Campus

Report

Amherst Marriage Pact · 2025 ·

Amherst. It’s nice to see you. We come bearing gifts.

We thought we’d share a bit about Amherst’s romantic playing field——just so you know what you’re up against.

And this time, we’re trying something new. See exactly how you and your friends compare to everyone at Amherst. Don’t let the power get to your head.

Our analysis is built upon anonymized and aggregated data from the Amherst Marriage Pact. It will never be sold or shared for commercial purposes. You can read more about our principles and practices here.

Maybe it is a

You Problem

For the first time in Amherst Marriage Pact history, see how you stack up against your ~~romantic prospects~~ fellow classmates. Maybe it really is you, after all. Much to think about.

Major

breakdown

Your major, your concentration, your greatest disappointment to your parents. Sit back and enjoy judging all the majors that aren’t your own.

Biochemistry & Biophysics majors would rather fail a test than cheat

Gold star! Here’s how different majors answered the question: “I would rather fail an exam than cheat on it”

	Strongly disagree Strongly agree
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Biochemistry & Biophysics	0.05	0.08	0.20	0.11	0.14	0.16	0.27	x̄=4.75	n=64
Chemistry	0.07	0.07	0.19	0.09	0.18	0.21	0.19	x̄=4.63	n=57
Physics	0.11	0.08	0.16	0.05	0.16	0.26	0.18	x̄=4.61	n=38
Biology	0.13	0.08	0.16	0.08	0.20	0.23	0.11	x̄=4.28	n=61
Law, Jurisprudence & Social Thought	0.06	0.15	0.18	0.14	0.16	0.19	0.11	x̄=4.22	n=79
Psychology	0.09	0.22	0.21	0.07	0.18	0.11	0.12	x̄=3.80	n=95
Math	0.12	0.16	0.26	0.09	0.12	0.17	0.09	x̄=3.79	n=136
Statistics	0.13	0.00	0.38	0.31	0.06	0.13	0.00	x̄=3.56	n=16
Political Science	0.10	0.28	0.22	0.05	0.17	0.06	0.11	x̄=3.54	n=81
Economics	0.14	0.20	0.26	0.11	0.12	0.11	0.06	x̄=3.44	n=176

Smartest majors (self-reported)

These are the majors with the highest average response to the question “Are you smarter than most people at Amherst?”

Philosophy
History
Math
Physics
Economics
Chemistry
Computer Science
English
Law, Jurisprudence & Social Thought
Political Science

Machiavellian majors

Majors ranked by their Machiavellian tendencies (revenge, getting ahead, ruthless ambition, etc.) Maybe keep one eye open when you nap in lecture.

Economics
Math
Statistics
Political Science
Neuroscience
Psychology
Computer Science

English
Environmental Studies

Note: majors with 15 or fewer respondents are omitted to protect their privacy in this analysis.

It’s your world

We’re all just living in it, no? Here’s how power-hungry we are at Amherst. Don’t forget about us when you reach the top.

Republicans want to be part of the 1%, socialists don’t

Gold diggers, pay attention: Here’s how we answered “I want to be part of the 1%.”

	Strongly disagree Strongly agree
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Republican	0.02	0.04	0.00	0.08	0.17	0.29	0.40	x̄=5.83	n=52
Conservative	0.02	0.04	0.09	0.09	0.20	0.20	0.36	x̄=5.42	n=45
Apolitical	0.03	0.00	0.13	0.10	0.26	0.21	0.28	x̄=5.31	n=39
Independent	0.06	0.04	0.11	0.13	0.15	0.18	0.32	x̄=5.10	n=142
Democrat	0.07	0.11	0.14	0.16	0.20	0.14	0.18	x̄=4.43	n=526
Liberal	0.10	0.10	0.12	0.19	0.19	0.18	0.13	x̄=4.32	n=226
Socialist	0.37	0.23	0.05	0.12	0.12	0.04	0.07	x̄=2.78	n=92

Yet, socialists believe they can change the world

To everyone else——keep up. Here’s how we answered, “I believe I can truly change the world.”

	Strongly disagree Strongly agree
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Socialist	0.03	0.04	0.17	0.13	0.28	0.23	0.11	x̄=4.71	n=92
Liberal	0.00	0.06	0.17	0.17	0.38	0.13	0.09	x̄=4.62	n=226
Independent	0.03	0.06	0.16	0.22	0.28	0.11	0.14	x̄=4.57	n=142
Democrat	0.02	0.08	0.14	0.23	0.29	0.13	0.10	x̄=4.47	n=526
Republican	0.00	0.10	0.27	0.23	0.19	0.08	0.13	x̄=4.29	n=52
Apolitical	0.05	0.21	0.10	0.18	0.23	0.15	0.08	x̄=4.10	n=39
Conservative	0.02	0.13	0.31	0.13	0.24	0.07	0.09	x̄=4.00	n=45

Atheist students are the most important people in their own lives

Don’t tell the big man upstairs. Here’s how we answered “I’m the most important person in my life.”

