Whether your residing in the state or an International students seeking admission to the University of Massachusetts, you can find well-researched information about the Umass Amherst Acceptance Rate in the article.
UMass Amherst has a solid reputation as a top public university on the East Coast. Despite a decline in acceptance rates at many highly-ranked schools across the country, UMass Amherst still admits about two-thirds of applicants in 2023.
While the overall acceptance rate isn’t overly challenging, specific programs like Nursing, Business, Computer Science, and Engineering are highly competitive and draw students from all over the world.
Admission to the University of Massachusetts–Amherst is becoming more selective, with an acceptance rate of 66%, and an even higher early acceptance rate of 74.4%. Around half of the admitted applicants have SAT scores between 1250 and 1460 or ACT scores between 28 and 33.
However, a portion of admitted students scored above and below these ranges. The application deadline is January 15th, and there’s an application fee of $85.
Admissions officers at UMass Amherst place significant importance on a student’s GPA. They also consider high school class rank and letters of recommendation when available.
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UMass Amherst Acceptance Rate
For the Class of 2025, UMass Amherst received 42,540 applications for admission. Out of this large pool, 27,877 students, which is about 66%, were granted admission to the Amherst campus.
This acceptance rate is similar to the previous year’s rate of 65%. Interestingly, the acceptance rate for out-of-state applicants is slightly higher than for in-state residents, which sets it apart from most other public flagship universities.
University of Massachusetts Amherst Early Action Acceptance Rate
Looking at the most recent information, it’s clear that applying for Early Action at UMass Amherst can give you a real edge.
For example, when we look at the numbers for the Class of 2024, we see something interesting: a much higher percentage of Early Action applicants, about 71%, got accepted. In comparison, only 59% of those who chose the Regular Decision option got the same positive result.
This big difference shows that applying early can really increase your chances of getting accepted to UMass Amherst.
UMass Amherst Admissions – SAT, GPA, and Class Rank
For Class of 2025 members, the mid-50% SAT range for enrolled freshmen was 1270-1450, the ACT range was 28-33. Moreover, 53% possessed a weighted GPA of 4.0 or greater. Among enrolled 2021-22 first-year students, 30% hailed from the top 10% of their high school class, while 69% earned a place in the top 25%.
Admissions Data by College
As noted in the introduction, some programs at UMass Amherst have more stringent admissions standards than others. Here are some examples:
College of Humanities
- Acceptance Rate: 73%
- Mean SAT: 1332
College of Information and Computer Sciences
- Acceptance Rate: 47%
- Mean SAT: 1465
Isenberg School of Management
- Acceptance Rate: 59%
- Mean SAT: 1316
College of Engineering
- Acceptance Rate: 73%
- Mean SAT: 1380
College of Nursing
- Acceptance Rate: 21%
- Mean SAT: 1417
Admissions Trends & Notes
- Firstly, 77% of the Class of 2025 are Massachusetts residents.
- Further, 1,046 members of the cohort are out-of-state domestic students. Another 390 are international students.
- 38% of the Class of 2025 are ALANA students (African-American, Latino, Asian, Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and Native American).
- The number of applicants rose from roughly 40,300 to almost 42,500.
- Lastly, UMass was test-optional for the fall 2022 admissions cycle and will be again for the 2023 cycle as well.
How the UMass Amherst Rates Applicants
UMass Amherst considers just two factors as “very important” to the admissions process: rigor of high school course load and GPA. Items that are “important” as part of the admissions process are: class rank, first-generation status, essays, recommendations, talent/ability, first-generation status, character/personal qualities, and extracurricular activities. “Considered” factors include standardized test scores.
Straight from the UMass admissions office:
- “The University of Massachusetts Amherst uses a holistic review process to carefully consider applicants in an individualized context. This requires a deep, comprehensive understanding of the academic context from which you are applying.”
- “Since we receive applications from across the country and around the world, our Admissions Counselors work diligently to understand the nuance of each learning environment, which in turn informs the context in which your application is evaluated.”
- “In addition to academic achievements, we are interested in the behaviors and attitudes, such as a love of learning and intellectual curiosity, that make students great learners and full contributors to the vibrancy of a campus community.”
UMass Amherst Demographics
Let’s now take a look at the demographics of the UMass Amherst undergraduate student body.
The states that sent the highest number of students to the UMass Class of 2025 are:
- Massachusetts
- New York
- New Jersey
- California
- Connecticut
The fewest students come from the following states:
- Arkansas
- Wyoming
- Utah
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Alaska
The greatest number of international students come from the following countries:
- China
- India
- Vietnam
- South Korea
- Pakistan
In terms of ethnic identity, the breakdown is as follows:
- White: 61%
- Asian: 11%
- Hispanic: 8%
- African American: 5%
- Two or More Races: 3%
- International: 7%
A look at the gender split reveals that university enrolls more men than women.
- Men: 49%
- Women: 51%
UMass Amherst’s “Yield Rate”
UMass Amherst’s yield rate is 17%. In other words, 17% of those accepted went on to enroll. This figure is significantly lower than other powerhouse state universities like the University of Florida (47%), University of Michigan (45%), and UVA (43%).
Tips for Applying to the University of Massachusetts Amherst
If you plan on joining the 42,000+ UMass Amherst hopefuls for the next admissions cycle, you should know the following:
- UMass Amherst does not use interviews as part of their evaluation process.
- However, the UMass Amherst does not consider “demonstrated interest” so you will not be judged on whether or not you made a campus visit, contacted an admissions officer, etc.
- Certain highly-selective majors at UMass have particular application requirements.
- Lastly, make sure to dedicate sufficient time and effort to the two optional essays required by the University of Massachusetts. In the 2021-22 cycle, they were as follows:
- Please tell us why you want to attend UMass Amherst? (100 words)
- Please tell us why you chose the Majors you did? (100 words)
Should I Apply to University of Massachusetts Amherst?
Remaining a prominent public university on the East Coast, UMass Amherst maintains a 66% acceptance rate in 2023, bucking the trend of declining rates nationwide. Notably, competitive programs like Nursing, Business, Computer Science, and Engineering draw considerable interest. The foundation of this process lies in key elements such as a strong Grade Point Average (GPA), a challenging academic path, and significant recommendation letters. Among accepted students, the middle range for SAT scores spans 1250 to 1460, while ACT scores fall between 28 and 33. Early Action applicants notably benefit, experiencing a higher acceptance rate of 71% compared to the 59% for Regular Decision applicants.
