UMass Amherst: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially University of Massachusetts-Amherst · Amherst, Massachusetts · Public · Moderately selective · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-optional
- Early Action
- 53,117
- Applicants
- 31,813
- Admitted60%
- 5,315
- Enrolled
- 17%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Moderately selective60% admittedRanked #59 (tie) in National Universities; Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #57 (tie), Business Programs #58 (tie), Computer Science #28 (tie), Nursing #36 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by University of Massachusetts-Amherst (see the source), read on 2026-09-20. The admission-factor grid was re-read from that file to confirm each weighting.
Is UMass Amherst a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places UMass Amherst against it in about a minute. No account needed.
UMass Amherst is a public university in Amherst, Massachusetts that admits about 60% of applicants, making it a moderately selective school. The average family pays about $22,383 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Psychology, General, Computer Science and Economics, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 81% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 3.5 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
UMass Amherst is a public institution located in Amherst, Massachusetts with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, UMass Amherst admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 60%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1410 and an ACT composite around 31. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $22,383 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for UMass Amherst?
60% of enrolled students at UMass Amherst had a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, and the average was 4.05, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
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What does UMass Amherst weight in admissions?
UMass Amherst reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
2- Rigor of secondary school record
- Academic GPA
Important
7- Class rank
- Application essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent/ability
- Character/personal qualities
- Work experience
Considered
3- Standardized test scores
- First generation status
- Volunteer work
Not Considered
6- Interview
- Alumni/ae relation
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores UMass Amherst typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 660–770, with an EBRW midpoint near 665. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 30–33. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.
| 25th percentile | 1330 |
| 50th percentile | 1410 |
| 75th percentile | 1480 |
| % submitting SAT | 24.9% |
| 25th percentile | 30 |
| 50th percentile | 32 |
| 75th percentile | 34 |
| % submitting ACT | 0.3% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Standardized tests optional for first-year applicants; applications reviewed with or without scores. Homeschoolers in an approved curriculum don't need scores.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on UMass Amherst's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 33.8% |
| Top 25% of class | 71.4% |
| Top 50% of class | 95% |
| % submitting class rank | 28.1% |
How much does UMass Amherst actually cost?
Published tuition is $17,772 for in-state students and $40,449 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $16,710 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $22,383 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 20% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $17,601 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $40,873 |
| Room and board | $16,726 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $22,383 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 86% |
| Average need-based grant | $18,559 |
| Average merit award, no financial need1,972 first-year students received one | $7,757 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 58% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $33,146 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $90 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for UMass Amherst
| Regular deadline | 1/15 |
| Notification date | Mid- to late-January |
| Reply deadline | 5/1 |
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
| EA deadline | November 5 |
Will my child graduate from UMass Amherst?
These predict outcomes at UMass Amherst better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at UMass Amherst
The most popular undergraduate programs at UMass Amherst, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Psychology, General, Computer Science and Economics. Across all programs, UMass Amherst confers roughly 2,812 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Psychology, General program report a median income of about $62,236 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology, General | 547 | $62,236 |
| Computer Science | 391 | $132,046 |
| Economics | 353 | $91,255 |
| Biology, General | 317 | $68,103 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 316 | $57,091 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 305 | $74,087 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 294 | $91,248 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 289 | $98,716 |
Is UMass Amherst safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), UMass Amherst disclosed 83 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 3.5 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 5 violent offenses and 27 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at UMass Amherst?
About 58% of undergraduates at UMass Amherst live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 8% of men join a fraternity and 7% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in Massachusetts parents ask about
Next steps for UMass Amherst
Common questions parents ask about UMass Amherst
What GPA do I need for UMass Amherst?
60% of enrolled students at UMass Amherst had a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, and the average was 4.05, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does UMass Amherst typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 660–770, with an EBRW midpoint near 665. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 30–33.
How much does UMass Amherst actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at UMass Amherst after grants and scholarships is $22,383 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $17,772 and $40,449 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is UMass Amherst realistic for my child?
UMass Amherst admits 60% of applicants, so 660–770 SAT Math is target range and below 660 is a reach. Then check the $22,383 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at UMass Amherst?
UMass Amherst accepts about 60% of applicants out of roughly 53,117 who apply each year. That makes it a moderately selective school.
Is UMass Amherst test-optional?
Yes. UMass Amherst is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at UMass Amherst?
About 81% of students at UMass Amherst graduate within six years, and 73% finish in four years. 92% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does UMass Amherst look for in applicants?
UMass Amherst rates course rigor and GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is UMass Amherst a public or private school, and where is it located?
UMass Amherst is a public institution located in Amherst, Massachusetts.
What are the most popular majors at UMass Amherst?
The largest undergraduate majors at UMass Amherst by annual graduates are Psychology, General, Computer Science and Economics. The school awards about 2,812 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is UMass Amherst safe? What is its campus crime rate?
UMass Amherst reported 83 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 3.5 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at UMass Amherst?
At UMass Amherst, 58% of undergraduates live on campus, 8% of men are in fraternities, 7% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by University of Massachusetts-Amherst, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers