Login Register

Amherst College
- Campus Housing

RT
Currently attending or alumni?
Review this school!
Are you interested
in this school?
Yes, let this school know
Maybe, bookmark for later
No, get better matches
Saving your decision
Yes
Maybe
No

We will attempt to notify this
school of your interest.

This school has been saved to your schools list.

This school has been removed from your recommended schools list.

For your next recommendation, check out .

Jump to a section:

Grade
Quick Stats
Student Author Overview
Student Reviews
Student Polls
Facts
Listings
Take A SurveyWrite A ReviewUpload A PhotoLink Up A VideoWrite The Guide
Amherst College - Campus Housing - Campus Housing - College ProwlerCollege Prowler3.85

Campus Housing

B+
Where does this grade come from?View all Campus Housing rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Campus Housing Grades:

Quick Stats

On-Campus Housing Available? Yes
Campus Housing Capacity 1,750
Average Housing Costs $5,780
Freshmen Required to Live on Campus? Yes
Undergrads Living On Campus 98%
Number of Dormitories 37
Number of Campus-Owned Apartments 0
Best Dorms Charles Pratt
Worst Dorms
  • Plaza Dormitory
  • Waldorf-Astoria

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

Freshmen live amongst themselves, which is usually a cool thing because it facilitates the sometimes-difficult process of making friends. Sophomores are usually the ones getting screwed by being at the bottom of room draw. One way of getting out of room draw for sophomores is to apply for theme housing. Another is finding upperclassmen who will put your name in with their room groups, thus raising your ranking. All upperclass dorms are spacious and comfortable to live in. The social dorms are the way to go if you’re intent on living very close to your friends. Unfortunately, the downside to this living environment is that the socials are often the sites of the loudest, most rambunctious parties. Morrow, Moore, and Cohan are the quiet studying dorms, and Cohan has been dubbed the “thesis-writing dorm.” The limited space in freshmen dorms presents a challenge to one’s interior design skills. If two or more people are going to sleep in one room, bunk beds are a very good idea, and if you’re not doing that, you’ll probably want to raise your bed high and put your desk under it to save space.

Most of the dorms have that New England look: brownstones with white windows, but they’re not overly decorated with statues of winged lions and weeping angles like at other universities. The dorm you live in definitely doesn't place you under any social category whatsoever, but some common social trends at Amherst are that athletes and other partiers live in the social dorms; theme house members usually associate with their theme house neighbors; and quiet and above-average-studious people usually end up living in Cohan or Morrow at some point.

See how you stack up against students who were accepted to this school . . .And calculate your chances!Register to get started

Amherst Student ReviewsWhat's This?

Sort by:

Loading...

Campus Housing at Amherst College

YJB14

Psychology '14

4.6
A

Top of the Line

Amherst has the best freshman dorms around, and it is nearly impossible to get housing that isn't a great social space with great rooms.

Jan 12, 2012

Comment actions: Rate
Report as inappropriate/inaccurate

Campus Housing at Amherst College

bleemsz

Philosophy '13

4.2
A-

Oldish, but Nice

Relatively nice, and although some of it's old, it's all very accessible and generally pretty.

Apr 14, 2011

Comment actions: Rate
Report as inappropriate/inaccurate

Campus Housing at Amherst College

AmhTH

Mathematics & Statistics '12

They are very nice, especially...

They are very nice, especially freshman dorms. Avoid the social dorms as an upperclassman because they are disgusting. Charles Pratt is the nicest freshman dorm, but it doesn't have a friendly atmosphere. I suggest South.

Feb 17, 2009

Comment actions: Rate
Report as inappropriate/inaccurate
Page 1 of 5
User rating for Amherst College - Campus Housing is 4.6 out of 5 based on 14 user reviews.

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate campus housing on the following subjects

Facts

Room Types
  • Doubles
  • Singles
  • Suites
  • Triples
Bed Types Twin extra-long
What You Get
  • Bed
  • Bookshelf
  • Cable TV jack
  • Chair
  • Closet
  • Desk
  • Dresser
  • Ethernet connection
  • Free campus phone calls
  • Phone jack
  • Window coverings
Also Available Substance-free dorms and/or floors. Single-sex floors. Single-sex bathrooms.

Available for Rent

Nothing from the College

Cleaning Service

Custodians clean the bathrooms and the public areas in the dorms every weekday.

Did You Know?
  • All freshmen have been required to live in designated freshmen dorms since 1996. The freshman quad was designated to be the green between Frost Library, Johnson Chapel, and includes James, Stearns, South, North, and Appleton. This is perhaps the most central place on campus.
  • Plaza and Waldorf-Astoria are basically fancy trailers that have been constructed due to shortage of housing, and have remained in service still. The rooms are by no means bad, but students generally do prefer to live in a place other than a trailer.
  • There is a way to beat inferior rankings and an unfortunate draw. The annual LipSync contest, aside from being decidedly the most demented event ever at Amherst, is an event where room groups and individuals lip sync to a song or a medley of songs, and in the process make complete fools of themselves in purposely-exaggerated dances and skits. A group of appointed non-student judges pick the winners, whose prize is to be significantly promoted in the ordered list. Housing is a big deal at Amherst, and the disturbing things that students will do in order to live in better dorms are proof of this. Even if you haven't entered LipSync, you definitely can't miss it. The whole College, president and faculty included, attends.

DormitoriesWhat's This?

