graduates who go on to attain a doctorate degree. Its School of Cognitive Science was the first interdisciplinary undergraduate program in cognitive science and still has few peers.
Many Hampshire students graduate in fewer or greater than four years. Hampshire is also part of the SAT optional movement for undergraduate admission.
Hampshire College describes itself as "experimenting" rather than "experimental" in order to emphasize the continually changing nature of its curriculum. However, from its inception the curriculum has generally had certain non-traditional features:
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| Percent of Students International: | 3% |
| On-Campus Housing Available: | Yes |
| Percent of Students Living On-Campus: | 86% |
| Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: | Yes |
| Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) | Expenses | ||
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 47,000 | ||
Required Fees for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 580 | ||
| Financial Aid | Avg. Amount Received | % of Students Receiving Aid | |
Federal Grants: |
$ 3,875 | 16% | |
State and Local Grants: |
$ 860 | 9% | |
Institutional Grants: |
$ 16,235 | 69% | |
Student Loans: |
$ 2,625 | 53% | |
Any Aid: |
69% |
| Acceptance Rate: | 50% (Highly Selective) |
| Test Scores | |
| SAT Scores: | |
| % of Students Submitting SAT Scores: | 86% |
| Bottom 25th Percentile: | Verbal: 600, Math: 560 |
| Top 75th Percentile: | Verbal: 710, Math: 660 |
| Application Fee: | $ 55.00 |
| Formal Demonstration of Competencies: | Recommended |
| High School Diploma or Equivalent: | Recommended |
| High School GPA: | Recommended |
| High School Rank: | Recommended |
| High School Record: | Required |
| Recommendations: | Required |
| TOEFL: | Required |
| Test Scores: | Recommended |
College Advice
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Best Answer
Hampshire is terrific.
It has an innovative interdisciplinary curriculum, superb professors, and an excellent reputation. Students at Hampshire need to be really driven, passionate, creative, and self-motivated, because courses and projects are often independently-conceived, and done without a lot of supervision.
Bottom line: Great school, but not for the reluctant, irresponsible, or uninspired student.
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Question:
How is Hampshire College?
I heard that people are more likely to get full ride scholarships from small liberal arts colleges than any other colleges, public or private. Is this true? I like their animal science program as well as the 5 college consortium idea. Has any one gone to this school or been in one of the 5 colleges in the program?
22 months ago
Best Answer
Hampshire is a great school. And yes, it is true that well-endowed elite liberal arts colleges fund their students at much more substantial levels than other institutions. If you can gain admission, you will be well-supported, especially if you come from a lower-income family, but even if your family is middle-income.
Here's what Hampshire itself says:
"Hampshire College has a strong committment to accessibility through a very generous financial aid program. Financial aid at Hampshire is designed to supplement the family's contribution toward the costs of a Hampshire education.
2006/2007 Cost of Attendance
Tuition: $33,855
Tuition, Room, Board: $42,915
Financial Aid Statistics
Annual Financial Aid Budget: $18 million
Percentage of students receiving Hampshire grants: 52%
Average financial aid grant: $20,500
Average financial aid package: $28,500
Range of financial aid packages: $7,700 - $40,000
Average debt of May, 2006 graduating class: $14,100
In addition to need-based financial aid, Hampshire also offers several merit-based scholarships and matching scholarships to applicants each year. Renewable annual merit-based scholarships range between $1,000 to $12,500."
It is the average debt of the May 06 graduating class that is the most important (and astonishing) figure.
Hampshire's interdisciplinary curriculum is suited to independent thinkers, whose academic interests stretch beyond the boundaries of conventional college departments or majors. If you are this sort of student, and if you are a motivated self-starter, Hampshire might be the perfect place for you.
The consortium is indeed a wonderful resource as well.
I have close friends and colleagues who attended Hampshire, as well as Mount Holyoke, Smith, and Amherst. None of the folks I know regret a minute of their college experiences.
Best wishes to you!
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