University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Overview of University of Massachusetts - Amherst

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While at U Mass-Amherst, undergraduate students can engage with fields that will inform the rest of their lives. The university supports 109 bachelor's degrees and five at the associate degree level. Degrees are offered in colleges that specialize in fields such as management, public health and health sciences, agriculture, natural sciences, engineering, and humanities, among other schools. However, there is more to a U Mass-Amherst education than academics.

In fact, students can find innumerable opportunities to enrich their minds and bodies when not immersed in their studies. Campus organizations include Greek organizations, student government, and intramural sports leagues, to name a few broad categories. For those seeking a less-formal way to both unwind and recharge, the campus Rec Center offers students opportunities for strength training, cardio exercise, aquatics, and informal pick-up games of basketball, squash, or racquetball, among many other activities.

Top Rankings For University of Massachusetts - Amherst

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Admissions

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Tuition Cost & Financial Aid

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Educational costs are a hot topic at the nation's dinner tables. Students and their families need to project the cost of education so that the can budget accordingly. Since U Mass-Amherst is a publicly funded institution, the taxpaying households of Massachusetts face a lower gross price point than visitors from elsewhere in New England or the nation. In fact, a Massachusetts household only pays around $17,000 in tuition, books, supplies, and fees. Out-of-state students have a stiffer bill of $37,000. When room, board, and living expenses are added to the tally, Massachusetts residents have an annual bill of $30,000. Meanwhile, non-residents have a total gross cost of $50,000. This is all before one factors in financial aid.

The U Mass-Amherst financial aid office is able to put together grant and scholarship packages that bring the average net price down to a mere $23,000. At the lower end of the income spectrum, households pay only $13,000. Meanwhile, the top income bracket's net price is an average of $29,000. Relative to New England's famed liberal arts colleges, U Mass-Amherst presents a fantastic academic value.

Sticker Price

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Academics

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New England colleges and universities enjoy a terrific reputation for their academics and overall educational excellence. U Mass Amherst is no exception and their educational statistics, including their retention and graduation rates, provide the ample objective measures that supports their reputation. In fact, the university reports a retention rate that is matched by few institutions nationwide. That rate is a whopping 91% for U Mass-Amherst's first-time, full-time students. Such a high retention indicates that their students and their families are pleased with the professors, curriculum, and campus resources that U Mass-Amherst provides.

This evaluation seems to hold for U Mass-Amherst students, the majority of whom tend to stick around for graduation. In fact, of a first-year cohort, 82% can be expected to receive a diploma within six years and 74% matriculate in four. Additionally, 13% of students transfer out to complete their degrees elsewhere, indicating that their academic foundation is strong and respected by their next school.

These stellar numbers are due to many factors, but one chief statistic stands out and that is the student-to-faculty ratio. This number gives students an indication of their expected class size. At U Mass-Amherst, the ratio is 17 to 1. While first- and second-year students may see larger class sizes in their introductory courses, by the time they settle into their major field their classes should become quite intimate, personalized, and more memorable.

Student Population Total

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Outcome & Salary

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When it comes to outcomes, U Mass-Amherst shows that its academics are recognized by a variety of employers. Of the top-ten earning major degrees from U Mass-Amherst, computer science leads the pack. These tech-savvy graduates report a median income of $75,400. Close behind are the computer engineers whose median starting salary is $75,100, before bonus and benefits. At the lower end of the top earning majors are the business administration graduates who report median earnings of $53,000. Others in the top-ten are the registered nursing students ($65,000), accounting majors ($60,000), and the civil engineering majors ($59,000).

Photos & Videos

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