UMass Amherst Acceptance Rate: What You Need to Know

Are you thinking of applying to the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst), the flagship campus of the state university system? If so, you might be wondering what are your chances of getting accepted and what are the requirements to apply. In this article, we will provide you with all the information you need to know about the UMass Amherst acceptance rate, tuition, requirements, and scholarships. We will also give you some tips on how to improve your application and stand out from the crowd.

What is UMass Amherst?

UMass Amherst is a public research university located in Amherst, Massachusetts, about 90 miles from Boston and 175 miles from New York City. It was founded in 1863 as an agricultural college and became a university in 1947. It is the largest and most prestigious campus of the University of Massachusetts system, with more than 24,000 undergraduate students and 7,000 graduate students.

UMass Amherst offers more than 100 majors across 10 academic colleges, ranging from arts and humanities to engineering and natural sciences. It also has a unique program called the Bachelor’s Degree with Individual Concentration (BDIC), which allows students to design their own major based on their interests and goals. UMass Amherst is also part of the Five College Interchange, which allows students to take courses at four other nearby liberal arts colleges: Smith College, Mount Holyoke College, Amherst College, and Hampshire College.

UMass Amherst is known for its academic excellence, research innovation, and social impact. It is ranked #67 among national universities by U.S. News & World Report and #26 among public universities by Forbes. It is also ranked #36 among the world’s top universities by Times Higher Education and #51 by QS World University Rankings. Some of the notable alumni of UMass Amherst include Catherine Coleman, astronaut for NASA; Audie Cornish, host of NPR; and Hisao Kushi, co-founder of Peloton.

UMass Amherst Acceptance Rate

The UMass Amherst acceptance rate is about 65%, which means that out of every 100 applicants, about 65 are admitted. This makes UMass Amherst moderately selective but not too competitive. However, the acceptance rate may vary depending on the academic year, the applicant pool, and the admission criteria.

For example, in 2022, UMass Amherst received 45,399 first-year applications and admitted 5,571 students, resulting in an acceptance rate of 64%. Out of these admitted students, 3,662 were in-state, 1,426 were out-of-state, and 483 were international. The acceptance rate for transfer students was slightly lower at 58%, with 1,003 admitted out of 2,900 applicants.

The acceptance rate also differs by school and college within UMass Amherst. For instance, in 2020, the College of Engineering had an acceptance rate of 49%, while the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences had an acceptance rate of 71%. You can find more information about the admission data by school and college here: https://www.umass.edu

Requirements to Apply to UMass Amherst

To apply to UMass Amherst, you need to submit the following materials:

• The Common Application or Coalition Application
• The UMass Amherst Supplemental Essay
• The Application Fee ($80) or Fee Waiver
• The High School Transcript
• The SAT or ACT Scores (optional)
• The Letters of Recommendation (optional)
• The English Proficiency Test Scores (for international students)

The application deadline for regular decisions is January 15th. The application deadline for early action is November 5th. Early action is non-binding, which means that you can apply to other schools and decide where to enroll by May 1st.

The UMass Amherst supplemental essay is a short essay (100 words) that asks you to explain why you want to attend UMass Amherst. You should use this opportunity to show your interest in the school and how it matches your academic and personal goals.

The SAT or ACT scores are optional for UMass Amherst applicants. This means that you can choose whether to submit your test scores or not as part of your application materials. However, some majors may require test scores for admission or placement purposes. You can check the list of majors that require test scores here: https://www.umass.edu/

The letters of recommendation are also optional for UMass Amherst applicants. However, they can help you showcase your academic achievements, personal qualities, and extracurricular activities. You can submit up to two letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, coaches, or mentors who know you well and can speak positively about you.

The English proficiency test scores are required for international students whose native language is not English. You can submit the TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, or PTE Academic scores to demonstrate your English proficiency. The minimum scores required are:

• TOEFL: 80 (internet-based) or 550 (paper-based)
• IELTS: 6.5
• Duolingo: 105
• PTE Academic: 53

How Much Does it Cost to Attend UMass Amherst?

The cost of attendance for UMass Amherst depends on your residency status, your enrollment status, and your living arrangements. The following table shows the estimated cost of attendance for the 2021-2022 academic year for full-time undergraduate students:

Residency Status	Tuition and Fees	Room and Board	Books and Supplies	Personal Expenses	Transportation	Total
In-State	$16,952	$13,590	$1,000	$1,500	$1,000	$34,042
Out-of-State	$38,171	$13,590	$1,000	$1,500	$1,000	$55,261
International	$38,171	$13,590	$1,000	$1,500	$2,000	$56,261

The tuition and fees include the academic fees, the curriculum fee, the service fee, the health fee, and the health insurance fee. The room and board include the housing fee and the meal plan fee. The books and supplies include the cost of textbooks and other materials. The personal expenses include the cost of clothing, laundry, entertainment, and other miscellaneous items. The transportation includes the cost of travel to and from campus.