	Strongly disagree Strongly agree
Hindu	3.39	n=28
Christian	3.65	n=161
Jewish	3.92	n=84
Catholic	3.97	n=161
Spiritual	4.29	n=92
Agnostic	4.47	n=285
Atheist	4.61	n=226

Only children have only-child syndrome

Same question as above——this time by birth order.

	Strongly disagree Strongly agree
Oldest	4.10	n=450
Youngest	4.15	n=390
Middle	4.16	n=174
Only	4.43	n=165

Topics to avoid

at the dinner table

Time to get political. Dare you to keep these in your back pocket for your next first date.

80% of socialists wouldn’t date a Republican

Each box indicates the percentage of the political identity listed to the left who reported they don’t want their partner to have the political identity listed above.

	Socialist	Liberal	Democrat	Apolitical	Independent	Conservative	Republican
Socialist	0.00	0.09	0.03	0.48	0.15	0.79	0.80
Liberal	0.05	0.01	0.02	0.21	0.05	0.43	0.50
Democrat	0.08	0.02	0.04	0.20	0.07	0.37	0.46
Apolitical	0.00	0.00	0.03	0.00	0.00	0.03	0.03
Independent	0.04	0.01	0.01	0.10	0.00	0.13	0.16
Conservative	0.04	0.02	0.07	0.02	0.00	0.00	0.00
Republican	0.29	0.15	0.15	0.02	0.04	0.02	0.00

You’ve changed, Amherst

At least a little. We’ve run the Amherst Marriage Pact six times since spring 2021——here’s how our political beliefs have evolved over the years.

Note: in fall 2023, we added several new political identities to the options.

Let’s Talk

About Sex

Going out with a bang. Here’s a look at what Amherst students are getting up to in the bedroom.

Bringing politics into the bedroom

...is always a good idea! Here’s how students with different political identities answered the question “I generally like to take control during sex.”

	I’d rather not 🥺 Give me the reins 😈
Socialist	3.36	n=92
Liberal	3.45	n=226
Democrat	3.55	n=526
Apolitical	3.67	n=39
Independent	4.00	n=142
Conservative	4.20	n=45
Republican	4.38	n=52

What’s the easiest major?

No, not that kind of easy. Here’s how the different majors at Amherst answered the question “How long do you think it’s appropriate to wait before sex?”

	Zero wait Until marriage
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Environmental Studies	0.13	0.23	0.33	0.17	0.10	0.03	0.00	x̄=2.97	n=30
History	0.08	0.24	0.36	0.16	0.12	0.04	0.00	x̄=3.12	n=25
Economics	0.06	0.24	0.38	0.16	0.09	0.03	0.03	x̄=3.20	n=176
Political Science	0.06	0.22	0.36	0.20	0.12	0.01	0.02	x̄=3.23	n=81
Math	0.10	0.21	0.29	0.21	0.13	0.03	0.03	x̄=3.28	n=136
Law, Jurisprudence & Social Thought	0.05	0.22	0.28	0.30	0.14	0.00	0.01	x̄=3.32	n=79
Neuroscience	0.08	0.07	0.38	0.28	0.15	0.02	0.03	x̄=3.52	n=61
Biochemistry & Biophysics	0.03	0.16	0.31	0.25	0.16	0.05	0.05	x̄=3.67	n=64
Psychology	0.01	0.17	0.34	0.21	0.14	0.04	0.09	x̄=3.80	n=95
Computer Science	0.04	0.15	0.29	0.25	0.13	0.07	0.07	x̄=3.80	n=55

Hindu students would bring a hookup home to an unmade bed

Chaotic AND sexy. Here’s how each religion answered, “I would never bring a hookup home to an unmade bed.”

	Strongly disagree Strongly agree
Hindu	4.43	n=28
Catholic	4.48	n=161
Christian	4.50	n=161
Atheist	4.52	n=226
Agnostic	4.58	n=285
Spiritual	4.89	n=92
Muslim	4.90	n=21

Join our team ·

Had fun this year? Help us spread the good word.

Help launch next year’s Amherst Marriage Pact, or help launch Marriage Pacts across the country.

apply.marriagepact.com

Applications close Wed 5/06 at 11:59pm