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Summary
University of Massachusetts--Amherst is a public institution that was founded in 1863. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 21,812, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 1,463 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of Massachusetts--Amherst's ranking in the 2013 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 97. Its in-state tuition and fees are $13,230 (2012-13); out-of-state tuition and fees are $26,645 (2012-13).
The University of Massachusetts—Amherst is the central location for the state school system. The university is large, but through the Five College Interchange, students can take courses at smaller liberal arts colleges nearby: Smith College, Mount Holyoke College, Amherst College, and Hampshire College. Students have close to 90 majors to choose from, including an option to design a major, known as BDIC: the Bachelor’s Degree with Individual Concentration. Adult students can complete a degree through a combination of online and on-campus coursework via the UMass Amherst University Without Walls (UWW).
All freshmen must live on campus, and family housing, including one- and two-bedroom apartments, is also available to students who are married or who have legal custody of a dependent child. There are more than 200 student organizations to check out, as well as outdoor activities in and around the college’s town, Amherst. For road trips from campus, Boston is 90 miles away, while New York City is a 175-mile drive. Notable alumni of the University of Massachusetts—Amherst include Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric; Jeff Talyor, founder of Monster.com; and Jeff Corwin, an Animal Planet personality.
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The University of Massachusetts Amherst combines the academic resources of a nationally ranked research university with the support and individualized attention usually reserved for a small college. Students come from every state and over 100 countries, making this New England campus a national and international center for intellectual and cultural activity. With over 85 majors, UMass Amherst offers its students a wide array of academic disciplines and nationally known programs of study, including the Bachelor's Degree with Individual Concentration (BDIC), which allows students to create their own major. The outstanding full-time faculty of over 1,100 are the best in their fields and they take teaching seriously. Students complement their classroom work with internships, co-ops and research, working side-by-side their faculty. Students take what they learn in the classroom, and apply it in the studio, the lab, the concert hall and the field. With this intersection of learning and doing, students find their intellectual voice and independence. Commonwealth Honors College, the honors program, welcomes students who seek additional academic challenge and meet the requirements for acceptance. The extensive library system is the largest at any public institution in the Northeast, and offers students a state-of-the-art learning environment through the Learning Commons, a place that fosters academic collaboration and social interaction. Through the Five College Interchange, students enroll in classes at nearby Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, and Smith Colleges at no extra charge. A fare-free bus system connects these five campuses, allowing students to participate in a wide array of social and cultural events. UMass Amherst first-year students participate in the Residential First Year Experience, choosing a living option based on themes and shared interests. Living and learning together, students take field trips, organize events and interact with faculty and staff. Other opportunities for personal development are found through the Center for Student Development, which brings together more than 200 clubs and organizations; groups include community service organizations, student government, ethnic and cultural groups, religious and spiritual organizations, fraternity and sororities, student run businesses, media related groups, groups that grow from academic interests, and groups dedicated to athletics and recreation, socializing, arts and entertainment, and politics. The campus is experiencing a construction boom, including new classrooms, labs and the Commonwealth Honors College Residential Complex. UMass Amherst competes in NCAA Division I Intercollegiate Athletics. Students attend every home game free in regular season, and wear their Minutemen and Minutewomen maroon proudly. Any student who enjoys athletic competition can participate in an extensive intramural sports program which supports the athletic interests of 5,000 students. The new Recreation Center boasts 2 floors of weights and fitness areas, a 3 court gymnasium, jogging track and juice bar. Just off campus, the picturesque Town of Amherst offers scores of shops and restaurants from Mexican or Thai, to pizza, burgers and Indian. Appearing on the top ten lists for college towns, Amherst has a truly unusual combination of New England charm and international sophistication. Boston is less than two hours away, and New York City just three hours south. For outdoor enthusiasts, the mountains of Vermont are less than an hour away and offer skiing and hiking. Maybe you can't have it all, but the University of Massachusetts Amherst certainly comes close. Please see http://www.umass.edu/admissions |
General Information
| School type | public, coed college |
| Year founded | 1863 |
| Religious affiliation | N/A |
| Academic calendar | semester |
| Setting | suburban |
| 2011 Endowment | $210,101,489 |
Applying
When applying to University of Massachusetts--Amherst, it's important to note the application deadline is January 15, and the early action deadline is November 1. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due January 15. The application fee at University of Massachusetts--Amherst is $70. It is more selective, with an acceptance rate of 65.6 percent and an early acceptance rate of 75.9 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
| Selectivity | more selective |
| Fall 2011 acceptance rate | 65.6% |
| Application deadline | January 15 |
| SAT/ACT scores must be received by | January 15 |
Academic Life
The student-faculty ratio at University of Massachusetts--Amherst is 18:1, and the school has 41.8 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at University of Massachusetts--Amherst include: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Social Sciences; Psychology; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; and Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 87.8 percent.
Student Life
University of Massachusetts--Amherst has a total undergraduate enrollment of 21,812, with a gender distribution of 50.5 percent male students and 49.5 percent female students. At this school, 61.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 39.0 percent of students live off campus. University of Massachusetts--Amherst is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.
See what students are saying about life at University of Massachusetts--Amherst.
| Total enrollment | 28,084 |
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| Collegiate athletic association | NCAA I |
Campus Info & Services
University of Massachusetts--Amherst offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, women's center, placement service, day care, health service, and health insurance. University of Massachusetts--Amherst also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Of the students at University of Massachusetts--Amherst, 20 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at University of Massachusetts--Amherst.
| Students who have cars on campus | 20% |
| Health insurance offered | Yes |
| Students required to own/lease a computer | No |
More About Campus Info & Services
Paying for School
At University of Massachusetts--Amherst, 60.3 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $9,378.
Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.
| In-state tuition and fees | $13,230 (2012-13) |
| Out-of-state tuition and fees | $26,645 (2012-13) |
| Room and board | $9,937 (2012-13) |
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* Overview details based on 2011 data
