Campus Report

Amherst Marriage Pact · 2024 ·

The time has come, Amherst.

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

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.

The more the major

Your major, your concentration, your greatest disappointment to your parents. And our favorite way to slice and dice the campus. Sit back and enjoy judging all the majors that aren’t your own.

Physics & Astronomy majors would rather fail a test than cheat

And for that, we salute them. 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
Physics & Astronomy	0.03	0.16	0.22	0.08	0.11	0.16	0.24	x̄=4.54	n=37
Biology	0.06	0.10	0.19	0.17	0.16	0.14	0.17	x̄=4.41	n=69
History	0.05	0.11	0.22	0.11	0.22	0.19	0.11	x̄=4.32	n=37
Law, Jurisprudence & Social Thought	0.08	0.18	0.27	0.12	0.18	0.10	0.08	x̄=3.76	n=78
Computer Science	0.13	0.19	0.26	0.07	0.11	0.14	0.10	x̄=3.69	n=70
Mathematics & Statistics	0.18	0.16	0.24	0.13	0.11	0.10	0.09	x̄=3.49	n=152
Political Science	0.18	0.19	0.20	0.09	0.16	0.10	0.08	x̄=3.48	n=79
Anthropology & Sociology	0.05	0.24	0.43	0.10	0.10	0.05	0.05	x̄=3.29	n=21
Economics	0.16	0.23	0.27	0.11	0.13	0.07	0.04	x̄=3.17	n=168
Psychology	0.16	0.22	0.31	0.10	0.13	0.08	0.01	x̄=3.10	n=88

Economics majors are running for the hills

What’s going on in there? Someone check in on them. Everyone else, read up on what your sane friends are up to.

Anthropology & Sociology majors might be open to being open

We asked if you were open to nonmonogamous relationships—here’s what you said, by major.

	1 – no way the more the merrier – 7
Chemistry	1.10	n=40
Computer Science	1.23	n=70
Economics	1.46	n=168
Psychology	1.51	n=88
Mathematics & Statistics	1.59	n=152
Physics & Astronomy	1.70	n=37
Anthropology & Sociology	1.90	n=21

Topics to avoid

at the dinner table

In other words: politics, money, and religion. But really——who are we without them?

Take a look below to gather fodder for your next divisive discussion.

There’s gold in them there hills

Here’s how you answered the question “I can find it within myself to love someone if they’re rich enough.”

	Strongly disagree Strongly agree
History	2.24	n=37
Biology	2.28	n=69
Political Science	2.62	n=79
Mathematics & Statistics	2.75	n=152
Psychology	2.76	n=88
Economics	3.14	n=168
Biochemistry & Biophysics	3.21	n=56

Protestant students want religious kids

Something to know if you fall in love with them. Here’s how each religion answered: ”It’s important my kids be raised religious.”

	Strongly disagree Strongly agree
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Protestant	0.03	0.11	0.03	0.30	0.18	0.13	0.21	x̄=4.72	n=61
Christian	0.10	0.14	0.10	0.23	0.19	0.12	0.13	x̄=4.13	n=151
Catholic	0.10	0.13	0.14	0.24	0.21	0.10	0.09	x̄=3.99	n=151
Muslim	0.15	0.23	0.12	0.23	0.15	0.04	0.08	x̄=3.42	n=26
Jewish	0.17	0.17	0.17	0.23	0.16	0.10	0.01	x̄=3.40	n=96
Spiritual	0.46	0.26	0.11	0.13	0.03	0.00	0.00	x̄=2.01	n=97
Agnostic	0.49	0.29	0.12	0.08	0.02	0.00	0.00	x̄=1.85	n=274
Atheist	0.74	0.17	0.05	0.03	0.00	0.00	0.00	x̄=1.37	n=223

68% of socialists wouldn’t date a Republican

Breaking down the biggest political beefs: 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	0.02	0.02	0.03	0.46	0.18	0.62	0.68
Liberal	0.07	0.01	0.01	0.19	0.01	0.43	0.50
Democrat	0.06	0.03	0.03	0.12	0.03	0.27	0.40
Apolitical	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.02	0.02
Independent	0.05	0.02	0.01	0.05	0.01	0.11	0.12
Conservative	0.10	0.13	0.05	0.03	0.00	0.00	0.00
Republican	0.19	0.10	0.13	0.00	0.02	0.00	0.02

Big year for politics

Sophomores are the most conservative

...but seniors are the most polarized by gender.

Here’s the political ideology of students on campus by class year and gender (measured as % liberal minus % conservative).

