Amherst, MA · 23.7k students
Trajecta score
+2.8 since '20Ranked #135 of 2,375
5-year trend
61.9 · #160
2020
65.7 · #132
2021
63.5 · #174
2022
63.9 · #175
2023
64.7 · #162
2024
Academic Profile
57/ 100
Career Outcomes
73/ 100
Student Success
75/ 100
Affordability
58/ 100
Academic Investment
92/ 100
Access & Equity
21/ 100
Academic Profile
57
Career Outcomes
73
Student Success
75
Affordability
58
Academic Investment
92
Access & Equity
21
AI Fit Analysis
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Cost / Net Price
$35k / $22k
SAT Avg
1,423
Retention
92%
Grad Rate
83%
Admissions
Test Scores
Scores represent the midpoint of enrolled students, not a cutoff.
Finances
Tuition
In-State Tuition
$17,772
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$40,449
per year
Out-of-state premium: +$22,677/yr
Aid & Debt
Pell Grant Share
20%
undergraduates receiving Pell
Federal Loan Share
47%
students borrowing
Median Debt
among completers
$22,763
Admissions Factors
Self-reported by the school in its Common Data Set (section C7) — the school's own statement of which application factors matter in its admissions decisions.
4.04
average high school GPA of enrolled freshmen (weighted) · 100% reporting
Source: Common Data Set 2024-2025, what University of Massachusetts-Amherst reports weighing in admissions.
| Factor | Very Important | Important | Considered | Not Considered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rigor of secondary school record | Rigor of secondary school record: Very Important | |||
| Class rank | Class rank: Important | |||
| Academic GPA | Academic GPA: Very Important | |||
| Standardized test scores | Standardized test scores: Considered | |||
| Application essay | Application essay: Important | |||
| Recommendation(s) | Recommendation(s): Important | |||
| Interview | Interview: Not Considered | |||
| Extracurricular activities | Extracurricular activities: Important | |||
| Talent/ability | Talent/ability: Important | |||
| Character/personal qualities | Character/personal qualities: Important | |||
| First generation | First generation: Considered | |||
| Alumni/ae relation | Alumni/ae relation: Not Considered | |||
| Geographical residence | Geographical residence: Not Considered | |||
| State residency | State residency: Not Considered | |||
| Religious affiliation/commitment | Religious affiliation/commitment: Not Considered | |||
| Volunteer work | Volunteer work: Considered | |||
| Work experience | Work experience: Important | |||
| Level of applicant's interest | Level of applicant's interest: Not Considered |
Supplemental Essays · 2026-27
school's admissions site ↗University of Massachusetts-Amherst publishes its supplemental prompts only inside the application portal.
Drafting these? Write them with AI feedback in Trajecta →
Methodology
The Trajecta Score (0–100) blends six dimensions of public college data into one comparable number, then nudges it by how much data each school reports. Selectivity tiers are separate — they’re based purely on a school’s admission rate.
Read the full methodologyMedian earnings 10 years out, earnings vs. a high-school grad, and loan repayment.
Admission selectivity and the incoming class’s SAT / ACT scores.
Average net price after aid and the typical debt of graduates.
Graduation rate and first-year retention.
Instructional spending and faculty salaries per student.
Share of Pell-grant students and reliance on federal loans.
Data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and IPEDS. Figures are the most recent reported and may lag a year or two. This tool is read-only and not personalized — inside the Trajecta app, scores are tailored to your profile as a fit score.
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