Admission to the freshman Nursing class at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is contingent upon successful completion of required high school courses at a level consistent with the University’s and the College of Nursing’s admissions standards. The College of Nursing administration (dean or designee) meets annually with the Office of University Admissions to review the criteria for admission. The primary criteria for admission are the high school transcript and SAT/ACT scores*. The University of Massachusetts Amherst uses a holistic admissions review. Factors like personal experiences, strengths, and compatibility with the university are also considered.
* Beginning with the spring 2021 term and continuing for each spring and fall term through spring 2023, we are making standardized tests optional for first-year entering applicants.
Students must provide evidence of high school degree conferral as documented by official transcript, including translations and evaluations of non-English transcripts, as well as compliance with the immunization requirements specified by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
Applicants are notified about admissions decisions by the University's Undergraduate Admissions Office. More information about the admissions process is available on the Admissions website.
Admission Criteria
Admission to the College of Nursing is highly competitive, as we are limited by the availability of clinical placements for students. Acceptance to the University does not guarantee admission to the Nursing Major. The typical accepted student in the Nursing Major has a 4.1 GPA (weighted and recalculated), an average SAT score of 1360, and an average ACT score of 28. The approximate acceptance rate for Nursing applicants is 12%.
