UMASS-Amherst
University of Massachusetts Amherst
181 Presidents Drive, Amherst, United StatesAll photos (10)
Overview of University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMASS-Amherst)
About this school
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public, land-grant institution. Founded in 1863, it is consistently ranked among the top public research universities in the nation. Within its nine schools and colleges, the university offers bachelor's degrees in more than 85 areas, as well as associate, masters, and doctoral degrees. Through its membership in the Five Colleges Consortium, students can enroll at no extra charge in courses at nearby Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, and Smith Colleges. Its 1,463-acre campus is located in Amherst, 90 miles west of Boston.
- www.umass.edu/
Website
Coeducational
Co-ed
Graduate Students
6,952
Institution Type
Public
Undergraduate Students
- Undergraduate Students:23,388
- Men:11,735 Men (50.2%)
- Women:11,653 Women (49.8%)
Location
Admission Information (UMASS-Amherst)
Freshman Admission Requirements
Difficulty of Admission
Admission to University of Massachusetts Amherst is moderately difficult: more than 75% of freshmen were in the top 50% of their high school class and scored over 1010 on the SAT I or over 18 on the ACT; about 85% or fewer of all applicants accepted.
High School Preparation
- High School Graduation:
High school diploma required and GED is accepted
- High School Program:
College preparatory program is required
Required Or Recomended High School Units
| Subject | Required Units | Recommended Units |
|---|---|---|
English | 4 | - |
Mathematics | 4 | - |
Science | 3 | - |
Foreign Language | 2 | - |
Social Studies | 2 | - |
History | - | - |
Academic Electives | - | - |
Examinations Required
| Exam | Required | Scores Due Date |
|---|---|---|
SAT or ACT | Required | February 1 |
SAT Only | - | - |
ACT Only | - | - |
SAT and SAT Subject Tests, or ACT | - | - |
SAT Subject Tests Only | - | - |
| Essay/Test | Status | Scores Due Date |
|---|---|---|
SAT Essay Component Policy | Not Reported | |
ACT Writing Test Policy | Writing component recommended | |
ACT Writing Test Policy | SAT: No policy as of now ACT: No policy as of now |
Admission Details
Admissions Office
Address | - |
City, State, Zip | Amherst, MA 01003 |
Phone | (413) 545-0222 |
Fax | (413) 545-4312 |
Email |
Application Dates And Fees
Regular Admission Deadline | January 15 |
Application Fee | $80 |
Application Fee Waiver | Available |
Regular Admission Notification | Rolling |
Accept Offer Of Admission | By May 1 or within 2 weeks if notified after May 1 |
Waiting List Used | Yes |
Defer Admission | Student can defer admission |
Transfer Admission | Transfer applications accepted |
Early Admission
Early Decision Offered | No |
Early Decision Deadline | - |
Early Decision Notification | - |
Early Action Offered | Yes |
Early Action Deadline | November 15 |
Early Action Notification | Rolling, notification begins December 15 |
Application Form
Common Application | Accepted |
Universal College Application | Not accepted |
Electronic Application |
Other Application Requirements
Interview | Not Required |
Essay Or Personal Statement | Required for all freshmen |
Letters Of Recommendation | 1 required for all freshmen |
Other | - |
Financial Need | Financial need is not a consideration in the admissions process |
Selection of Students
Factors involed in acceptance process.
4 star = most important, 1 star = least important.
