“An experimental liberal arts college where students design their own majors and receive narrative evaluations instead of grades.”
Hampshire College is a small, famously unconventional private liberal arts college in Amherst, Massachusetts, founded in 1970 as an experimental alternative to the traditional American undergraduate model. Students at Hampshire do not pick from a predefined list of majors. Instead, they design individualized programs of study, called 'concentrations,' in consultation with a faculty committee, and progress through three Divisions (Div I, II, III) rather than class years. Professors write narrative evaluations of each student's work rather than assigning letter grades, and the senior Division III year culminates in a major independent project modeled on graduate-level research, performance, or creative work. As a member of the Five College Consortium (alongside Amherst, Smith, Mount Holyoke, and UMass Amherst), Hampshire students have access to more than 5,000 courses, nine million library volumes, free inter-campus bus service, and a combined community of roughly 30,000 undergraduates across the Pioneer Valley. The college draws self-motivated, intellectually curious students who thrive with intensive advising, interdisciplinary coursework, and hands-on work in film, animation, creative writing, sustainability, food systems, and social justice. Hampshire is also famous for being one of the first U.S. colleges to adopt a fully test-free admissions policy, rejecting SAT and ACT scores altogether. IMPORTANT: On April 14, 2026, Hampshire's Board of Trustees announced that the college will permanently close after the fall 2026 semester, with operations ending December 31, 2026. Division III students may complete their degrees at Hampshire in fall 2026; Division I and II students are being supported to transfer to partner institutions including Amherst, Smith, Mount Holyoke, UMass Amherst, and others. Prospective international applicants should not plan to enroll for the 2026-27 academic year or beyond.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
Test Free — No test scores needed — they won't be reviewed even if submitted.
Official SourceEarly Decision I
Binding; notification Dec 15
Early Action
Non-binding; notification Feb 15
Early Decision II
Binding; notification Feb 1
Regular Decision
Notification April 1. NOTE: College closing after Fall 2026 - admission for Fall 2026 and beyond is not being offered; applicants should contact [email protected] to confirm current status.
International Transfer
Notification April 15
This university does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admissions.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$61,484
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Hampshire's humanities school engages students in literature, history, philosophy, cultural studies, film, and media. It's home to some of the college's most nationally known programs, including creative writing and film/photography/video.
IA combines theatre, dance, music, visual arts, and performance into a single interdisciplinary school where students produce original work with significant studio and production facilities, including animation and sound design.
Cognitive Science at Hampshire unites computer science, linguistics, psychology, philosophy of mind, and neuroscience. Students pursue computational media, AI/ML projects, and research on learning and cognition.
Natural Science covers biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, environmental science, and sustainable agriculture. The school benefits from Hampshire's 800-acre campus, which includes a working farm and forest used for field study.
CSI focuses on sociology, anthropology, political economy, legal studies, and critical theory. Programs emphasize social justice, activism, and community-engaged research.
2 years
Instead of picking a major, Hampshire students design their own 2-year academic concentration with a faculty committee, drawing on courses across Hampshire and the Five Colleges. Popular self-designed concentrations have ranged from 'Film and Disability Studies' to 'Data Science for Social Justice.'
1 years
Every senior completes a year-long independent project - a thesis, film, novel, performance, software system, or research study - supported by a two-faculty committee. This capstone is Hampshire's signature credential and is often compared to a graduate-level project.
4 years
One of Hampshire's most nationally recognized programs. Alumni include Ken Burns and Lupita Nyong'o. Students have access to Jerome Liebling Center film studios, 16mm and digital production, and deep ties to documentary filmmaking.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $58,896
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
