The UMass Amherst acceptance rate is 60% for the Class of 2028. UMass received 50,261 applications and admitted 30,020 students.
That headline number is close to useless on its own, and this is the thing almost every other page on this query gets wrong. UMass admits by college, not university-wide. The College of Nursing admits 15% of applicants. Computer Science admits 40%. Humanities admits 76%. Applying to Nursing at UMass Amherst is a more selective proposition than applying to Boston University overall, and a 60% figure will badly mislead you about your chances.
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UMass Amherst Acceptance Rate at a Glance
| Metric | Class of 2028 |
| Overall acceptance rate | 60% |
| Applications | 50,261 |
| Admitted | 30,020 |
| Early Action acceptance rate | 61% (17,440 of 28,479) |
| Yield, admitted students who enrolled | 18% |
| In-state acceptance rate | 60% |
| Out-of-state acceptance rate | 60% |
A useful detail for out-of-state and international applicants: the acceptance rate is the same 60% for in-state and out-of-state candidates. Many large state universities are materially harder for non-residents. UMass Amherst is not, at least at the admissions stage. The difference shows up in the tuition bill instead.
UMass Amherst Acceptance Rate by College
This table is the reason to read past the headline.
| College | Acceptance rate | Mean GPA of admits |
| Nursing | 15% | 4.45 |
| Computer Sciences | 40% | 4.33 |
| Management | 42% | 4.12 |
| Engineering | 63% | 4.14 |
| Humanities | 76% | 3.92 |
The spread runs from 15% to 76%, a five-fold difference inside one university. Two practical consequences:
Pick your college deliberately. If Nursing is the goal, you are applying to a programme with a mean admitted GPA of 4.45, which means weighted grades well above straight As. Build your application accordingly and have a genuine backup.
Consider the route in. Switching colleges after enrolment is possible at most large universities but is competitive and not guaranteed, particularly into Nursing and Computer Science. Applying directly to a less selective college with the intention of transferring internally is a strategy with real risk. Ask the admissions office how internal transfer actually works before you rely on it.
What GPA and Test Scores Do You Need for UMass Amherst?
| Measure | Enrolled 2024-25 students |
| Average GPA | 4.04 |
| Had 4.0 or higher | 59% |
| Had above 3.75 | 80% |
| In the top quarter of their class | 67% |
| In the top tenth of their class | 30% |
| SAT, mid-50% | 1310 to 1480 |
| ACT, mid-50% | 30 to 33 |
An average GPA of 4.04 with 59% of enrolled students at 4.0 or higher tells you these are weighted GPAs, and that UMass is grade-driven. The flip side: fewer than 25% of enrolled students submitted a test score. UMass is genuinely test-optional in practice, and your transcript is carrying most of the weight.
If your GPA sits below 3.75 you are in the bottom fifth of the enrolled profile, which does not rule you out at a 60% overall rate but does argue for applying to a less selective college within the university.
Is UMass Amherst Hard to Get Into?
At the university level, no. A 60% acceptance rate makes UMass Amherst accessible, and the 18% yield tells you it functions as a safety or mid-range school for a large share of applicants who are also holding offers elsewhere.
At the college level, it depends entirely on your programme. Nursing at 15% is harder than Boston University overall at 12.8% is far from, and comfortably harder than most people expect from a state flagship.
For context across the state: Northeastern admits around 5.6%, BU 12.8%, and UMass Boston nearly 84%. Our guide to colleges in Massachusetts sets out the full range.
What UMass Amherst Costs
UMass Amherst is a public university, so the in-state and out-of-state difference is substantial, unlike the private institutions in Boston. Statewide, average 2024-25 undergraduate tuition and fees were $27,152 in-state and $31,232 out-of-state, though those are all-institution averages rather than UMass-specific figures.
Flagged for editorial review. Confirm the current year's tuition, fees and total cost of attendance on UMass Amherst's own student financial services pages before budgeting. Public university rates are set annually and often confirmed late.