| Factor | Importance |
|---|---|
Rigor of Secondary School Record | |
Academic GPA | |
Standardized Tests | |
Class Rank | |
Recommendations | |
Essay | |
Interview | |
Level of Applicant's Interest | |
Extracurricular Activities | |
Volunteer Work | |
Particular Talent/Ability | |
Character/Personal Qualities | |
First Generation to Attend College | |
State Residency | |
Geographic Residence | |
Relation with Alumnus | |
Religious Affiliation/Commitment | |
Ethnicity | |
Work Experience |
Profile of Fall Admission
Overall Admission Rate
Overall Admission Rate | 57% of 41,922 applicants were admitted |
Women | 60% of 21,564 applicants were admitted |
Men | 55% of 20,358 applicants were admitted |
Students Enrolled
Students Enrolled | 5,232 (22%) of 24,102 admitted students enrolled |
Women | 2,621 (20%) of 12,964 admitted students enrolled |
Men | 2,611 (23%) of 11,138 admitted students enrolled |
Grade Point Average of Enrolled First-Year Students
Average GPA | 3.89 |
375 And Above | 60% |
3.50 - 3.74 | 25% |
3.25 - 3.49 | 7% |
3.00 - 3.24 | 6% |
2.50 - 2.99 | 1% |
2.00 - 2.49 | 1% |
SAT Score of Enrolled First-Year Students
Sat Math | 640 average |590-690 range of middle 50% |
• Score 700 - 800 | 22% |
• Score 600 - 700 | 50% |
• Score 500 - 600 | 27% |
• Score 400 - 500 | 1% |
• Score 300 - 400 | 0% |
• Score 200 - 300 | 0% |
• Score 700 - 800 | 16% |
• Score 600 - 700 | 55% |
• Score 500 - 600 | 27% |
• Score 400 - 500 | 2% |
• Score 300 - 400 | 0% |
• Score 200 - 300 | 0% |
ACT Scores of Enrolled First-Year Students
Act Composite | 28 average |26-31 range of middle 50% |
• Score 30 - 36 | Not reported |
• Score 24 - 29 | Not reported |
• Score 18 - 23 | Not reported |
• Score 12 - 17 | Not reported |
• Score 6 - 11 | Not reported |
• Score 5 Or Below | Not reported |
Tuition & Financial Aid (UMASS-Amherst)
Tuition & Expenses
Cost of Attendance
- Books & Supplies: - In-state: $15,411|Out-of-state: $33,477 (51.25%)
- Room & Board: - $12,258 (40.77%)
- Other Expenses: - $1,000 (3.33%)
- Tuition & Fees: - $1,400 (4.66%)
Books & Supplies
Room & Board
Other Expenses
Tuition & Fees
Payment Plans
University of Massachusetts Amherst accepts installment plan
Applying for Financial Aid
Financial Aid Office
Email | - |
Website | |
Net Price Calculator Url |
Application Process
Application Deadline | Priority deadline March 1 |
Award Notification Date | On a rolling basis beginning December 15 |
Methodology For Awarding Institutional Aid | Federal Methodology |
Forms Required
| Forms Required | Filing Cost |
|---|---|
FAFSA| Code is 002221 | Free |
Profile of 2017-18 Financial Aid
First-Year Student
Financial Aid Applicants | 3,989 (85.4%) of freshmen |
Found To Have Financial Need | 2,577 (64.6%) of applicants |
Received Financial Aid | 2,553 (99.1%) of applicants with financial need |
Need Fully Met | 347 (13.6%) of aid recipients |
Average Percent Of Need Met | 83% |
Average Award | $17,495 |
• Need-Based Gift | Received by 2,386 (93.5%) of aid recipients, average amount $10,965 |
• Need-Based Self-Help | Received by 2,262 (88.6%) of aid recipients, average amount $4,127 |
• Merit Based Gift | Received by 234 (9.2%) of aid recipients |
Merit Based Gift | 1,322 (28.3%) of freshmen had no financial need and received merit aid, average amount $4,848 |
All Undergraduates
Financial Aid Applicants | 16,906 (79.2%) of undergraduates |
Found To Have Financial Need | 11,965 (70.8%) of applicants |
Received Financial Aid | 11,872 (99.2%) of applicants with financial need |
Need Fully Met | 1,634 (13.8%) of aid recipients |
Average Percent Of Need Met | 86% |
Average Award | $17,687 |
• Need-Based Gift | Received by 10,493 (88.4%) of aid recipients, average amount $10,708 |
• Need-Based Self-Help | Received by 10,796 (90.9%) of aid recipients, average amount $5,118 |
• Merit Based Gift | Received by 869 (7.3%) of aid recipients |
Merit Based Gift | 4,929 (23.1%) of undergraduates had no financial need and received merit aid, average amount $4,707 |
Borrowing
2016 Graduates with Loans | 68% |
Average Indebtedness Of 2016 Graduates | $31,860 |
Parents Of Students Receiving Aid | 9.0% |
Parents Of Students Not Receiving Aid | 4.0% |
Financial Aid Programs
Scholarchips And Grants
