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20090410 Amherst Municipal BuildingPhoto: TonyTheTiger · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Amherst

Amherst is home to two colleges, with about 32,000 students on campus

University at Buffalo (29,624 students on campus) and Daemen University (1,924) are inside the town. About 13% of Amherst’s residents are enrolled in college, above New York (7%).

University at BuffaloDaemen University

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Amherst. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
10
55,790 students on campus
Nearest college
1.8 mi
University at Buffalo
Residents in college
13%
Above NY (7%)
Nearest community college
10.7 mi
Erie · $6,100 tuition
Nearest public university
1.8 mi
University at Buffalo · $10,936 in-state
Median household income
$93K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Amherst

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Two colleges within 3.5 milesUniversity at Buffalo admits 74% of applicants; Daemen University admits 68%. Together they have 31,548 students on campus.In-state price at University at BuffaloLiving in New York, University at Buffalo charges $10,936 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $31,536. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 10.7 miles awayErie Community College in Buffalo: tuition and fees $6,100 a year for New York residents.Students are 13% of residentsAbove New York (7%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Amherst

Six private colleges within 11.7 miles, two public colleges within 8.3 miles, and two community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity at BuffaloErieSUNY Buffalo StateAmherst
University or collegeCommunity college
University at BuffaloUniversity or college · Public · 29,624 on campus · In Amherst74%admitted$21knet price75%graduate$71kearningsDaemen UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,924 on campus · In Amherst68%admitted$19knet price59%graduate$62kearningsVilla Maria CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 543 on campus · 7.2 mi · Buffalo87%admitted$13knet price31%graduate$39kearningsCanisius UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,310 on campus · 7.7 mi · Buffalo72%admitted$18knet price66%graduate$61kearningsSUNY Buffalo State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 6,170 on campus · 8.3 mi · Buffalo73%admitted$11knet price33%graduate$52kearningsD'Youville UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,239 on campus · 10.1 mi · Buffalo81%admitted$20knet price67%graduate$67kearningsBryant & Stratton College-BuffaloUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,840 on campus · 10.3 mi · Buffalo$14knet price21%graduate$33kearningsEarnings are reported for all 8 campuses that file with it.Erie Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,380 on campus · 10.7 mi · Buffalo$8knet price28%graduate$41kearningsTuition and fees: $6,100 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Niagara County Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,740 on campus · 11.1 mi · Sanborn$7knet price32%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $6,894 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Trocaire CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,020 on campus · 11.7 mi · Buffalo97%admitted$17knet price31%graduate$55kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $75–110k, where Amherst’s median household income ($93,483) falls.

Niagara County Community College11.1 mi · Sanborn · sticker $13,908 · tuition $6,894$10,808a year
Erie Community College10.7 mi · Buffalo · sticker $14,348 · tuition $6,100$11,798a year
Villa Maria College7.2 mi · Buffalo · sticker $36,335$12,775a year
SUNY Buffalo State University8.3 mi · Buffalo · sticker $24,279$17,155a year
Daemen UniversityIn Amherst · sticker $45,192$18,863a year
Canisius University7.7 mi · Buffalo · sticker $44,322$21,341a year
Trocaire College11.7 mi · Buffalo · sticker $29,845$22,777a year
University at BuffaloIn Amherst · sticker $30,785$24,117a year
D'Youville University10.1 mi · Buffalo · sticker $48,539$24,476a year
Bryant & Stratton College-Buffalo10.3 mi · Buffalo · sticker $24,969—a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Amherst: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →University at BuffaloCanisius UniversitySUNY Buffalo StateD'Youville UniversityErieNiagara County
University at Buffalo75% graduate$71k earnings$19k typical debt
Erie Community College28% graduate$41k earnings$9k typical debt
SUNY Buffalo State University33% graduate$52k earnings$21k typical debt
Niagara County Community College32% graduate$42k earnings$11k typical debt
Canisius University66% graduate$61k earnings$24k typical debt
D'Youville University67% graduate$67k earnings$25k typical debt
Daemen University59% graduate$62k earnings$22k typical debt
Bryant & Stratton College-Buffalo21% graduate$33k earnings*$22k typical debt
Trocaire College31% graduate$55k earnings$20k typical debt
Villa Maria College31% graduate$39k earnings$21k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Bryant & Stratton College-Buffalo (8).

Majors

What students study in Amherst

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Amherst’s 2 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 17%Engineering 12%Social sciences 12%Psychology 9%Health professions 9%Biology 8%Everything else 32%

Biggest programs

Business Administration, Management and OperationsUniversity at Buffalo · 712 graduates a year
$70k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralUniversity at Buffalo · 564 graduates a year
$52k4 yrs out
Biology, GeneralUniversity at Buffalo · 341 graduates a year
$57k4 yrs out
Communication and Media StudiesUniversity at Buffalo · 330 graduates a year
$63k4 yrs out
Computer ScienceUniversity at Buffalo · 254 graduates a year
$105k4 yrs out
Mechanical EngineeringUniversity at Buffalo · 220 graduates a year
$85k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingUniversity at Buffalo · 181 graduates a year
$94k4 yrs out
Social Sciences, GeneralUniversity at Buffalo · 141 graduates a year
$56k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Amherst

Is Amherst a college town?

No. About 13 of every 100 Amherst residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above New York (7). The largest campus in the town, University at Buffalo, has 29,624 students on campus.

What colleges are in Amherst?

University at Buffalo and Daemen University are inside the town. Erie Community College is 10.7 miles away in Buffalo.

What is the closest community college to Amherst, and what does it cost?

Erie Community College in Buffalo, 10.7 miles away. Tuition and fees are $6,100 a year for New York residents; the federal net price, $7,765, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does University at Buffalo cost if we live in New York?

Tuition and fees are $10,936 a year in-state and $31,536 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $14,668 (under $30,000 income) to $28,079 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Amherst. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →