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The University of Massachusetts – Amherst is a state-run institution whose campus is home to 30,000 students, including nearly 25,000 undergraduates. Since it's located between two of America's largest cities, students have ample opportunity to not only study but to engage with the finest cultural, governmental, and business institutions available. In fact, it's approximately a three-hour drive to New York and only two hours to Boston. In the meantime, students can study in the peaceful quiet of bucolic Amherst.


Overview of University of Massachusetts - Amherst


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.

General Information


School Type Public
Campus Setting Suburb: Large
Campus Housing Yes
Student Faculty Ratio 17:1
Graduation Rate 82%
Year Founded 1863

Student Enrollment


Total Students31,350

Undergraduate
24,209
Graduate
7,141

Undergraduate Student

Male 12,105
12,105
Female 12,104
12,104

Graduate Student

Male 3,571
3,571
Female 3,570
3,570

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Admissions


APPLICATIONS42,157

Male 20,091
Female 22,066

ACCEPTANCE26,980

Male 12,456
Female 14,564

Acceptance Rate64%

Male 62%
Female 66%

Enrollment 5,666

Male 2,809
Female 2,857
Admissions
Application Fee $80
High School GPA Required
High School Rank Recommended
High School Transcripts Required
College Prep Courses Required
Recommendations Required
Formal demonstration of competencies Recommended
SAT/ACT Required
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) Required
Application Deadline January 15
Common Application Accepted Yes

Tuition Cost & Financial Aid


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.

Average net price 2018-2019
Net Price $22,927
Average Total Aid $9,517
Students Receiving Financial Aid 90%
Room & Board $13,004

Sticker Price


  • Tuition In-State - $16,389
  • Tuition Out-of-State - $35,710
  • Books and Supplies - $1,000
  • Room & Board - $13,004
  • Other - $1,400

Academics


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


Student Population 31,350

Undergraduate
24,209
Graduate
7,141
Evening Classes : Yes
Online Learning : Yes

Most Popular Programs & Majors

(# of Diplomas Awarded by Subject)


All Business Majors 996 Total Graduates / 16%
Finance, General 254 Graduates
Accounting 192 Graduates
Hospitality Administration/Management, General 155 Graduates
Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management 155 Graduates
All Biological & Biomedical Majors 706 Total Graduates / 11%
Biology/Biological Sciences, General 307 Graduates
Exercise Physiology 179 Graduates
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 158 Graduates
Microbiology, General 6 Graduates
All Social Sciences Majors 664 Total Graduates / 10%
Economics, General 221 Graduates
Political Science and Government, General 148 Graduates
Econometrics and Quantitative Economics 145 Graduates
Sociology 93 Graduates
Health Professions and Related Programs 612 Total Graduates / 10%
Public Health, General 264 Graduates
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 183 Graduates
Communication Sciences and Disorders, General 67 Graduates
Pre-Veterinary Studies 57 Graduates
All Engineering Majors 484 Total Graduates / 8%
Mechanical Engineering 190 Graduates
Chemical Engineering 95 Graduates
Civil Engineering, General 86 Graduates
Computer Engineering, General 52 Graduates
All Other Diplomas 46%

Outcome & Salary


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).

Graduates Salary
College Grads Early Career Salary $57,400
College Grads Average Salary $71,939
College Grads Mid Career Salary $103,000
Return on Investment (ROI)
10 Year Salary Earnings Potential $719,390
20 Year Salary Earnings Potential $1,749,390
Cost of Education (Net Price) 4 Year $91,708
10 Year Projected ROI $627,682
20 Year Projected ROI $1,657,682
No College Education Salary Comparison
National Average Salary $38,792
10 Year Projected Income $387,920
20 Year Projected Income $775,840

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