Need Based Available | Federal Pell grants, SEOG, State scholarships, Institutional scholarships, Private scholarships |
Non Need Based Available | None |
Non-Need Awards
Academic Interest/Achievement | Agriculture, Architecture, Biological Sciences, Business, Communication, Computer Science, Education, Engineering/Technologies, English, Health Fields, Humanities, Mathematics, Military Science, Physical Sciences, Premedicine, Social Sciences |
Creative Arts/Performance | Art/Fine Arts, Dance, Journalism/Publications, Music, Theater/Drama |
Special Achievements/Activities | Cheerleading/Drum Major, Leadership |
Special Characteristics | Children and Siblings of Alumni, Children of Faculty/Staff, Handicapped Students, Veterans |
Employment
Work-Study Programs | Federal work study available |
Average Earnings from On-Campus Employment | $1,454 |
Academics & Instruction (UMASS-Amherst)
Academics Overview
Academic Calendar System
Semester
Summer Session
Offered
Graduation Requirements
General Education/Core Cirriculum
Required
Computer
Students not required to own/lease a computer
Foreign Language
Not required
Math/Science
Required for all students
Faculty & Instruction
Full-Time Faculty
1,351
Part-Time Faculty
144
Full-Time Faculty With Ph.D./Terminal Degree
85%
Regular Class Size
- 2-9 students: - 12% of classes
- 10-19 students: - 36% of classes
- 20-29 students: - 21% of classes
- 30-39 students: - 9% of classes
- 40-49 students: - 4% of classes
- 50-99 students: - 9% of classes
- Over 100 students: - 8% of classes
% of Classes
2-9
10-19
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-99
Over 100 students
# of Students
Discussion Section/Lab Class Size
- 2-9 students: - 7% of discussion sections/labs
- 10-19 students: - 26% of discussion sections/labs
- 20-29 students: - 47% of discussion sections/labs
- 30-39 students: - 12% of discussion sections/labs
- 40-49 students: - 3% of discussion sections/labs
- 50-59 students: - 4% of discussion sections/labs
- Over 100 students: - 1% of discussion sections/labs
% of Sections/Labs
2-9
10-19
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
Over 100 students
# of Students
Advanced Placement
International Baccalaureate
Accepted
Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations
Accepted for placement and credit
Sophomore Standing
Available through AP examinations
Academic Resources
Libraries
Library Available On Campus | Yes |
Holdings | 4,640,880 |
Computer Ownership | Students not required to own/lease a computer |
Computers Available On Campus | 507 |
Internet E Mail Access | Not reported |
Academic Support Services
Remedial Instruction
Not Offered
Tutoring
Available
Services for Students Requiring Accommodations
Available
Services for Students with Accessibility Needs
University of Massachusetts Amherst provides hearing impaired services, speech disorders services, visually impaired services, wheelchair access
Undergraduate Retention & Graduation
Returning First-Year Students
90.6%
Students Graduating Within 4 Years
67.3%
Students Graduating Within 5 Years
75.7%
Students Graduating Within 6 Years
77.0%
Programs & Majors (UMASS-Amherst)
Undergraduate Education
Undergraduate Majors (80)
- Accounting
- African-American/Black Studies
- Agricultural Economics
- Animal Sciences, General
- Anthropology
- Architecture
- Art History, Criticism and Conservation
- Astronomy
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Biological and Physical Sciences
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General
- Building Construction Technology
- Business Administration and Management, General
- Chemical Engineering
- Chemistry, General
- Chinese Language and Literature
- Civil Engineering, General
- Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General
- Communication Sciences and Disorders, General
- Comparative Literature
- Computer Engineering, General
- Computer Science
- Dance, General
- Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General
- Economics, General
- Education, General
- Electrical and Electronics Engineering
- English Language and Literature, General
- Environmental Design/Architecture
- Environmental Science
- Exercise Physiology
- Finance, General
- Fine/Studio Arts, General
- Food Science
- French Language and Literature
- General Studies
- Geography
