Thank you for your interest in applying to Hampshire College! This year, Hampshire has begun the process of searching for a strategic partner as part of larger efforts to create a thriving and sustainable community for our next fifty years. During this time of transition, our Board of Trustees has voted to pause enrollment for the fall of 2019. In accordance with this vote we have suspended and withdrawn all applications for 2019. Thank you for your understanding and patience during this time of change. Stay tuned for more information about the 2020 application process.
| First Year Student Admission Plan | Deadline | Notification |
| Regular Decision (spring) | November 1 | December 1 |
| Early Decision I (fall) | November 15 | December 15 |
| Early Decision II (fall) | January 1 | February 1 |
| Early Action (fall) | December 1 | February 15 |
| Regular Decision (fall) | January 15 | April 1 |
| Early Entrance (fall) | January 15 | April 1 |
We do a holistic read of your application, meaning we look at everything. To apply, submit the following materials through the Common Application:
A model portfolio or transcript includes the following information:
Most activities used as part of your transcript should have a grade or narrative evaluation of your work and progress. For activities not evaluated by a teacher or supervisor, we require your self-assessment of the nature of your work and how it contributed to your intellectual growth.
Federal regulations require students to possess a high school diploma, or its equivalent, to be eligible for federal financial aid. Hampshire College follows the same policy with regard to institutional aid eligibility. The equivalents to a high school diploma are:
Some optional application materials can be submitted through the Common Application. You will also have the opportunity, after applying, to submit additional optional materials such as photos, videos, PDFs, Word documents, and music files through your online application portal with Hampshire College.
We also highly recommend interviewing with a counselor.
We like to geek out here at Hampshire, and our essay questions give you a chance to do the same. So here's a sneak peek at the questions you'll find on the Common App. We can't wait to read what you come up with.
The following questions get at some of our core values: inquiry, interdisciplinarity, and growth. Choose one prompt from the list below and respond (500 words max):
1. Hampshire’s motto is “to know is not enough.” People interpret this motto in different ways. What does it mean to you?
2. Think about two or more topics that interest you. Tell us about some issues or questions related to these topics.
3. Describe a time when you received feedback, academic or otherwise, that changed your thinking or behavior for the better.
Once we process your application, we will send an acknowledgment letter that includes a username and password for you to check the completeness of your admissions file online. Hampshire College has entered the 21st century and now releases decisions online. To make sure that you receive your decision, we recommend not opting out of email communications.
Still have questions? Check out our FAQ page, or contact us at admissions@hampshire.edu.
Prospective Applicants can get Common App online support through the Applicant Solution Center. From the Help Center, click the "Contact Support" tab to contact our support team.
Counselors/Recommenders with Common App questions or suggestions can contact them through the Recommender Solution Center.
The U.S. State Department and the Chronicle of Higher Education have named Hampshire College a top producer of Fulbright Scholars for 2016-17. Hampshire is one of 11 bachelor’s institutions to receive the designation this year.
"There are two reasons why Hampshire graduates achieve so much. One is the kind of person the college attracts. The other is what the college does for them by equipping them to become their own wide-ranging explorers and connection-seekers."Loren Pope, Colleges that Change Lives (2006)
Hampshire College is a member of Colleges that Change Lives, a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement and support of a student-centered college search process.