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.
Why the Honors Thesis: Esosa Osunde '24
Thinking about the Honors College or starting your thesis? Esosa Osunde '24 shares why these experiences are worth it.
Video produced by Mikey Hadley and the CHC Communications Team
Featured Events
In the News
Driven by Questions: Bridgette Davis to Speak at Pizza & Prof
CHC’s Fall 2026 Pizza & Prof will feature Bridgette Davis, assistant professor of public policy at UMass Amherst.
The World Is Your Oyster: Making Memories Across the UK
If you’ve ever had even the smallest inkling of studying abroad DO IT.
Feedback, Friends, and Making It Fun: Rachel Smith Olson and the Power of Writing in Community at Commonwealth Honors College
Rachel Smith Olson has been at UMass Amherst since 2019, but this is her first year as CHC writing coach.