	More liberal More conservative
Freshman MAN	-0.44	n=100
Freshman WOMAN	-0.69	n=187
Sophomore MAN	-0.39	n=115
Sophomore WOMAN	-0.72	n=164
Junior MAN	-0.42	n=109
Junior WOMAN	-0.76	n=147
Senior MAN	-0.45	n=119
Senior WOMAN	-0.85	n=185

Socialists claim they always vote

Here’s how we hit the polls. Allegedly.

	Never Even in local elections
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Socialist	0.00	0.02	0.08	0.06	0.18	0.25	0.42	x̄=5.82	n=65
Democrat	0.02	0.02	0.06	0.11	0.33	0.22	0.23	x̄=5.31	n=558
Liberal	0.02	0.06	0.08	0.22	0.24	0.17	0.22	x̄=4.97	n=190
Independent	0.07	0.11	0.13	0.18	0.29	0.16	0.05	x̄=4.23	n=164
Conservative	0.08	0.10	0.18	0.23	0.26	0.05	0.10	x̄=4.05	n=39
Apolitical	0.28	0.16	0.12	0.26	0.14	0.02	0.02	x̄=2.98	n=43

Home is where the heart is

Some of us moved here from a long way away. Does absence make the heart grow fonder? Here’s how we answered “I take pride in where I’m from.”

	Strongly disagree Strongly agree
Socialist	5.28	n=65
Apolitical	5.40	n=43
Liberal	5.60	n=190
Democrat	5.65	n=558
Conservative	5.85	n=39
Republican	6.15	n=48

Women vs Men

Ladies and gentlemen——we know you’re curious. We’re here to give you the data on the age-old question: How different are men and women, really?

These analyses focus on respondents that identified as men and women. We support nonbinary students at Amherst absolutely, and due to the limited size of our sample we can’t share their insights without compromising their anonymity and safety. If you have questions about this, or ideas about how we can do this better, send us a note at inclusion@marriagepact.com.

Gender and orientation at Amherst

About 1 in 3 women at Amherst identifies as non-heterosexual.

Of those, 60% identify as bisexual, 22% identify as homosexual, and 10% identify as pansexual.

About 1 in 7 men at Amherst identifies as non-heterosexual.

Of those, 57% identify as homosexual and 39% identify as bisexual.

Points of disagreement

Presenting the questions the women and men of Amherst were most misaligned on. If you’re in the mood to pick a fight, have fun.

Q: “I generally like to take control during sex”

29%

27%

19%

11%

men

I'd rather not 🥺

Give me the reins 😈

23%

32%

26%

women

Q: “I want to be worshiped by my partner”

17%

23%

19%

21%

13%

men

Strongly disagree

Strongly agree

13%

17%

29%

15%

10%

women

Q: “I would end a friendship over differing political views”

46%

25%

12%

men

Nope

Yes, they're blocked

14%

20%

22%

14%

17%

women

Q: “Billionaires should not exist”

15%

18%

16%

11%

17%

12%

10%

men

It's well-deserved

Eat the rich

13%

18%

17%

23%

women

Let’s Talk

About Sex

This year, we’re going out with a bang. Here’s a look at what Amherst students are getting up to in the bedroom.

Freshmen are ready to settle down

Meanwhile, seniors like to keep things casual.

Here’s how each year stacks up on sociosexuality (in other words, openness to hooking up without commitment).

	commitment casual sex
Freshman	-0.09	n=293
Sophomore	0.05	n=286
Junior	0.12	n=263
Senior	0.20	n=316

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 😈
Democrat	3.56	n=558
Socialist	3.57	n=65
Liberal	3.59	n=190
Independent	4.10	n=164
Apolitical	4.16	n=43
Republican	4.31	n=48
Conservative	4.79	n=39

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	0.06	0.29	0.52	0.10	0.03	0.00	0.00	x̄=2.74	n=31
History	0.14	0.30	0.24	0.24	0.05	0.03	0.00	x̄=2.86	n=37
Political Science	0.10	0.20	0.38	0.22	0.06	0.01	0.03	x̄=3.08	n=79
Mathematics & Statistics	0.09	0.23	0.38	0.20	0.06	0.01	0.03	x̄=3.09	n=152
Economics	0.08	0.23	0.32	0.24	0.08	0.04	0.01	x̄=3.19	n=168
Law, Jurisprudence & Social Thought	0.09	0.21	0.29	0.27	0.09	0.03	0.03	x̄=3.24	n=78
Psychology	0.07	0.18	0.34	0.25	0.09	0.00	0.07	x̄=3.39	n=88
Computer Science	0.06	0.24	0.24	0.21	0.09	0.07	0.09	x̄=3.59	n=70
Biology	0.09	0.10	0.32	0.28	0.13	0.01	0.07	x̄=3.59	n=69
Biochemistry & Biophysics	0.04	0.16	0.30	0.23	0.20	0.05	0.02	x̄=3.63	n=56

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