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University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Amherst, MA
The University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst) is a renowned public research university located in Amherst, Massachusetts. It was established in 1863 as the Massachusetts Agricultural College and has since evolved into a comprehensive institution with a diverse range of academic programs. UMass Amherst is the flagship campus of the University of Massachusetts system and is widely recognized for its excellence in education, innovation, and impactful research.
With over 30,000 students, UMass Amherst offers more than 90 undergraduate majors and over 110 graduate programs across various fields, including sciences, arts, humanities, engineering, business, and more. The university is committed to providing students with a well-rounded education that emphasizes critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and real-world experiences. Faculty members at UMass Amherst are highly accomplished in their respective fields and are dedicated to mentoring and guiding students throughout their educational journey.
UMass Amherst is known for its vibrant campus life and strong sense of community. Students have access to exceptional resources and facilities, including state-of-the-art laboratories, libraries, research centers, and recreational facilities. The university also offers a wide range of extracurricular activities, clubs, and organizations that cater to diverse interests and foster connections among students. Additionally, UMass Amherst has a robust athletics program, competing in NCAA Division I sports and providing students with opportunities to engage in competitive sports or simply cheer on their teams.
Overall, UMass Amherst is a prestigious institution that provides students with an excellent education, ample opportunities for personal and professional growth, and a supportive and inclusive campus community. With its strong focus on research, innovation, and academic excellence, UMass Amherst cultivates graduates who are well-prepared to contribute to society and succeed in their chosen careers.
Located in Amherst, MA, University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public university. This school follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 57%. The freshman retention rate at University of Massachusetts Amherst is 91% and the six-year graduation rate is 83%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is January 15. For transfer students, the application deadline is July 25.
Here are some recent data on important things to consider about University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Quick Facts
23,936
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
57%
Acceptance Rate
18:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
83%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission, you can make a better judgment about your eligibility and boost your chances of getting accepted. How difficult is it to get admitted to University of Massachusetts Amherst and what are the admission requirements?
According to the most recent information reported, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 29,129 in 2024. University of Massachusetts Amherst has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the candidate. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
Out of the number of applicants who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 27% and ACT scores 3.9%. 46% of the freshmen submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 48.85% between 1,200 and 1,399, 4% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 0.97% between 800 and 999. The percent of freshman students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 72, 27 between 24-29 and 1 in the range between 18-23.
The average ACT score for all the admitted students in 2024 was 30 and the average GPA was 4.07. Accordingly, you'll probably need an above-average GPA in order to be granted acceptance, as well as an above-average ACT score.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 671 and an average SAT Math score of 687.
Deadlines
The application deadline for this school is January 15. If considering applying as a transfer student, the application deadline is July 25.
57%
Acceptance Rate
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. When you create your list of possible schools to attend, don't forget to consider the freshmen retention rate.
The freshman retention rate for University of Massachusetts Amherst was 91% in 2024, which is an amazing retention rate only the most prestigious institutions have.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It provides valuable insight into the percentage of students who complete their studies within a designated timeframe. At this academic institution, the proportion of students graduating in six years is 83%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Picking a school that is the best place for you is not a simple task. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by finding out more about its student body.
Main Student Body
In 2024, the institution enrolled 31,810 students.
That year, the school had an out-of-state student body percentage of 21.2. There was a total of 23,936 undergrad students, including 1,780 international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 1,268.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 12,431 male and 13,231 female full-time students in 2024. There were 1,377 full-time graduate male and 1,471 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
The importance of student diversity cannnot be denied, when it comes to the overall feeling of inclusion and beloning among the students of any school. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at University of Massachusetts Amherst.
In 2024, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 3,221, and the number of Black American students was 1,042. 2,067 undergrads at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 1,001 identified with more than one race. The school also had 18 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 17 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 720 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you send an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. The latest information on the expenses that most students at this school incur are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about University of Massachusetts Amherst estimated tuition fees.
If you are an area resident, your tuition was $17,006. For out-of-state students, tuition fees amounted to $39,683. For the students coming from abroad, tuition at this school was $39,683, as well. Fees per academic year required of full-time students summed up to $766 in 2024.
| Tuition | Fees | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $39,683 | $766 | $40,449 |
| In-State | $17,006 | $766 | $17,772 |
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to consider the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The estimated price of books and supplies for a full-time student of this school is $1,200.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. What do schools typically charge for room and board?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at University of Massachusetts Amherst was $16,709 in 2024. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2024 amounted to $9,062 for one academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $8,480.
| Tuition | $ 17,006 |
| Room and Board | $ 16,709 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,200 |
| Total Expense | $ 34,915 |
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all types of financial aid for students. Check out some recent data to get the info about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid available at University of Massachusetts Amherst.
According to the most recent data, 2,625 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $21,009.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
9,804 students received some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at University of Massachusetts Amherst is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was 10,858. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution reached $27,646,439, and state $11,516,335. The students of University of Massachusetts Amherst received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $88,968,856, and external in the amount of $4,933,370.
$7,724
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
943 students, including freshmen, got institutional non-need-based financial aid at this institution in 2024. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 284 full-time freshmen. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $27,646,439 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $310,823. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $54,416,033. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $4,361,076 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
18:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
In 2024, this ratio at University of Massachusetts Amherst was 18:1. That means that there were 18 times more students than teachers at this school. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 1,781. Out of that number, there were 916 men and 865 women.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at University of Massachusetts Amherst is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Find out some details about campus life at University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Its campus spans 1,463 acres.
Student Organizations
Participating in different student organizations can make your educational experience more interesting and fulfilling.
Based on the most up-to-date information available, there are 500 open-membership organizations at University of Massachusetts Amherst. That includes sororities and fraternities. The percentage of male students who are members of organizations is 6 and female students 5. The student organization with the highest level of popularity is Student Government Association, followed by University Programming Council and Outing Club. Other popular student organizations at this school are Ski and Board Club and Minutemen Marching Band.
If you are interested in music, you can join the University of Massachusetts Amherst band or chorus. There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. Interested in media and communication? University of Massachusetts Amherst publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
University of Massachusetts Amherst offers a number of services crucial for a comfortable and secure life on campus.
There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Legal Services, Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of University of Massachusetts Amherst.
All in all, campus life at University of Massachusetts Amherst is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Career Counselling
At University of Massachusetts Amherst, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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University of Massachusetts Amherst is located in Amherst, MA.
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University of Massachusetts Amherst offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for University of Massachusetts Amherst is 57%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for University of Massachusetts Amherst is 91%.
Contact Information
University of Massachusetts-Amherst,
181 Presidents Drive
Amherst, MA
01003
413 545-0111
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.