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Last updated: May 31, 2026

University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst, UMass)

United States · Amherst

University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst, UMass)

United States
Country
Amherst
City
32045
Total Students
Status
About the University

University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst, UMass) overview

The University of Massachusetts Amherst — or UMass Amherst, as students, alumni, and faculty more commonly call it — is a research-oriented public university. It was founded in 1863 in Amherst, Massachusetts, on the northeastern coast of the United States.

The university began in 1863 as the Massachusetts Agricultural College. It is the flagship institution of the University of Massachusetts system, and also its oldest and largest campus.

It carried the name Massachusetts Agricultural College from 1863 to 1931, then Massachusetts State College from 1931 to 1947. Across those years it grew rapidly, first in student population and then in the scope of its physical infrastructure. In 1947 it was elevated to university status.

Over the years, UMass Amherst's alumni and faculty members have been recognized with 4 Nobel Prizes and 3 Pulitzer Prizes. They have also received 4 Grammy Awards, 2 Emmy Awards, and 2 Academy Awards. That record places the university among the most accomplished public universities in the United States. The campus covers 586 hectares in Amherst and provides higher education opportunities to more than 30,000 students.

About the University

About University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst, UMass)

The University of Massachusetts Amherst — or UMass Amherst, as students, alumni, and faculty more commonly call it — is a research-oriented public university. It was founded in 1863 in Amherst, Massachusetts, on the northeastern coast of the United States.

The university began in 1863 as the Massachusetts Agricultural College. It is the flagship institution of the University of Massachusetts system, and also its oldest and largest campus.

It carried the name Massachusetts Agricultural College from 1863 to 1931, then Massachusetts State College from 1931 to 1947. Across those years it grew rapidly, first in student population and then in the scope of its physical infrastructure. In 1947 it was elevated to university status.

Over the years, UMass Amherst's alumni and faculty members have been recognized with 4 Nobel Prizes and 3 Pulitzer Prizes. They have also received 4 Grammy Awards, 2 Emmy Awards, and 2 Academy Awards. That record places the university among the most accomplished public universities in the United States. The campus covers 586 hectares in Amherst and provides higher education opportunities to more than 30,000 students.

City
Amherst
Country
United States
Number of Students
32045
#141
Times Universities
#253
QS World
#67
National Ranking
#151
Shanghai List
72%
Placement Rate
Faculties & Programs

University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst, UMass) faculties and programs

80 results listed

Environmental Engineering

Undergraduate4 Years#150 Ranking
$42,269per year

Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences

Undergraduate4 Years#99 Ranking
$42,269per year

Applied Plant and Soil Sciences

Undergraduate4 Years#301 Ranking
$42,269per year

Accounting

Undergraduate4 Years#61 Ranking
$42,269per year

Afro-American Studies

Undergraduate4 Years#92 Ranking
$42,269per year

Animal Science

Undergraduate4 Years#203 Ranking
$42,269per year

Anthropology

Undergraduate4 Years#141 Ranking
$42,269per year

Architecture

Undergraduate4 Years#77 Ranking
$42,269per year

Studio Art

Undergraduate4 Years#92 Ranking
$42,269per year

Art Education

Undergraduate4 Years#151 Ranking
$42,269per year
Scholarship Opportunities

University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst, UMass) scholarships and financial aid

For international students, UMass Amherst offers merit-based scholarships only, and the admission standards for these are quite high. That said, various organizations and institutions also provide scholarship opportunities to UMass Amherst students. If you would like more detailed information about these programs, you can use the scholarship search tool below.

Scholarship Programs

University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst, UMass) Exam Requirements

Submitting at least one of the exams below with the required score is a prerequisite for application. The score threshold may vary by program.

ACT
30
Min. score
GRE
320
Min. score
Diploma Note
85
Min. score
SAT
1295
Min. score
GMAT
690
Min. score
IELTS
6.5
Min. score
TOEFL
80
Min. score
University GPA
3
Min. score
Duolingo
105
Min. score
Application Process

How to get into University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst, UMass)

To help students entering university build their English, UMass Amherst runs a preparatory program called the Intensive English Program.

If you are an international student applying to an undergraduate program at UMass Amherst, you must also meet the admission requirements below.

  • Completion of 12 Years of Basic Education
  • 4-Year High School Diploma
  • Strong GPA
  • SAT or ACT Test Score
  • Personal Statement & Essay
  • English Language Proficiency Certificate
    • An English proficiency certificate you earn through the IELTS or TOEFL iBT exams
  • Official transcripts showing the courses you took and the grades you received throughout undergraduate study

Qualifications from programs such as GCE A-Level, International Baccalaureate, or Advanced Placement are not sufficient on their own for direct admission; however, if you are enrolled in one of these programs, you may request course credit for the relevant courses you have completed.

If you are an international student applying to a postgraduate program at UMass Amherst, you must meet the admission requirements below.

  • 4-Year Bachelor's Degree
  • Strong GPA
  • Official transcripts showing the courses you took and the grades you received throughout undergraduate study
  • Relevant Work Experience
  • English Language Proficiency Certificate
    • An English proficiency certificate you earn through the IELTS or TOEFL iBT exams
  • GRE/GMAT scores may be required, depending on the admission requirements of the program.

Click here for more information

Campus

Take a closer look at University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst, UMass)

UMass Amherst sits on 586 hectares of land. Most of it lies within the town of Amherst, and a smaller portion extends into the neighboring town of Hadley. The campus reaches about 2 kilometers in every direction from its center. Academic buildings and research laboratories fill the innermost ring, and university-owned apartment complexes and student residence halls surround them. Further out, the next rings hold the university's athletic facilities and smaller administrative buildings. One of the buildings housing the university library stands 90 meters tall across 26 stories.

That makes it one of the tallest academic research libraries in the world. UMass Amherst is also home to more than 14,000 students across 52 residence hall buildings on campus.

Campus Life

The campus holds numerous venues for both performing and visual arts, and many theatre, music, and dance performances take place through the year. The best known of them, the Fine Arts Center (FAC), houses the university's contemporary arts museum. It hosts visual art exhibitions and workshops year-round. More than 200 student clubs and societies cover virtually every interest, and the student union often organizes events that bring students together. In Amherst, the must-visit destinations include the Emily Dickinson Museum and the Amherst College Museum of Natural History.

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art and the Mead Art Museum are also on that list. So are Mount Holyoke Range State Park, Puffer's Pond, and the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail.

Student Profile
  • Russell Hulse
  • Herbert Bix
  • Paul Harding
  • Natasha Trethewey
  • Julius Erving
  • Richard Gere
  • Makaziwe Mandela
  • Bridget Moynahan
  • Serena Williams

University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst, UMass) Location

Amherst, United States

University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst, UMass) Contact

University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst, UMass) Social Media

Follow the university on its official social media channels:

How to Get Into University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst, UMass)

01

In your first meeting with a Dream Uni advisor, your academic background, goals, and expectations are analyzed in detail.

02

By assessing your English level and academic grades, your eligibility for the universities and colleges Dream Uni partners with is determined.

03

The application process is managed meticulously by our professional team, and your acceptance letter is delivered to you.

Why University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst, UMass)?

Located in Amherst, United States, University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst, UMass) is known for its academic excellence, distinguished faculty, and remarkably rich history.

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