Amherst vs. University of Massachusetts-Boston

Amherst College and University of Massachusetts Boston side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Amherst College
University of Massachusetts Boston

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Amherst (9% admitted vs 83.8%). Typical SAT 1540 vs 1180.
  • Cheaper after aid: University of Massachusetts-Boston. Average net price is $17,768 vs $19,049 at Amherst.
  • Graduation: Amherst 96% vs University of Massachusetts-Boston 40%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Amherst $82,000 vs University of Massachusetts-Boston $51,200 (median).
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Key differences

Amherst College University of Massachusetts Boston
Acceptance rate
Amherst more selective
Amherst9%
University of Massachusetts-Boston83.8%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Amherst higher
Amherst1490-1580
University of Massachusetts-Boston1070-1290
Average net price
University of Massachusetts-Boston $1,281 less
Amherst$19,049
University of Massachusetts-Boston$17,768
In-state tuition
University of Massachusetts-Boston $54,572 less
Amherst$70,480
University of Massachusetts-Boston$15,908
Out-of-state tuition
University of Massachusetts-Boston $32,355 less
Amherst$70,480
University of Massachusetts-Boston$38,125
Graduation rate
Amherst +56 pts
Amherst96%
University of Massachusetts-Boston40%
Median earnings (10 years)
Amherst +$30,800
Amherst$82,000
University of Massachusetts-Boston$51,200

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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Check my chances at Amherst Check my chances at University of Massachusetts-Boston
  • Applied
  • Amherst 13,743
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 21,262
  • Admitted
  • Amherst 1,238
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 17,813
  • Acceptance rate
  • Amherst 9%
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 83.8%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Amherst 38.8%
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 12.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Amherst 1540
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 1180
  • Typical ACT score
  • Amherst 34
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 25
  • Average high school GPA
  • Amherst 3.91
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 3.35
  • Typical high school grades
  • Amherst A
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston B+
  • Admissions standards
  • Amherst Elite
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Challenging
  • Applicant competition
  • Amherst Extreme
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston
  • SAT range
  • Amherst 1490-1580
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 1070-1290
  • ACT range
  • Amherst 33-35
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 22-29
  • Submit test scores
  • Amherst Test optional
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Amherst Jan 2, 2027
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Feb 15, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $15,908
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $38,125
  • Room & board
  • Amherst $18,390
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $19,128
  • Average net price
  • Amherst $19,049
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $17,768
  • Average grant aid
  • Amherst $68,591
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $14,042
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Amherst 59%
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 88%
  • Graduation rate
  • Amherst 96%
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 40%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Amherst $82,000
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $51,200
  • Making student loan payments
  • Amherst 83%
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 58%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Amherst $12,975
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $22,060
  • Median loan payment
  • Amherst $134
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $228
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Amherst 6:1
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 15:1
  • Popular majors
  • Amherst
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston
    • Business (20%)
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Location
  • Amherst Amherst, MA
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Boston, MA
  • Setting
  • Amherst Town Fringe
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Amherst 1,914
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 15,575
  • Type
  • Amherst Private 4 Year
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Amherst #13
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston #438

Comparable Facts

Compare Amherst College in Amherst, MA with University of Massachusetts Boston in Boston, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of Massachusetts Boston is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (15,575 students vs. 1,914 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); University of Massachusetts Boston is in Boston, MA (Large City setting).
  • Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Massachusetts Boston is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Amherst College 6:1; University of Massachusetts Boston 15:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Amherst College are 3.9% lower than at University of Massachusetts Boston ($18,390 vs. $19,128).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 84.9% higher at Amherst than at University of Massachusetts Boston (about $32,355 more per year; $70,480 vs. $38,125).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Massachusetts Boston than at Amherst College (88% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 388.5% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Boston students ($68,591 vs. $14,042).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 9 points higher at Amherst than at University of Massachusetts-Boston (34 vs. 25, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Amherst and University of Massachusetts-Boston.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027; University of Massachusetts-Boston Feb 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Amherst average a 3.91 high school GPA, 0.56 higher than at University of Massachusetts-Boston (3.35).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 12.3% at University of Massachusetts-Boston.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $9,085 lower median loan debt than University of Massachusetts-Boston graduates ($12,975 vs. $22,060).
  • Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $94 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of Massachusetts-Boston graduates ($134 vs. $228).
  • More Amherst graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Massachusetts-Boston students, three years after graduation (83% vs. 58%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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