Amherst, Massachusetts
Public
Admissions Policies
Deposit & decision deadline (class of 2024)
May 1
Test-optional admissions ('20-'21)
Yes
Student Success Initiative is a a division of the Office of the Provost (academic affairs) and Student Affairs and Campus Life. and supports student learning and developing. There are financial resources available on this website to help students navigate their academic and personal journey.
The Financial Aid page provides a net price calculator to help students estimate the cost of attendance for UMass Amherst. The University also offers a comprehensive page called UMass Financial Aid TV. Here you will find videos on nearly any financial aid topic you can imagine. There are several that tie into budgeting and financial planning. Ultimately, this page can likely answer almost any questions you have about financial aid in short videos and an easy-to-navigate page.
The UMass Amherst Student Job board can help students search for jobs to bring in some extra income. Students can search on or off-campus for jobs and this also includes non-work study jobs that are available. This page links to graduate student assistantship opportunities, as well. Students also have the opportunity to compete for The Gerald F. Scanlon Student Employee of the Year Award and recognizes students for work ethic involving things like having regular attendance, being highly dependable, demonstrating high quality of tasks, and the ability to work well with other students. In order to be considered, a department supervisor where students are employed must nominate you.
Smart About Money is a student-led organization on-campus offers a wide array of financial wellness services including peer financial coaching, events, resources that include links to a variety of helpful pages and organizations, and a blog.
The total cost of attendance includes tuition and fees, books and supplies, and living expenses.
Tuition (in-state)
$16,389
Tuition (out-of-state)
$35,710
Room and board
$13,598
Books and supplies
$1,000
Fees
$0
Other
$1,400
The average student pays this amount per year.
Percentage of freshman students who receive some form of financial aid.
This school's financial aid meets 83 % of student's demonstrated need.
The average University of Massachusetts-Amherst merit scholarship for students without financial need
of University of Massachusetts-Amherst students without financial need receive a merit scholarship
Merit Scholarships are awarded at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. At the time of acceptance and will continue for eight continuous undergraduate semesters as long as students continue to meet minimum academic standards of performance and any other minimum eligibility requirements. You can also access the scholarship-related Frequently Asked Questions here.
There are several types of merit-based scholarships that you can consider.
Chancellor's, Director's, and Dean's Scholarships are awarded to academically and socially exceptional incoming freshman. No application form is needed and consideration will happen automatically.
The Community Scholarship and Flagship Award are merit and financial-based. No additional application is needed for this one and in order to be considered you must be considered low-income, be in-state residents of Massachusetts, and be first generation college students.
The Honors-to-Honors Scholarship is available and awarded for students in Massachusetts who are transferring in from an in-state community college through an approved MassTransfer program and accepted to the UMass Amherst Commonwealth Honors College. An additional scholarship application is option, but highly encouraged and can be obtained from the Admissions Office.
The Academic Honors Scholarship is awarded each year to a Massachusetts Science Fair top-scoring winner. Proof of a top-place award is required to be considered for this award.
To apply for scholarships, currently enrolled and accepted students can submit the University of Massachusetts Amherst General Scholarship Application. In addition, there may be other applications that you may need to complete depending on the individual scholarship you are applying for.
In addition to being considered for merit (and financial) awards at the time of acceptance, students who are officially enrolled may also access Academic Works which is a comprehensive database and source of UMass Amherst scholarships. These scholarships vary and additional requirements may be requested in order to apply for them.
Presidential and Alumni Scholarships and UMass Amherst Alumni Scholarships are also widely merit-based with additional other criteria for applying. These are not only open to freshman, but other types and academic levels of students can apply depending upon the specific scholarship.
The various schools and colleges within the larger University of Massachusetts Amherst system also offer college-based awards. Visit the particular school or college that you plan to attend for more details regarding each type of award and the eligibility requirements and criteria to apply.
Very few students pay the full price. Here's the average cost for students in different income brackets:
Resources
Endowment (2019)
N/A
Endowment per enrolled student (FTE)
N/A
State financial support per student
$7,556
This is higher than the national average ( $7,523).
Share of Students Studying Online (Graduate and Undergraduate)
Likelihood that a student moved up two or more income quintiles.
Percent of first-time students receiving Pell Grants.
This is lower than the national average 31.0%
Relative to the market of potential students
Underrepresented
Black
Hispanic
Representative
Native American
Hawaiian
Multi-racial
Overrepresented
Asian
White
The average student takes out this amount in student loans.
The percentage of students that repay their loans within 5 years.
The percentage of students that repay their loans within 7 years.
The percentage of families that default on their loans after 3 years.
After graduation, here's how the average salary of a University of Massachusetts-Amherst graduate grows over time:
SAT range:
1200 - 1390
ACT range:
26 - 31
Application fee:
$80
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The data and analysis above is sourced from the following reliable third party sources:
For more information, visit our Data page.
Our Financial Health information is designed to provide you with financial data on the private colleges you are considering. Our Post-Covid Resiliency Ratings are based on a data model described in more detail here as well as information from the independent third party sources we list above. Keep in mind, there may be additional public or private data which may make a college or university more or less financially resilient. We recommend that you request the most current financial information from the college or university you are considering so that you will have the most complete and current information available while evaluating the financial health of the institution and to inform your decision making process. All information and data we provide on this site is for informational purposes only and is not an endorsement, guarantee or other recommendation, whether favorable or unfavorable, regarding a particular institution. We make no representation or warranty regarding the information, all of which is provided free of charge and for informational purposes only.