The genuine financial advantage of UMass Amherst over the Boston privates is not only tuition. It is housing, covered below, where the gap runs to several hundred dollars a month.
Where UMass Amherst Students Live
This is where UMass Amherst separates itself from the Boston options. Amherst-area rent is roughly half what students pay in Fenway.
| Option | Typical monthly cost |
| Room in a shared apartment or house | About $700 to $1,100 per bedroom |
| Studio or one bedroom | About $1,500 to $2,200 |
| Two bedroom apartment | About $1,700 to $2,300 |
| Four bedroom house, whole unit | About $3,200 to $4,250 |
Compare that with a BU student paying $1,800 or more for a room in Fenway. Over a twelve-month lease the difference is several thousand dollars.
The bus decides where you live. The PVTA network links Amherst with Hadley, Sunderland, Northampton and the other Five College towns, and it is free for UMass students. Listings advertise being "on the bus route" for a reason: a cheaper room two miles out on a frequent route often beats a pricier one closer to campus. Check which route serves the address, how often it runs, and whether it runs late and at weekends.
Upfront costs follow Massachusetts law. Expect first month's rent, last month's rent and a security deposit of no more than one month. Some listings ask for all three at once, so budget for a large payment at signing, and photograph every room at move-in to protect the deposit.
Our full breakdown of UMass Amherst off campus housing covers Amherst, Hadley, Sunderland and Northampton area by area. Acolyte Living lists verified options for UMass Amherst students and across Amherst.
Because most Amherst leases run twelve months from June or September, the summer sublet market is very active. Read what subletting means before you agree to one, and use our apartment tour checklist at viewings. Heat is the cost to interrogate hardest in a New England winter, so ask what the previous tenant actually paid.
Who UMass Amherst Suits
A strong fit if you want a large public research university at a manageable cost, you are applying to a less selective college within it, you value the Five College Consortium's cross-registration, or housing budget is a real constraint and you would rather cycle than pay Boston rent.
Think carefully if you are set on Nursing or Computer Science without a strong backup, want a city rather than a college town, or need to be somewhere with an airport and a major job market on the doorstep. Amherst is a genuine college town, which is the appeal and the limitation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UMass Amherst acceptance rate?
UMass Amherst's acceptance rate is 60% for the Class of 2028, from 50,261 applications and 30,020 admissions.
Is the UMass acceptance rate different by major?
Yes, dramatically. Nursing admits 15%, Computer Sciences 40%, Management 42%, Engineering 63% and Humanities 76%. The 60% university-wide figure hides a five-fold spread.
What GPA do you need for UMass Amherst?
The average GPA of enrolled students is 4.04, with 59% at 4.0 or higher and 80% above 3.75. These are weighted GPAs. Nursing admits average 4.45.
What SAT score do you need for UMass Amherst?
The mid-50% SAT range is 1310 to 1480 and ACT 30 to 33, but fewer than 25% of enrolled students submitted a score, so UMass is genuinely test-optional.
Is UMass Amherst harder to get into for out-of-state students?
No. The acceptance rate is 60% for both in-state and out-of-state applicants. The difference appears in tuition, not admissions.
What is the UMass Amherst Early Action acceptance rate?
61%, from 28,479 Early Action applicants and 17,440 admissions, which is essentially the same as the overall rate. Early Action here is non-binding and mainly gets you an earlier decision.
Is UMass Amherst hard to get into?
Not at the university level, at 60%. It is hard at the college level for Nursing at 15% and Computer Sciences at 40%.
How much is off-campus housing near UMass Amherst?
A room in a shared unit is roughly $700 to $1,100 a month, and a studio or one bedroom about $1,500 to $2,200, which is substantially cheaper than Boston.
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The Bottom Line
The UMass Amherst acceptance rate of 60% is true and misleading at the same time. Your real odds depend on the college you apply to, and the range runs from 15% for Nursing to 76% for Humanities. Choose the college deliberately, lean on your transcript rather than test scores, and if the budget is what brought you here, the Amherst housing market is where UMass genuinely beats the Boston alternatives.