- Geology/Earth Science, General
- German Studies
- History, General
- Hospitality Administration/Management, General
- Humanities/Humanistic Studies
- Industrial Engineering
- Italian Language and Literature
- Japanese Language and Literature
- Jewish/Judaic Studies
- Journalism
- Landscape Architecture
- Legal Studies, General
- Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other
- Linguistics
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General
- Mathematics, General
- Mechanical Engineering
- Microbiology, General
- Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
- Music Performance, General
- Music, General
- Natural Resources/Conservation, General
- Near and Middle Eastern Studies
- Nutrition Sciences
- Operations Management and Supervision
- Philosophy
- Physics, General
- Plant Sciences, General
- Political Science and Government, General
- Portuguese Language and Literature
- Pre-Dentistry Studies
- Pre-Medicine/Pre-Medical Studies
- Pre-Veterinary Studies
- Psychology, General
- Public Health, General
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
- Russian Studies
- Social Sciences, Other
- Sociology
- Spanish Language and Literature
- Speech Communication and Rhetoric
- Sport and Fitness Administration/Management
- Women's Studies
Most Popular Disciplines
Offered
Professional Degree Programs
Some online degree programs
Special Programs
Accelerated program, Cooperative work study program, Student-designed major, Distance learning, Double major, English as a second language, Honors program, Independent study, Internships, Study abroad, Summer session
Study Abroad
Business/marketing, Social sciences, Biological/life sciences
Online Degrees
None
Graduate and Professional Education
Master's Degrees Offered
Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Nursing Practice, Doctor of Education, Doctor of Audiology
Master's Programs of Study (138)
- Accounting
- Adult Nursing
- African-American Studies
- Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness
- American Studies
- Animal Behavior
- Animal Sciences
- Anthropology
- Applied Mathematics
- Architectural Engineering
- Architecture
- Art Education
- Art History
- Art/Fine Arts
- Astronomy
- Biochemistry
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences--General
- Biostatistics
- Biotechnology
- Business Administration and Management--General
- Cell Biology
- Chemical Engineering
- Chemistry
- Child and Family Studies
- Chinese
- Civil Engineering
- Classics
- Clinical Psychology
- Cognitive Sciences
- Communication Disorders
- Communication--General
- Community Health
- Community Health Nursing
- Comparative Literature
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Science
- Conflict Resolution and Mediation/Peace Studies
- Counselor Education
- Developmental Psychology
- Early Childhood Education
- Economics
- Education--General
- Educational Leadership and Administration
- Educational Measurement and Evaluation
- Educational Media/Instructional Technology
- Educational Policy
- Electrical Engineering
- Elementary Education
- Engineering and Applied Sciences--General
- English
- English as a Second Language
- Entrepreneurship
- Environmental Biology
- Environmental Engineering
- Environmental Management and Policy
- Environmental and Occupational Health
- Epidemiology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Family Nurse Practitioner Studies
- Finance and Banking
- Fish, Game, and Wildlife Management
- Food Science and Technology
- Foreign Languages Education
- Forestry
- French
- Genetics
- Geography
- Geosciences
- Geotechnical Engineering
- German
- Gerontological Nursing
- Health Education
- Health Services Management and Hospital Administration
- Higher Education
- Hispanic and Latin American Languages
- Historic Preservation
- History
- Hospitality Management
- Industrial and Labor Relations
- Industrial/Management Engineering
- Interior Design
- International and Comparative Education
- Italian
- Japanese
- Kinesiology and Movement Studies
- Landscape Architecture
- Linguistics
- Management Strategy and Policy
- Marine Sciences
- Marketing
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Mechanics
- Microbiology
- Multilingual and Multicultural Education
- Music
- Music Education
- Neuroscience
