University of Massachusetts-Amherst
PublicAmherst, MA
The University of Massachusetts Amherst was founded in 1863 as Massachusetts Agricultural College under the Morrill Land-Grant Act, becoming Massachusetts State College in 1931 and the University of Massachusetts in 1947. It is the flagship of the five-campus UMass system and is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a doctoral university with the highest level of research activity (R1).
Admissions
Cost & outcomes
From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field.
Where do you stand against University of Massachusetts-Amherst's numbers?
Check your chances hereHow University of Massachusetts-Amherst weighs your application
From University of Massachusetts-Amherst's own Common Data Set, 2024-25, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?
See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what University of Massachusetts-Amherst weighs in your application
Paying it back
"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.
Majors & earnings
Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.
Campus life
Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.
What matters in your application
From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.
Frequently asked questions
What does University of Massachusetts-Amherst look for in applicants?
Per University of Massachusetts-Amherst's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.
What is University of Massachusetts-Amherst's acceptance rate?
University of Massachusetts-Amherst in Amherst, MA admits approximately 60% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.
What SAT score do I need for University of Massachusetts-Amherst?
Admitted students at University of Massachusetts-Amherst typically score between 1310–1500 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile).
What ACT score do I need for University of Massachusetts-Amherst?
Admitted students at University of Massachusetts-Amherst typically score between 30–33 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile).
How much does University of Massachusetts-Amherst cost?
University of Massachusetts-Amherst's total cost of attendance is reported at $34,549 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.
When is the application deadline for University of Massachusetts-Amherst?
University of Massachusetts-Amherst's earliest deadline is Nov 5, 2026 (EA), per its own published admissions calendar.
Does University of Massachusetts-Amherst require students to live on campus?
No -- University of Massachusetts-Amherst doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.
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