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Amherst, MA · Public · 23,671 undergraduates · urban

University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Moderately selective

Add to my college list Review admission

UMass combines flagship-scale programs with Five College cross-registration, extending course access far beyond one campus.

Institutional profile

Highly regarded Strong in academic standing, and solid in student experience.
Academic Strong Affordability Solid Career Solid Mobility Steady Experience Solid
Academic standing Strong
Affordability Solid
Career outcomes Solid
Mobility Steady
Student experience Solid
Admission
57.8% admitted

50,424 applicants in the reported year

Price by income
Resident and nonresident prices differ

Compare recent average annual costs by household income

Completion
81.3%

$71,631 median earnings 10 years after enrollment

What sets University of Massachusetts-Amherst apart

Academic design

Students can supplement UMass offerings through approved courses at nearby Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke and Smith.

Campus pattern

Large residential campus sits in the rural Pioneer Valley near several other colleges.

Career & value signal

Engineering, computing, food science, business and life sciences support broad Massachusetts and Northeast career pathways.

Can I get in?

57.8% admitted

Start with the academic record, then make the intended direction and school-specific fit concrete.

Recent applicant pool

50,424

About 58 in every 100 applicants were admitted.

Admission rate 57.8%
Entering class

Academic range

SAT middle 50%1300–1480
11801600
ACT middle 50%29–33
2636

Of admitted students, 27% submitted an SAT, and 4% submitted an ACT. Because ACT scores came from few admitted students, the range describes that self-selected group rather than the full class.

Entered with a 4.0 GPA67%

Admission by residency

The same either way

Degree-seeking, first-time, first-year students · Fall 2025

University of Massachusetts-Amherst admitted 57.8% of Massachusetts applicants and 63.5% of applicants from other states. Both groups were admitted at close to the same rate. Massachusetts students took 67% of the seats in the entering class.

In-state57.8% admitted

13,062 admitted from 22,603 applicants

Out-of-state63.5% admitted

15,117 admitted from 23,800 applicants

International54.1% admitted

3,634 admitted from 6,714 applicants

In the season card

Where your GPA sits in the entering class

The full entering-class GPA distribution for University of Massachusetts-Amherst, in nine bands from 4.0 down, with your own record marked on it.

See where I land

In the season card

What University of Massachusetts-Amherst weighs when it reads a file

See how this college describes the role of grades, testing, essays, recommendations, activities, and demonstrated interest.

  • Course rigor  
  • GPA  
  • Test scores  
  • Essay  
  • Recommendations  
  • Extracurriculars  
  • Demonstrated interest  
See what counts here

What moves the application

The evidence that separates a strong file

01

Show preparation for this curriculum

Students can supplement UMass offerings through approved courses at nearby Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke and Smith.

02

Make institutional fit specific

UMass combines flagship-scale programs with Five College cross-registration, extending course access far beyond one campus.

03

Use the application route carefully

Keep academic direction and school-specific choices coherent across the application.

How to apply

Rounds, route, and required materials

Build the calendar around the earliest realistic application round and assemble each required item once.

Early ActionNov 5
Regular DecisionJan 15
Fee and waiver$90 application fee

Fee waiver: accepted

Major and program admission

Some fields have their own entry path.

The college admit rate above covers the university as a whole. These requirements apply only to the named program.

ArchitectureAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

BusinessAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

Computer scienceAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

Teacher preparationAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

EngineeringAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

Hospitality and hotel managementAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

NursingAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

Can I afford it?

Compare annual cost by household income.

Start with the average net price for your income range, then set that estimate beside your other realistic options.

Published annual cost$39,896
Average annual cost after aid, in-state$22,000
Affordability profileSolid

College funding

Scholarships and financial aid

Review available aid, application requirements, and renewal terms.

University of Massachusetts-Amherst publishes three merit awards, the largest reaching $10,000 to $20,000 a year. All of them renew past the first year.

Reviewed with admission An award reaching $10,000 to $20,000 a year

Open across the university · Merit and financial need · Competitive · Renews each year

Reviewed with admission An award under $5,000 a year

Open across the university · Merit · Competitive · Renews each year

Reviewed with admission An award reaching $10,000 to $20,000 a year

Open across the university · Merit · Competitive · Renews each year

In the season card

These three awards, by name

What each one is called, what it pays, the grades and scores it asks for, and what to send.

  • The name of each award 
  • What it pays 
  • The grades and scores it asks for 
  • How to be considered 
  • What to send, and where 
See the full read
Open financial aid plan

In the season card

Average annual cost by household income at University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Compare recent average net prices across five federal income ranges and estimate a 4-year cost for yours.

  • $0–30k 
  • $30–48k 
  • $48–75k 
  • $75–110k 
  • $110k+ 
Open the price by income

Is it worth it?

Completion, debt, and earnings

Read completion, borrowing, field mix, and earnings together. One university-wide earnings figure does not describe every student path.

Complete within 8 years81.3%

Degree completion across the reported entering cohort

Return after year one91.4%

First-year students who return for year two

Median federal debtWhat students owe on the way out

And what that comes to against what they earn.

Median earnings$71,631

Reported 10 years after enrollment

Academic portfolio

Largest bachelor’s fields

How many students finish in each field, and median earnings four years after completing the program.

Psychology, General

Recent graduates617
Median earnings$51,274

Computer Science

Recent graduates498
Median earnings$123,519

Admits separately

Economics

Recent graduates417
Median earnings$80,434

Biology, General

Recent graduates371
Median earnings$72,726

What is campus life like?

University of Massachusetts-Amherst beyond the classroom

Large residential campus sits in the rural Pioneer Valley near several other colleges.

Academics

A defining academic feature

Students can supplement UMass offerings through approved courses at nearby Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke and Smith.

Campus setting

What shapes an ordinary week

Large residential campus sits in the rural Pioneer Valley near several other colleges.

Career & value

Where the degree can lead

Engineering, computing, food science, business and life sciences support broad Massachusetts and Northeast career pathways.

23,671 undergraduatesNew Englandurban setting97% of first-year students live on campus