- Nursing and Healthcare Administration
- Nursing--General
- Nutrition
- Operations Research
- Organizational Management
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Physiology
- Plant Biology
- Plant Molecular Biology
- Plant Physiology
- Plant Sciences
- Political Science
- Polymer Science and Engineering
- Portuguese
- Psychology--General
- Public Administration
- Public Health--General
- Public Policy
- Reading Education
- Rhetoric
- Scandinavian Languages
- School Psychology
- Science Education
- Secondary Education
- Social Psychology
- Sociology
- Spanish
- Special Education
- Sports Management
- Statistics
- Structural Engineering
- Sustainable Development
- Theater
- Transportation and Highway Engineering
- Travel and Tourism
- Urban and Regional Planning
- Water Resources
- Water Resources Engineering
- Writing
Campus Life (UMASS-Amherst)
Location & Geography
Population
34,874
Nearest Metropolitan Area
Springfield, MA and Hartford, CT
Campus Size
1,463 acres
Weather
Temperature | 21.6 average low in January, 76.3 average high in September |
Rain | 127 rainy days per year |
Available Transportation
Nearest Bus Station | Amherst |
Nearest Train Station | Amherst |
Housing
College Housing
College offers housing to students
Types of Housing
Men only housing, women only housing, coed housing, disabled student housing
Students of College Housing
61% of all students
Housing Restrictions
Freshmen are required to live on campus
Freshman Housing Guarantee
Freshmen are guaranteed housing
Students Living Off Campus/Commuting
39%
Security
24-Hour Emergency Phone/Alarm Devices
Available
24-Hour Security Patrols
Available
Late-Night Transport/Escort Services
Available
Electronically Operated Housing Entrances
Available
Personal Support Services
Health Service
Offered
Personal Counseling
Offered
Child Care
Offered
Sports & Recreation
School Athletics
Athletic Conferences | NCAA Division I |
Mascot | Minuteman |
School Colors | Maroon and white |
Intercollegiate Athletics (Women)
| Factor | Offered | Scholarships Given |
|---|---|---|
Baseball | ||
Basketball | ||
Crew | ||
Cross-Country Running | ||
Field Hockey | ||
Ice Hockey | ||
Lacrosse | ||
Soccer | ||
Softball | ||
Swimming And Diving | ||
Tennis | ||
Track And Field |
Intercollegiate Athletics (Men)
| Sport | Offered | Scholarships Given |
|---|---|---|
Baseball | ||
Basketball | ||
Crew | ||
Cross-Country Running | ||
Field Hockey | ||
Ice Hockey | ||
Lacrosse | ||
Soccer | ||
Softball | ||
Swimming And Diving | ||
Tennis | ||
Track And Field |
Recreational Sports
Intramural Sports | badminton, basketball, cheerleading, football, sand volleyball, table tennis |
Student Activities
Activities And Organizations
University of Massachusetts Amherst offers choral groups, marching band, drama theatre, radio station, student newspaper, television station, national fraternities, national sororities, minutemen marching band, ski club, outing club, university programming council, student government association
Sororities
9% of women participate
Fraternities
9% of men participate
ROTC
Army ROTC offered on campus, Air Force ROTC offered on campus
Student Body
Co-educational
Yes
Number of Full-Time Undergraduates
21,577
Undergraduates
All Undergraduates
23,388
Women
11,653
Men
11,735
Ethnicity of Students from U.S.
- 0.1% American Indian/Alaskan Native
- 10.7% Asian
- 4.7% Black/African-American
- 6.8% Hispanic/Latino
- 3.0% Multi-race (not Hispanic/Latino)
- 0.1% Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander
- 68.5% White
- 6.2% Unknown
International Students
5.9% from 78 countries
Average Age
21
Number of Graduate Students
6,952
Student Resources (UMASS-Amherst)
Study resources
Popular Departments
- Psychology & Brain Sciences1,208 Documents
- Chemistry919 Documents
- Biology971 Documents
- Mathematics755 Documents
- Communication617 Documents
Popular Courses
- PSYCH 100 - Introductory PsychologyPsychology & Brain Sciences
- BIOLOGY 151 - Introductory Biology IBiology
- CHEM 112 - Gen Chem-SciChemistry
- MICROBIO 160 - Biology of Cancer and AIDSMicrobiology
- CHEM 111 - Gen Chem-SciChemistry
Popular Professors
- Wilmore WelbyMICROBIO 160
- Britta AgerCLASSICS 330
- Adam ZuckerENGLISH 221
- Mitchell WalkowiczMICROBIO 310
- Donald TomaskovSOCIOL 103