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University of Massachusetts-Boston
Most applicants get into University of Massachusetts-Boston — 83.8% were admitted — so the real questions are cost, fit and outcomes, covered below.
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University of Massachusetts-Boston sits in Boston proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. International students are a visible presence here — 6.7% of undergraduates come from outside the U.S.
Its highest-earning path is Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering, where graduates median $100,902 four years out. Faculty pay averages $152,688 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. Most of its 11,512 undergraduates commute — campus empties by evening — yet 70.4% of first-years return, which says something about what daytime here is worth.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1080 and 1290 — below the MA middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on University of Massachusetts-Boston's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
University of Massachusetts-Boston is test-optional: scores are considered when submitted but not required. The 1080–1290 range below describes admitted students who chose to submit — typically University of Massachusetts-Boston's stronger testers — so treat it as the higher end of what gets in.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 540 | 590 | 650 |
| SAT Math | 540 | 590 | 640 |
| ACT Composite | 24 | 27 | 30 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, University of Massachusetts-Boston received 20,918 applications and admitted 17,353 (83%), with 2,463 enrolling.
How University of Massachusetts-Boston compares
| University of Massachusetts-Boston | Massachusetts median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 83.8% | 70.7% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $15,908 | $46,700 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $65,865 | $62,832 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median University of Massachusetts-Boston student earns $65,865 — 5% above the Massachusetts median of $62,832 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
As a public university, University of Massachusetts-Boston prices by residency: $15,908 in-state versus $38,125 out-of-state — a $22,217 gap that makes state lines part of the decision.
University of Massachusetts-Boston enrolls 11,512 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs University of Massachusetts-Boston's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
49.4% graduate within six years. Roughly 51% don't — ask a University of Massachusetts-Boston tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at University of Massachusetts-Boston
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $100,902 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $95,648 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $85,296 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $83,405 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $72,746 |
| Economics | $70,552 |
| Biology, General | $65,815 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $64,665 |
| Political Science and Government | $63,131 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $62,222 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $61,382 |
| Community Organization and Advocacy | $60,440 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $60,411 |
| Sociology | $58,394 |
| History | $57,992 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $56,460 |
| Philosophy | $54,868 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $53,509 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $53,347 |
| Psychology, General | $52,200 |
| Social Work | $51,034 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $49,722 |
| Anthropology | $43,053 |
Median earnings for these 23 University of Massachusetts-Boston programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $65,865 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 20 additional University of Massachusetts-Boston programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for University of Massachusetts-Boston?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1080–1290 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 83.8% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is University of Massachusetts-Boston's acceptance rate?
83% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 17,353 admitted from 20,918 applicants.
How much does University of Massachusetts-Boston cost?
In-state tuition is $15,908; out-of-state students pay $38,125. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do University of Massachusetts-Boston graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $65,865 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Massachusetts
- Massachusetts College of Art and Design — 76.3% admitted
- University of Massachusetts-Lowell — 83% admitted
- Merrimack College — 70% admitted
- Lasell University — 81.2% 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.