2024 Best Colleges with African American Studies Degrees in the Springfield, MA Area

• Amherst, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.87 out of 5  323 reviews

Senior: Amherst College is a great place to study! I switched my major in my sophomore fall, and the transition was super easy. Because Amherst does not have any graduate programs, all the professors are there primarily to teach, and it is much easier to get research experience with professors over summers or during the semester. Summer research at the college helped me figure out that I wanted to switch majors. The open curriculum still let me keep taking classes in my former major, as well as in pretty much any other department I wanted to. Pretty much my only complaints are that housing is a little tight, especially for freshmen and sophomores, and that the dining hall isn't great.... Read 323 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 9%

• Net price $18,809

• SAT range 1370-1550

• Northampton, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.7 out of 5  912 reviews

Junior: Applying to Smith last-minute was absolutely the best decision I ever made. I have had access to academic and research opportunities equal to my friends at Ivy League institutions, but with the additional benefits of a small student to faculty ratio (more accessible 1 on 1 mentorship). It feels so inspiring to attend an HWC where thousands of powerful, historical women have been educated before me. Smith is a motivated and focused environment for people who love to learn. I enjoy the social scene because it caters to my preferences; I recognize almost everyone on campus, but still get to know new people every day. There are parties (lessened by COVID) but UMASS and the other colleges are easily accessed by bus. Northampton is an amazing town with a cozy northeastern feel. Get ready for some AMAZING (but expensive) coffee shops. The housing system is so unique and offers a sorority-like feel to those who choose to engage (also easy to opt out). So many amazing resources and people here!... Read 912 reviews

• grade A

• Acceptance rate 30%

• Net price $29,569

• SAT range 1370-1530

• Amherst, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.87 out of 5  4,567 reviews

Freshman: I find the University of Massachusetts Amherst a very open en welcoming university. As an international student, it can be hard to be far away from home, but I believe UMass Amherst does a great job in making students feel at home; UMass has a close community of students who genuinely care for each other. Generally, I think studying at UMass Amherst is the best choice I have ever made. Every aspect of my college life is better then I could ever imagine - I have the chance to play sport competitively, get education at a high level and connect with a lot of special and interesting people. And of course enjoy the best dining halls of the country!... Read 4,567 reviews

• grade A

• Acceptance rate 66%

• Net price $17,291

• SAT range 1250-1460

• South Hadley, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.77 out of 5  892 reviews

Junior: Mount Holyoke College has a wonderfully unique and welcoming community of students and staff on its campus; although the student population is relatively small, it's not difficult to find friends. There are many student organizations for a wide variety of interests and activities, as well as spiritual and faith groups. Small classes also provide students with better opportunities to get to know their professors and allow their professors to get to know them, which is helpful both in the short and long term. On the other hand, several departments have been scheduled to be shut down, including the German and Russian departments, or merged with other departments, such as the Environmental Studies/Geography/Geology merge. The tuition has also increased each year that I have attended, with little to show for it. More professors are retiring or quitting than the number of professors being hired, from my perspective. But these may be problems that all or most colleges are experiencing.... Read 892 reviews

• grade A

• Acceptance rate 52%

• Net price $29,218

• SAT range 1300-1510

• Amherst, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.7 out of 5  429 reviews

Alum: I knew that I wanted to attend a small liberal arts school, especially one that was LGBTQ+-friendly and would be safe for me as a trans student. I found Hampshire through CTCL and when I visited campus as a junior, I fell in love with the rural, woodsy campus. I know that this school isn't right for everyone - the built-in structure is limited, and you're mostly on your own to figure out what needs to get done - but I knew what I was getting into and that experience helped me massively in learning how to advocate for myself and ask for help. Some people feel isolated in such a small student body, but I discovered my 'found family' here and it was fairly easy for me to make friends who understood my identity and respected me. I'd say the biggest thing I gained from my Hampshire education was confidence; I didn't know how much I was capable of as a teenager, but now having completed the Div III project, I get to go forth into the world knowing I'm capable of writing a book in a year!... Read 429 reviews

• grade C+

• Acceptance rate 75%

• Net price $30,168

• SAT range —