Appleton
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 36
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen
Room Types: Doubles
Special Features: Centrally located on the freshman quad.

Chapman House
Floors: 2
Number of Occupants: 12
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles, triples
Special Features: House is close to the gym, has a kitchen and two living/common rooms.

Cohan Dormitory
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 56
Bathrooms: Shared by suite or floor
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles
Special Features: Centrally located, common rooms for suites, rooms are large.

Coolidge Hall
Floors: 2
Number of Occupants: 46
Bathrooms: Shared by suite or floor
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles
Special Features: Big basement, one of the social dorms.

Crossett Hall
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 80–100
Bathrooms: Shared by suite
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles
Special Features: Big basement, one of the social dorms.

Davis Hall
Floors: 2
Number of Occupants: 56
Bathrooms: Shared by suite
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles
Special Features: Big basement, one of the social dorms.

Drew House
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 18–30
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles
Special Features: African American and African Caribbean culture theme house, beautiful common area,central location.

Garman House
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 22
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles
Special Features: Big common area, kitchen, porch.

Hamilton House
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 28
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles
Special Features: Central location, large common area.

Hitchcock House
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 31
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles
Special Features: One of the Triangle dorms, large library.

Humphries House (the Zu)
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 22
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles
Special Features: The Zu is the student co-op theme house. Students can cook communal meals here with groceries partly funded by the College.

James Hall
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 85
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen
Room Types: Doubles
Special Features: House lounge with fireplace, library, remodeled.

Jenkins Hall
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 42
Bathrooms: Shared by suite
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles
Special Features: One of the social dorms, largest suites on campus.

King Hall
Floors: 5
Number of Occupants: 68
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles
Special Features: Newer dorn with large suites and common areas.

Leland House
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 7
Bathrooms: Shared by suite
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles
Special Features: Apartment-style living arrangement, common area, kitchen.

Marsh House
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 22–40
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles
Special Features: Arts theme house.

Mayo Smith House
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 42
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles
Special Features: One of the Triangle dorms, large ballroom.

Moore Dormitory
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 109
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles
Special Features: Central location, elevator, foosball table, kitchen, pool table, spacious common areas. The fourth floor houses the Asian culture house.

Morris Pratt Dormitory
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 104
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, triples
Special Features: Large, spacious rooms with carpeting. Building is in central location and has big basement, library.

Morrow Dormitory
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 81
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, triples
Special Features: Central location with beautiful library. Usually, two or more floors house the health and wellness theme house.

Newport House
Floors: 3 plus 3 rooms in basement
Number of Occupants: 31
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles
Special Features: French and Spanish theme houses, house has a kitchen.

North College
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 120
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen
Room Types: Doubles
Special Features: On the freshman quad, large floor lounges, renovated.

Plaza Dormitory
Floors: 1
Number of Occupants: 50
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen
Room Types: Doubles
Special Features: This dorm is a modular building (a trailer). Close to the gym.

Plimpton House
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 25
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles
Special Features: Bathtubs in the bathrooms, large library and common area.

Pond Hall
Floors: 3 plus annex
Number of Occupants: 86
Bathrooms: Shared by suite members and floor
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles
Special Features: One of the Social dorms.

Porter House
Floors: 2
Number of Occupants: 25–40
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles
Special Features: Cozy lounge with DVD player, grand piano, houses the German and Russian theme houses.

Seeley House
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 33–35
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, triples
Special Features: Ballroom, grand piano, one of the Triangle dorms.

Seligman House
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 25–35
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles
Special Features: Also known as La Casa, the Latino Culture theme house.

South College
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 120
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen
Room Types: Doubles
Special Features: Large floor lounges, on the Freshman Quad, renovated.

Stearns Hall
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 85
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen
Room Types: Doubles
Special Features: House lounge with fireplace, library.

Stone Hall
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 64
Bathrooms: Shared by suite
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles
Special Features: Big basement, one of the Social dorms.

Taplin Hall
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 23
Bathrooms: Shared by suite member
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles
Special Features: One of the Social dorms.

Tyler House
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 29
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles
Special Features: Large common areas, quiet dorm.

Valentine Dormitory
Floors: 2
Number of Occupants: 80
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen
Room Types: Singles, triples
Special Features: Located right above the dining hall.

Waldorf-Astoria Dormitory
Floors: 1
Number of Occupants: 50
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen
Room Types: Doubles
Special Features: This dorm is a modular building (a trailer). Close to the gym and the Seeley Mudd science building.

Wieland Hall
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 47
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles
Special Features: Modern, large rooms and common areas.

Williston Hall
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 36
Bathrooms: Shared by floor
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Doubles
Special Features: Cozy common areas, kitchen, modern, wooden floors.

Become a Contributing Author Learn more »

Most Recent Student Author View all

Name
Lem Atanga McCormick
Hometown
Chicago, IL
Major
Pre-Med (Biology and French)

College Prowler is seeking talented student authors to assist with writing and updating the College Prowler guides to their schools. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain experience and tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college.

Buy the eBook "Amherst College 2012: Off The Record"
AmazonGoogleSmashwords
Download a FREE Printable Summary (PDF)

Find a college

Find a major

Scholarships

Reviews

Search College Prowler

Company

How do we get our information? Find out here or report an error here. The statistics on our site are from the National Center for Education Statistics IPEDS database.
We update this information twice annually, most recently in May 2012, but it may not be the most recent information available for a particular school.
For additional information we encourage you to visit school websites or contact the schools directly.