Home Colleges Massachusetts University of Massachusetts Amherst
Public 4-Year Moderately Selective Amherst, MA NCAA Division I-FBS

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Amherst, MA

60.5%
Acceptance Rate
$37,122/yr
Est. Cost of Attendancesum of published cost components
$22,383/yr
Avg Price After Aid
83.2%
6-yr Grad Rate
23,671
Undergrads

About University of Massachusetts Amherst

University of Massachusetts-Amherst is a public institution located in the small city of Amherst, MA. With an undergraduate enrollment of 23,671 students and a student-to-faculty ratio of 17:1, it serves a substantial student body. The institution reports an 83.2% graduation rate.

Type
Public 4-Year
Undergrads
23,671
Avg Faculty Salary
$132,469
Athletics
NCAA Division I-FBS
Endowment
$579.7M
Pell Students
19.9%
First-Gen
21.6%
What University of Massachusetts Amherst Is Known For
Majors far more concentrated here than at colleges nationally
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 139 graduates · 2.2% of degrees here vs 0.06% nationally 38×
Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain... 224 graduates · 3.5% of degrees here vs 0.31% nationally 11×
Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology 177 graduates · 2.7% of degrees here vs 0.29% nationally
Communication 244 graduates · 3.8% of degrees here vs 0.46% nationally
Computer Science 448 graduates · 7% of degrees here vs 2.26% nationally
SOURCEIPEDS Completions 2023, against the national share at the same degree level
Admissions
60.5%
Acceptance rate · Moderately Selective
50,424
Applicants
Can I Get In? →
Cost & Aid
$22,383 avg net
Average net price after aid
$10,164
Under $30K income
$579.7M
Endowment
Can I Afford It? →
Outcomes
$60,347 median
Median earnings 6 years after entering
83.2%
6-yr Grad Rate
$22,763
Median Debt
Is It Worth It? →

University of Massachusetts Amherst Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Acceptance Rate
60.5%
50,424 applicants
Student:Faculty Ratio
17:1
Undergrad instruction

University of Massachusetts-Amherst admitted 60.5% of applicants, indicating moderate selectivity where a substantial majority of applicants gain admission. This acceptance rate suggests the institution considers a broad range of candidates competitive for enrollment.

How Selective Is That, Really?
Each dot is one of 100 applicants · Source: school's Common Data Set, else College Scorecard
1 in 2 applicants is admitted · 50,424 applied
10-Year Acceptance Rate Trend
10-year trend · Source: College Scorecard
10 years

SAT & ACT Score Ranges

Where Admitted Students Score
Middle 50% of enrolled students, on the full SAT scale · Source: College Scorecard (IPEDS)
Fall 2023
1310–1500
40080012001600

Admissions Requirements

Admission Factor Weights
Official weights from submitted institutional data · Source: Common Data Set, section C7
Rigor of coursework Very Important
Class rank Important
Academic GPA Very Important
Standardized test scores Considered
Application essay Important
Recommendations Important
Waitlist Statistics
Source: Common Data Set
9,742
Offered spot
6,478
Accepted offer
1,142
Admitted from WL
Who Applies, and Who Gets In
First-year applicants, admits and enrollees by gender
Applied Admitted Rate Enrolled
Men 24,227 11,725 48.4% 2,447
Women 26,196 17,404 66.4% 2,839
SOURCEIPEDS Admissions — Fall 2023 admissions cycle
How These Admissions Numbers Compare
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

University of Massachusetts Amherst admits 59.7% of applicants — a typical similar college admits 83%.

Acceptance rate
This school
59.7%
Similar colleges (532)
83%
MA (73)
71.2%
National (1,934)
78.1%

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

University of Massachusetts Amherst Tuition, Fees & Cost of Attendance

Avg Net Price
$22,383
Average for all students receiving federal aid, 2023-24
Median Federal Debt
$22,763
Federal Loan Rate
46.6%
Students borrowing federal loans

University of Massachusetts-Amherst has a cost of attendance of $37,122, but the average net price is $22,383, meaning students typically pay considerably less than the sticker price.