The cost of attendance may vary depending on your specific circumstances and choices. For example, if you live off-campus or with your parents, your room and board costs may be lower or higher than the average. If you enroll in less than 12 credits per semester or take summer courses, your tuition and fees may be different. You can use the UMass Amherst Net Price Calculator to estimate your actual cost of attendance based on your financial situation: https://www.umass.edu/umfa/net-price-calculator

Scholarships Available for UMass Amherst Students

UMass Amherst offers a variety of scholarships for incoming and continuing students based on merit, need, diversity, leadership, service, and other criteria. Some of the scholarships available are:

• The Chancellor’s Scholarship: This is a merit-based scholarship that covers full tuition and fees for four years for in-state students and partial tuition and fees for out-of-state students. It is awarded to students who have outstanding academic achievements and demonstrate leadership potential.
• The John W. Olver Scholarship: This is a merit-based scholarship that covers full tuition and fees for four years for in-state students who are majoring in engineering or natural sciences. It is awarded to students who have excellent academic records and show interest in research or innovation.
• The Flagship Scholarship: This is a merit-based scholarship that ranges from $2,000 to $14,000 per year for four years for out-of-state students. It is awarded to students who have high academic performance and contribute to the diversity of the campus community.
• The Dean’s Scholarship: This is a merit-based scholarship that ranges from $2,000 to $10,000 per year for four years for in-state or out-of-state students. It is awarded to students who have strong academic credentials and demonstrate leadership or service involvement.
• The UMass Amherst Alumni Association Scholarship: This is a need-based scholarship that ranges from $500 to $5,000 per year for four years for in-state or out-of-state students. It is awarded to students who have financial need and show academic promise.

Read Also: 10 Scholarships You Can Apply for Every Month

These are just some examples of the scholarships available for UMass Amherst students. You can find more information about the scholarships and how to apply here: https://www.umass.edu/umfa/scholarship

How to Improve Your Chances of Getting Accepted to UMass Amherst?

UMass Amherst is a selective but not too competitive school that admits about 65% of its applicants. However, this does not mean that you can relax and submit a mediocre application. You still need to show that you are a qualified and motivated candidate who can contribute to the academic and social environment of UMass Amherst. Here are some tips on how to improve your chances of getting accepted to UMass Amherst:

• Maintain a high GPA and take challenging courses: UMass Amherst looks for students who have strong academic records and who have taken rigorous courses in high school. The average GPA of admitted students is 3.9 on a 4.0 scale, and the middle 50% range of GPA is 3.8-4.3. You should aim to have a GPA that is above or within this range, and you should also take honors, AP, IB, or dual enrollment courses that demonstrate your academic potential and readiness for college-level work.
• Prepare for the SAT or ACT (optional): UMass Amherst is test optional, which means that you can choose whether to submit your SAT or ACT scores or not as part of your application materials. However, some majors may require test scores for admission or placement purposes, and some scholarships may also consider test scores as a factor. If you decide to submit your test scores, you should prepare well and aim to have scores that are above or within the middle 50% range of admitted students. The middle 50% range of SAT scores is 1280-1450, and the middle 50% range of ACT scores is 29-33.
• Write a compelling supplemental essay: The UMass Amherst supplemental essay is a short essay (100 words) that asks you to explain why you want to attend UMass Amherst. You should use this opportunity to show your interest in the school and how it matches your academic and personal goals. You should also mention specific programs, courses, faculty, research, clubs, or activities that appeal to you and how you plan to get involved in them. You should avoid generic or vague statements that could apply to any school, and instead, focus on what makes UMass Amherst unique and attractive to you.
• Get good letters of recommendation (optional): The letters of recommendation are also optional for UMass Amherst applicants, but they can help you showcase your academic achievements, personal qualities, and extracurricular activities. You can submit up to two letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, coaches, or mentors who know you well and can speak positively about you. You should ask them to highlight your strengths, skills, accomplishments, challenges, growth, and potential as a student and as a person. You should also give them enough time to write thoughtful and detailed letters and thank them for their support.
• Apply early: UMass Amherst offers two application options: regular decision and early action. Regular decision has a deadline of January 15th, while early action has a deadline of November 5th. Early action is non-binding, which means that you can apply to other schools and decide where to enroll by May 1st. Applying early can give you some advantages over applying regular decision, such as getting an earlier admission decision, having more time to apply for financial aid and scholarships, and demonstrating your interest and commitment to UMass Amherst.

Conclusion

UMass Amherst is a public research university that offers a variety of academic programs, research opportunities, and campus activities for its students. It has an acceptance rate of about 65%, which makes it moderately selective but not too competitive. To apply to UMass Amherst, you need to submit the Common Application or Coalition Application, the UMass Amherst Supplemental Essay, the Application Fee or Fee Waiver, the High School Transcript, the SAT or ACT Scores (optional), the Letters of Recommendation (optional), and the English Proficiency Test Scores (for international students).

The cost of attendance for UMass Amherst depends on your residency status, your enrollment status, and your living arrangements. UMass Amherst offers a variety of scholarships for incoming and continuing students based on merit, need, diversity, leadership, service, and other criteria.

If you are interested in applying to UMass Amherst, you should maintain a high GPA and take challenging courses, prepare for the SAT or ACT (optional), write a compelling supplemental essay, get good letters of recommendation (optional), and apply early. By following these tips, you can improve your chances of getting accepted to UMass Amherst and enjoy the benefits of studying at one of the top public universities in the world.

We hope this article has been helpful for you in learning more about the UMass Amherst acceptance rate and how to apply. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below.