University of Massachusetts Amherst
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is the flagship campus of the UMass system, a public land-grant research university set in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts and home to the W.E.B. Du Bois Library, one of the tallest academic libraries in the world. It enrolls about 24,000 undergraduates and admits roughly 60% of some 53,000 applicants, with enrolled first-years posting an average high school GPA near 4.05 and middle-50% SAT scores of 1330–1480. Business and marketing is the most popular field at about 17% of bachelor's degrees, followed by the life and social sciences, and UMass Amherst pairs a 92% first-year retention rate with relatively low in-state tuition as a flagship public value.
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UMass Amherst admissions statistics
Acceptance Rate
Overall acceptance rate, plus the in-state and out-of-state admit rates the school reports separately.
Admit rate by residency
% admitted~1.1× higher admit rate for out-of-state applicants.
Early Action
UMass Amherst offers non-binding Early Action — an earlier decision with no commitment to enroll.
Standardized Tests
UMass Amherst is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Class Rank
Where UMass Amherst's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 28.1% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. UMass Amherst does not publish an average GPA.
Admissions Factors
How UMass Amherst weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from UMass Amherst's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.
Out-of-state students pay $23,272 more — entirely in tuition. Room, board, and other costs are identical regardless of residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
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Frequently asked questions about UMass Amherst admissions
Is it hard to get into UMass Amherst?＋
UMass Amherst is moderately selective, admitting about 59.9% of applicants in the most recent cycle from a pool of roughly 53,000, with around 5,300 first-years enrolling. The bar is higher than the overall rate suggests for non-residents and for selective majors and the Commonwealth Honors College, since only about 27% of students come from outside Massachusetts and the rigor of your course load and GPA are weighed as very important factors.
What GPA do you need to get into UMass Amherst?＋
Admitted first-years at UMass Amherst report an average high school GPA of about 4.05. There is no fixed cutoff, but academic GPA and the rigor of your high school record are both rated very important in admissions, so a strong transcript in challenging courses matters more than hitting any single number.
Is a 1400 SAT good enough for UMass Amherst?＋
A 1400 is competitive at UMass Amherst, landing right in the middle 50% of enrolled first-years, who scored between 1330 and 1480 on the SAT (30–34 ACT). Because UMass is test-optional, a score in that band can strengthen your application but is not required to apply.
Does UMass Amherst require the SAT or ACT?＋
No, UMass Amherst is test-optional and reviews applications with or without scores; standardized test scores are only a considered factor, not a very important one. If you do submit, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1330–1480 on the SAT and 30–34 on the ACT, with about 57% of SAT submitters scoring 1400 or higher.
What are my chances of getting into UMass Amherst from out of state?＋
Out-of-state applicants are admitted at a slightly higher rate than Massachusetts residents — 61.4% vs. 57.8% in the most recent cycle. UMass Amherst lists both state residency and geographical residence as not considered in its review, so non-residents are evaluated on the same academic and personal factors as in-state applicants. The small gap likely reflects self-selection among the larger out-of-state pool rather than any preference.
How much does UMass Amherst cost in-state vs. out-of-state?＋
Annual tuition and required fees are about $18,987 for Massachusetts residents and $42,259 for out-of-state students, with on-campus housing and food adding roughly $16,726. About 42% of first-years receive need-based grant aid, the average need-based package is near $24,457, and UMass meets roughly 86% of demonstrated need on average.
What are the most popular majors at UMass Amherst?＋
Business and marketing is the largest field at about 17% of bachelor's degrees, followed by the biological and life sciences and the social sciences at roughly 10% each. Psychology (8%), computer and information sciences (8%), and engineering (7%) round out the most-conferred programs at this land-grant flagship.
Does the application essay matter at UMass Amherst?＋
Yes. UMass Amherst rates the application essay as an important factor in its holistic review, alongside recommendations, extracurriculars, and class rank, and ahead of standardized test scores, which are only considered. With character and personal qualities also weighed as very important, a specific, well-revised essay is one of the clearest ways to stand out beyond your GPA and course rigor.
Source: University of Massachusetts Amherst Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-08. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with UMass Amherst. Banner photo by Eraboin, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.5).