University of Massachusetts-Boston: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Amherst, Massachusetts · Public · Moderately selective
University of Massachusetts-Boston is a public institution located in Amherst, Massachusetts with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, University of Massachusetts-Boston admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 58%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1393 and an ACT composite around 31. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $23,691 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price. For parents weighing whether University of Massachusetts-Boston is realistic for their teenager, the most useful planning step is comparing your child's current GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against these admitted-student ranges — not the headline acceptance rate alone.
What GPA does my child need for University of Massachusetts-Boston?
University of Massachusetts-Boston admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum. Parents tracking their child's GPA toward this tier of school can use Solyo's free calculator to see weighted, unweighted, and college-recalculated numbers side by side.
SAT and ACT scores University of Massachusetts-Boston typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 650–760, with an EBRW midpoint near 665. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 29–33. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.
How much does University of Massachusetts-Boston actually cost?
Published tuition is $17,357 for in-state students and $39,293 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $14,869 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $23,691 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 20% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful indicator of how much need-based aid the school distributes.
Other colleges in Massachusetts parents ask about
- Harvard University3% acceptance
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology5% acceptance
- Boston University11% acceptance
- Boston College16% acceptance
- Tufts University10% acceptance
- University of Massachusetts-Amherst85% acceptance
- Northeastern University6% acceptance
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute59% acceptance
How parents track GPA toward selective schools like University of Massachusetts-Boston
Solyo helps parents track grades pulled directly from school emails, calculate GPA the same way colleges like University of Massachusetts-Boston recalculate it, and ask an AI college counselor specific questions about their teen's odds. The platform is built for parents — not students — and turns what's usually a fragmented planning process into a single dashboard.
Common questions parents ask about University of Massachusetts-Boston
What GPA do I need for University of Massachusetts-Boston?
University of Massachusetts-Boston admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum.
What SAT or ACT score does University of Massachusetts-Boston typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 650–760, with an EBRW midpoint near 665. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 29–33.
How much does University of Massachusetts-Boston actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University of Massachusetts-Boston after grants and scholarships is $23,691 per year. That figure is more useful for budgeting than the published sticker price, because it reflects what families actually pay after aid is applied.
Is University of Massachusetts-Boston realistic for my child?
Compare your teen's current unweighted GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against the ranges above. If both numbers fall inside the school's middle-50, University of Massachusetts-Boston is a target school. If both fall below the 25th-percentile mark, treat it as a reach and balance the application list accordingly.