Learn to Make a Difference in the World
Average size of an honors course
Faculty teaching Honors courses
Entering first-year students
Average combined SAT score
Community of Scholars
Commonwealth Honors College students benefit from a tight-knit community, close ties with faculty, small honors classes, value-added honors advising, and access to special programs, merit scholarships, and research grants.
Small Classes, Big Ideas
Commonwealth Honors College students reach beyond the boundaries of their academic majors and our advanced scholarship tracks provide them with opportunities to contribute original knowledge to their fields of study.
Campus Full of Opportunities
Commonwealth Honors College students have access to the extensive resources of UMass Amherst — a large research university with roughly 100 majors and wide-ranging opportunities for student engagement.
Close Ties to Faculty
Micheal Orlando shares how having close ties to faculty has shaped his academic journey.
Featured Events
In the News
Why I Chose UMass
At first, UMass Amherst felt like the middle of nowhere—but over time, it became home, filled with music, memories, friendships, and unforgettable moments.
Life Lessons I Learned From Backpacking in the Allegheny National Forest
Backpacking in Allegheny taught me life’s best lessons: lean on friends, embrace discomfort, take risks, unplug often, and don’t fear the cold nights.
“I’ll study and get my degree”: Reflections on my College Experience
I came to UMass for a degree but found friendship, self-discovery, and unexpected lessons. College became so much more than I ever imagined.