Cost of Attendance Breakdown
Estimated annual costs · on-campus, 2023-24 · Source: College Scorecard
$37,122
In-state Tuition & Fees
$17,772
48%
Room & Board
$16,710
45%
Books & Supplies
$1,200
3%
Other Expenses
$1,440
4%

What You'd Actually Pay by Family Income

What You'd Actually Pay by Family Income
Average net price after all grants and scholarships · Source: College Scorecard (IPEDS net price)
Under $30,000
$10,164
$30,001 – $48,000
$10,456
$48,001 – $75,000
$12,932
$75,001 – $110,000
$18,964
Over $110,000
$30,793
Full Cost of Attendance
Source: College Scorecard
2023-24

Student Loan Debt

How Many Students Borrow
Undergraduates taking on any loan
Take out a loan
94%
Federal loans
47%

Graduates who borrowed carry a median monthly repayment of about $241.

SOURCECollege Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education
How This Price Compares
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

After aid, University of Massachusetts Amherst costs $22,383 a year — about 53% more than a typical similar college.

Cost of attendance
This school
$34,549
Similar colleges (565)
$25,083
MA (88)
$56,169
National (3,197)
$25,367
Students taking a loan
This school
93.6%
Similar colleges (583)
84.8%
MA (101)
91.7%
National (4,096)
86.4%
Median debt at graduation
This school
$22,763
Similar colleges (585)
$21,000
MA (110)
$22,610
National (4,347)
$13,097
Average net price
This school
$22,383
Similar colleges (565)
$14,600
MA (119)
$24,402
National (5,106)
$17,160

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

University of Massachusetts Amherst Graduation Rate & Student Outcomes

6-yr Grad Rate
83.2%
Median Earnings 6yr
$60,347
6 years after entering

University of Massachusetts-Amherst has a graduation rate of 83.2%. Median earnings are $60,347 six years after entry and $71,631 ten years after entry.

Graduate Earnings After College

Median Graduate Earnings Over Time
6 and 10 years after entering · includes all students, not just graduates · Source: College Scorecard
Median Earnings by Gender · 6 Years After Entering
Students working 6 years after entering · Source: College Scorecard
$65,730
Men
$55,111
Women
Graduation Rate: Pell vs. Non-Pell
6-year graduation rate by grant status · Source: College Scorecard
74.3%
Pell recipients
87.4%
Non-Pell students

Top Majors & Programs

Top Majors by Graduates
Most recent year available · bachelor's degrees only · Source: IPEDS Completions 2023
MajorGraduates
Psychology, General525
Computer Science448
Finance, General323
Biology/Biological Sciences, General315
Communication, General244
Economics, General231
Marketing/Marketing Management, General229
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other229
Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain...224
Public Health, General191
Graduation Rate by Race & Ethnicity
Completing within six years
White
86.8%
Asian
82.4%
Hispanic
75.5%
Black
71%
SOURCECollege Scorecard — groups with too few students to report are omitted
Earnings Further Out
The longer horizon

Median earnings eight years after entering University of Massachusetts Amherst are $66,904, and 75% of former students earn more than $25,000 six years after entry.

SOURCECollege Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education
How These Outcomes Compare
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

Six years after entry, former University of Massachusetts Amherst students earn $60,347 — 31% more than at a typical similar college.

Median earnings, 10 years
This school
$71,631
Similar colleges (587)
$54,560
MA (102)
$53,499
National (4,696)
$40,782
Median earnings, 6 years
This school
$60,347
Similar colleges (589)
$46,058
MA (102)
$46,710
National (4,847)
$35,433
Graduation rate
This school
83.2%
Similar colleges (566)
51.7%
MA (69)
66.8%
National (2,168)
52.3%
Freshman retention
This school
91.4%
Similar colleges (567)
76%
MA (65)
83.1%
National (1,841)
75.7%

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

University of Massachusetts Amherst Campus, Athletics & Faculty

University of Massachusetts-Amherst is a public institution located in a small city in Amherst, MA, with an undergraduate enrollment of 23,671 students. The student body includes 52.3% women, 21.6% first-generation students, and 19.9% Pell grant recipients.

