UMass Amherst: A Worthy Investment
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is an amazing educational experience (check out the rest of this site for details on all that) at a cost far less than that of a private college. In fact The Princeton Review recently named UMass Amherst one of 77 schools selected as a ”Best Value College,“ which they define as a combination of excellent academics, great financial aid, and low tuition. Data for this elite ranking included statistics from college administrators and opinion survey results collected from more than 100,000 current college students. Academic factors included the quality of students that a school attracts, as measured by admissions credentials, and how current students rated their academic experiences. Cost considerations were tuition, room and board, and required fees.
To top it off, when you’re a student at UMass Amherst, you can take courses at private colleges through the Five College Interchange (Amherst, Hampshire, Mt. Holyoke, and Smith), and explore other universities or cultures through Domestic Exchange and Study Abroad, without adding to your costs.
Even if it is a bargain, the cost of a college education is challenging for many families. UMass Amherst offers a broad range of financial aid options and support to help you through the process. Go to Financing Your Education to learn how to begin.
The cost of a UMass Amherst education includes tuition and required fees, and if you live on campus, you will have a room and board charge on your bill. Rates are established in the spring for the following academic year. The Bursar's website has a thorough explanation of all the required fees.
Estimated costs for 2008-2009: (subject to change)
| In-State | Out-of- State | NERSP* | |
| Tuition/Fees | $10,232 | $21,729 | $11,518 |
| Room/Board | $8,114 | $ 8,114 | $ 8,114 |
| Total | $18,346 | $29,843 | $19,632 |
*New England Regional Student Program
