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We Are Fueling Innovation
UMass Amherst is dedicated to providing a world-class, accessible education and advancing progress for the people of Massachusetts.
The Commonwealth’s flagship campus has soared in the U.S. News & World Report rankings to #26. It’s easy to see why: a record of excellence in preparing students to take on tomorrow's challenges—and opportunities—and producing bold, impactful research for the betterment of society.
Attracting High-Achieving Students
As the reputation of the flagship campus continues to grow, first-year undergraduate applications have increased by over 30% over the past 10 years. UMass Amherst received over 45,000 first-year applications for fall 2022, the most in the university's history. The number of early action applications increased to 24,000—more than double over the past decade.
The average entering first-year student GPA is 4.02.
An Increasingly Diverse Student Body
38%
ALANA (African American, Latino/a, Asian/Pacific Islander, and Native American), Domestic Students
22%
First Generation
21%
Pell Grant Recipients
(Based on Fall 2021 entering class)
Putting Students on a Trajectory for Success
90%
Students Returning for
a Second Year
83%
Students Graduating within
6 Years
90%
Employed, in Military Service,
Continuing Their Education,
or Volunteering
(6 Months Post-Graduation)
Supplying Talent to Massachusetts
UMass Amherst provides quality talent for 1,400+ companies and organizations, including Accenture, Amazon, Apple, Baystate Health, Biogen, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Dell Technologies, Google, HubSpot, intel, Marriott International, MassMutual, Merck, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals.
Top-Ranked Faculty
26%
ALANA (African American, Latino/a, Asian/Pacific Islander, and Native American)
46%
Female
270+
New Tenure-System Faculty Hired in the Past 5 Years
Revolutionary Research
$245M
Research Expenditures (FY22)
#1
Public Research University in New England
Non-Medical School R&D Expenditures
#1
Public University in New England in NSF Awards
190%
Increase in Annual HHS funding
(2012 to 2021)
~200
Industry Research Partnerships
12
Of the world’s Most Highly Cited Researchers
(Clarivate Analytics, 2022).
As one of the only eight “R1: Doctoral Universities,” and the only public, with the “Highest Research Activity” in Massachusetts, UMass Amherst is committed to translating cutting-edge research into real-world impact.
UMass Amherst’s research is a major contributor to the Massachusetts economy through leadership in advanced materials and manufacturing, applied life and health sciences, data and computational science, the arts and creative economy, climate science and sustainability, and equity and inclusion.
A national leader in climate policy, Massachusetts is working to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. UMass Amherst, whose campus comprises a significant portion of state facilities, is boldly leading this charge by committing to fully transition to renewable energy sources—including wind, solar, and geothermal—by 2032. UMass Amherst's Carbon Zero initiative will serve as a model for other large research universities and institutions across the state and nation.
Driving Massachusetts Forward
74%
of the Undergraduate Student
Body is from Massachusetts
~60%
of Alumni Remain in Massachusetts,
Fueling the State's Innovation Economy
7 to 1
Return on State Investment
Educating More Students
UMass Amherst alone enrolls more first-year students from Massachusetts than do the Commonwealth's eight top private universities (as ranked by U.S. News & World Report) combined.
Producing STEM Graduates
UMass Amherst awards more undergraduate STEM degrees than any other college or university in the Commonwealth, public or private.
UMass Flex is a new model to expand educational access and meet the needs of today's students. Classes offered in person, live online, and asynchronously online give students more control over their educational experience. Students can take classes while participating in internships, service learning, and international experiences, or just be where life needs them to be while still being a UMass student.
Highlights
UMass Amherst's Isenberg School of Management Receives Record $20 Million Gift from Douglas and Diana Berthiaume
Largest cash donation in Isenberg history will attract and retain top faculty members, support impactful research, and enhance the Berthiaume Center for Entrepreneurship.
UMass Amherst Online Programs Place Among Top of U.S. News and World Report Rankings for 2023
The online undergraduate program in business offered by UMass Amherst’s Isenberg School of Management ranked third best in the country, while all UMass online bachelor’s degree programs placed 16th nationally, up from 19th in 2022.
$1M Gift from Prominent Alumni, Longtime Supporters Establishes Subbaswamy Innovation Fund
Richard “Dick” J. ’55, ’83H and Barbara M. ’55 Mahoney have donated $1 million in honor of Kumble R. Subbaswamy’s tenure as chancellor of UMass Amherst, establishing the Subbaswamy Innovation Fund, which will be used to support the Chancellor's highest-priority initiatives over the next year.
College of Engineering Launches Paros Center Under the Leadership of Michael Zink and Brenda Philips
The newly launched Paros Center for Atmospheric Research (PCAR) will focus on translating research into improved hazardous weather predictions, alert systems and policies that will save lives.
UMass Amherst Holds Okanagan Charter Signing Ceremony
By joining the Okanagan Charter, an international network of colleges and universities, UMass Amherst is committing to embed health into all aspects of campus culture and to lead health promotion action and collaboration locally and globally.
Governor Baker Joins UMass Officials to Break Ground for New $125 Million Building for Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences
State commitment of $75 million plays key role in funding world-class facility.
UMass Amherst Welcomes Approximately 5,500 First-Year Students to Campus
The Class of 2026 represents one of the most diverse and accomplished in university's history.
UMass Amherst Emerges as Offshore Wind Workforce Training Leader With Newest Grant Award
UMass Clean Energy Extension to expand Offshore Wind course offerings, diversity scholarships and industry partnerships to meet increased demand for the Offshore Wind Certificate Program.
UMass Amherst Establishes Partnership With Ukraine's Kyiv School of Economics
Through the agreement, UMass will assist students and scholars affected by Russia's war with Ukraine.
CDC Designates New England Center of Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases at UMass Amherst
Regional collaboration, funded with a five-year, $10 million award, is designed to reduce diseases spread by ticks and mosquitoes.
W.E.B. Du Bois Department of Afro-American Studies Predoctoral Candidate Awarded Prestigious Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship
Maya Cunningham will receive an annual stipend for three years, an invitation to attend the Conference of Ford Fellows and access to key networking resources.
Longtime UMass Amherst Trustee Robert L. Epstein '67 Establishes Endowed Professorship in Honor of Outgoing Chancellor Subbaswamy
The $1.5 million commitment will help attract or retain an outstanding faculty member, who will strengthen the academic excellence of the Isenberg School of Management and advance industry knowledge through research, scholarship and inspired teaching.
Computer Science Receives Major Boosts, Fueling the Massachusetts Tech Economy
An $18 million gift will endow the newly named Robert and Donna Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences. A state investment of $75 million—along with $30 million from the Amherst campus—will enhance and expand the college’s facilities, enabling accelerated enrollment growth.
College of Engineering Receives Major Gift to Advance Atmospheric Research
The $10M gift from Jerome '60 and Linda Paros will enable the college to accelerate its cutting-edge work in atmospheric research and hazard mitigation through a new center of excellence.
Largest Gift in UMass Amherst History to the College of Nursing
The Elaine Nicpon Marieb Charitable Foundation gave a $21.5 million gift, after previously giving over $2 million to the school. UMass Amherst’s nursing college has been renamed The Elaine Marieb College of Nursing.