Student Demographics
Undergraduate enrollment · Source: College Scorecard / IPEDS
Race & Ethnicity
White
57.2%
Asian
13.7%
Hispanic
9.1%
Black
4.6%
Other Indicators
First-generation
21.6%
Pell grant recipients
19.9%
Women
52.3%
University of Massachusetts Amherst Athletics
Total Revenue
$18.6M
Total Expense
$18.6M
Athletes
761
377 men · 384 women
Head Coach Salaries
Men's vs Women's programs · Source: Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act
Men's sports
$429,235
Women's sports
$128,145

Average head coach salary by program gender.

Athletic Aid
Scholarship spending by gender · Source: Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act
Men's aid
$7,059,445
Women's aid
$6,401,305
Academic Resources
1,495
Full-time faculty
$132,469
Avg faculty salary
16,532
FT staff
$579.7M
Endowment
Faculty Salary by Gender
All instructional ranks combined · Source: IPEDS Human Resources
Men (avg)
$142,585
Women (avg)
$121,344
Overall avg
$132,469
Who Is on Campus
Beyond the undergraduate headcount
Undergraduates
23,671
Graduate students
7,806
Varsity Athletes
Play a varsity sport
2.8%

619 of 22,475 undergraduates, counting each athlete once regardless of how many sports they play.

SOURCEIPEDS enrollment; Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act filings
Online & Distance Learning
How much of the teaching happens remotely
Undergrads fully online
3.9%
Undergrads taking any
11.8%
Grad students fully online
34.4%

936 of 23,936 undergraduates study entirely at a distance, against 2,706 of 7,874 graduate students.

SOURCEIPEDS Fall Enrollment, distance education status

University of Massachusetts Amherst is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.

How This Campus Compares
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

University of Massachusetts Amherst spends $28,815 per student on research — about a typical similar college.

Pell grant share
This school
19.9%
Similar colleges (590)
34%
MA (126)
31.6%
National (5,367)
40.1%
Research spending per student
This school
$28,815
Similar colleges (531)
$8,786
MA (92)
$8,492
National (2,823)
$5,605
Students per faculty member
This school
17:1
Similar colleges (595)
16:1
MA (130)
12:1
National (5,427)
15:1

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Every Major at University of Massachusetts Amherst
81 fields of study, bachelor's degree level, grouped by subject area
6,444 graduates
Business and Marketing 1,093 grads · 6 majors
Finance, General 323
Marketing/Marketing Management, General 229
Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain... 224
Accounting 133
Business Administration and Management,... 129
Hospitality Administration/Management,... 55
Biological and Biomedical Sciences 675 grads · 4 majors
Biology/Biological Sciences, General 315
Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology 177
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 139
Microbiology, General 44
Social Sciences 660 grads · 7 majors
Economics, General 231
Political Science and Government, General 148
Econometrics and Quantitative Economics 127
Sociology, General 93
Anthropology, General 35
Social Sciences, Other 19
Geography 7
Psychology 525 grads · 1 major
Psychology, General 525
Engineering 510 grads · 7 majors
Mechanical Engineering 142
Civil Engineering, General 97
Computer Engineering, General 76
Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering 74
Electrical and Electronics Engineering 56
Chemical Engineering 38
Industrial Engineering 27
Computer and Information Sciences 489 grads · 2 majors
Computer Science 448
Informatics 41
Health Professions 343 grads · 3 majors
Public Health, General 191
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 100
Communication Sciences and Disorders, General 52
Communication and Journalism 308 grads · 2 majors
Communication, General 244
Journalism 64
Multidisciplinary Studies 308 grads · 5 majors
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other 229
Nutrition Sciences 46
Sustainability Studies 19
Biological and Physical Sciences 13
Mathematics and Computer Science 1
Agriculture 202 grads · 8 majors
Pre-Veterinary Studies 77
Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture 40
Animal Sciences, General 28
Veterinary/Animal Health... 17
Horticultural Science 15
Food Science 14
Plant Sciences, General 7
Turf and Turfgrass Management 4
Mathematics and Statistics 172 grads · 1 major
Mathematics, General 172
Natural Resources and Conservation 160 grads · 2 majors
Environmental Science 83
Natural Resources/Conservation, General 77
Visual and Performing Arts 127 grads · 6 majors
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General 31
Fine/Studio Arts, General 31
Music Performance, General 31
Art History, Criticism and Conservation 14
Dance, General 10
Music, General 10
Foreign Languages and Linguistics 118 grads · 10 majors
Linguistics 40
Spanish Language and Literature 25
Japanese Language and Literature 11
Comparative Literature 10
French Language and Literature 8
German Language and Literature 8
Classics and Classical Languages,... 7
Chinese Language and Literature 4
Italian Language and Literature 4
Portuguese Language and Literature 1
English Language and Literature 113 grads · 1 major
English Language and Literature, General 113
Parks, Recreation and Kinesiology 112 grads · 1 major
Sport and Fitness Administration/Management 112
Architecture 112 grads · 2 majors
Architectural and Building... 95
Landscape Architecture 17
Physical Sciences 98 grads · 4 majors
Physics, General 40
Chemistry, General 33
Geology/Earth Science, General 13
Astronomy 12
Legal Professions 87 grads · 1 major
Legal Studies 87
Liberal Arts and General Studies 67 grads · 1 major
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General... 67
History 65 grads · 1 major
History, General 65
Education 64 grads · 1 major
Education, General 64
Philosophy and Religious Studies 21 grads · 1 major
Philosophy 21
Area, Ethnic and Gender Studies 15 grads · 4 majors
Women's Studies 8
African-American/Black Studies 3
Russian, Central European, East European... 3
Near and Middle Eastern Studies 1
SOURCEIPEDS Completions 2023 — first majors only, so a student with a double major is counted once

