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University of Massachusetts-Amherst
University of Massachusetts-Amherst admits a bit under 60% of applicants; strong grades put you in the conversation at University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and the data below says what "strong" means.
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University of Massachusetts-Amherst sits in Amherst proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. It carries a land-grant charter — the 1862 mandate that ties it to agricultural and practical education.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Science, where graduates median $123,519 four years out. 19.9% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 23,671 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 91.9% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1300 and 1480 — above the MA middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on University of Massachusetts-Amherst's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, University of Massachusetts-Amherst received 50,424 applications and admitted 29,129 (57.8%), with 5,286 enrolling.
University of Massachusetts-Amherst is test-optional: scores are considered when submitted but not required. The 1300–1480 range below describes admitted students who chose to submit — typically University of Massachusetts-Amherst's stronger testers — so treat it as the higher end of what gets in.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 650 | 690 | 720 |
| SAT Math | 650 | 700 | 760 |
| ACT Composite | 29 | 31 | 33 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How University of Massachusetts-Amherst compares
| University of Massachusetts-Amherst | Massachusetts median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 59.7% | 70.7% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $17,772 | $46,700 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $71,631 | $62,832 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors University of Massachusetts-Amherst: $71,631 median at year ten, versus $62,832 across Massachusetts institutions.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $17,772 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $40,449. For non-residents, University of Massachusetts-Amherst's $40,449 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
University of Massachusetts-Amherst is a big school: 23,671 undergraduates at last count.
83.3% of University of Massachusetts-Amherst students finish a bachelor's within six years — 28.4 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $17,772 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at University of Massachusetts-Amherst
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Science | $123,519 |
| Computer Engineering | $113,083 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $101,091 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $100,516 |
| Chemical Engineering | $97,990 |
| Industrial Engineering | $97,791 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $96,999 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $96,995 |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | $93,156 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $92,623 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $90,309 |
| Civil Engineering | $88,076 |
| Marketing | $86,299 |
| Mathematics | $83,338 |
| Economics | $80,434 |
| Chemistry | $78,373 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $77,853 |
| Food Science and Technology | $77,771 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $74,422 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $73,242 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $73,238 |
| Biology, General | $72,726 |
| Physics | $72,596 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $70,916 |
| Non-Professional Legal Studies | $69,269 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $66,642 |
| Landscape Architecture | $64,477 |
| Public Health | $63,854 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $63,620 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $63,383 |
| Nutrition Sciences | $63,019 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $60,891 |
| Political Science and Government | $60,726 |
| Animal Sciences | $59,543 |
| Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | $59,298 |
| Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory Programs | $57,461 |
| Sociology | $56,960 |
| History | $56,597 |
| Environmental Design | $55,571 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $54,215 |
| Journalism | $52,011 |
| Plant Sciences | $51,912 |
| Psychology, General | $51,274 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $48,475 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $46,027 |
| Agricultural Production Operations | $42,520 |
| Anthropology | $31,186 |
Median earnings for these 47 University of Massachusetts-Amherst programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $71,631 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 26 additional University of Massachusetts-Amherst programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for University of Massachusetts-Amherst?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1300–1480 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 59.7% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is University of Massachusetts-Amherst's acceptance rate?
57.8% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 29,129 admitted from 50,424 applicants.
How much does University of Massachusetts-Amherst cost?
In-state tuition is $17,772; out-of-state students pay $40,449. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do University of Massachusetts-Amherst graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $71,631 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Massachusetts
- Mount Holyoke College — 36% admitted
- The New England Conservatory of Music — 41.1% admitted
- Emerson College — 51.3% admitted
- Clark University — 39.5% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.