University of Massachusetts Amherst Location & Campus Safety

University of Massachusetts Amherst is in Amherst Town, MA, in what IPEDS classifies as a small city setting. The campus sits about 1.8 miles from the center of Amherst Town. There are 10 other colleges within 25 miles, and Amherst Town, MA is 1.8 miles away.

University of Massachusetts Amherst Other colleges within 30 miles
Small city
Campus Setting
1.8 mi
To City Center
10
Colleges Within 25 mi
35,472
Amherst Town Population
Living in Amherst Town
Cost of living and getting around, for the whole city — not the campus
ACS 2023
$1,570
Median Rent / mo
$65,938
Median Household Income
41.8%
Rent as % of Income
How People Commute
Drive alone
42.1%
Walk
21.8%
Public transit
8.2%

Hampshire County scores 9.3 out of 20 on the EPA National Walkability Index — below average walkable. The index is a county-wide average of block groups, so it describes the surrounding area rather than the campus itself.

Undergraduates make up about 55% of Amherst Town's residents.

SOURCEU.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year estimates; EPA National Walkability Index
Colleges Near University of Massachusetts Amherst
Within 30 miles, at least 500 students, by straight-line distance
Amherst College 1,911 students 1 mi
SOURCEIPEDS campus coordinates, University of Massachusetts Amherst to each campus

Campus Safety at University of Massachusetts Amherst

Every college that receives federal financial aid must publish its crime statistics each year under the Clery Act. These are the figures University of Massachusetts Amherst reported for 2024.

79
On-Campus Offenses
34
In Residence Halls
2.5
Per 1,000 Students
8
Domestic, Dating & Stalking

Read these numbers carefully. A Clery figure counts reports, not incidents. A university with active reporting channels, a large campus police force and a teaching hospital will record more offenses than one where the same events go unreported — so a higher count is not evidence of a more dangerous campus, and a low count is not evidence of a safe one. In 2024, 833 campuses with more than 1,000 students reported no offenses at all. Use these figures to ask a college questions, not to rank one against another.

Reported On-Campus Offenses by Year
Criminal offenses reported on campus, including residence halls · Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Clery Act disclosures
2022
39
2023
46
2024
79
What Was Reported in 2024
On-campus criminal offenses by category
Motor vehicle theft
40
Sexual offenses
25
Burglary
8
Arson
3
Robbery
2
Aggravated assault
1

Separately, University of Massachusetts Amherst reported 94 arrests and 218 disciplinary referrals for weapons, drug and liquor law violations on campus. Referrals for alcohol violations are usually the largest category at residential colleges and reflect how a school handles student conduct internally.

SOURCEU.S. Department of Education, Campus Safety and Security — Clery Act disclosures, 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about University of Massachusetts Amherst admissions, costs, and outcomes.