Harvard vs. UMass

Deciding between Harvard University and University of Massachusetts Amherst? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Harvard University
University of Massachusetts Amherst

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • UMass Amherst, MA
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • UMass Town Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • UMass 31,726
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • UMass Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • UMass #169
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • UMass -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • UMass Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • UMass

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • UMass $17,772
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • UMass $40,449
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • UMass $16,710
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • UMass $22,948
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • UMass $13,110
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • UMass 81%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • UMass 50,261
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • UMass 30,020
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • UMass 59.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • UMass 17.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • UMass 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • UMass 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • UMass 3.99
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • UMass A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • UMass Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • UMass Low
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • UMass 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • UMass 1310/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • UMass Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • UMass Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • UMass 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • UMass
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Communication (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • UMass 67%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • UMass $55,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • UMass 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • UMass $24,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • UMass $248

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • UMass 48%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • UMass 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • UMass Medium
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • UMass No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • UMass 67%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • UMass 9%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • UMass 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • UMass 5%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • UMass 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • UMass 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • UMass 3%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • UMass 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • UMass 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • UMass 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • UMass 22%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Harvard Yes
  • UMass Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Harvard Yes
  • UMass No
  • Meal Plan
  • Harvard Yes
  • UMass Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Harvard No
  • UMass Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Harvard Yes
  • UMass Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Harvard University in Cambridge, MA with University of Massachusetts Amherst in Amherst, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Massachusetts Amherst is larger than Harvard based on total student enrollment (31,726 students vs. 30,259 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); University of Massachusetts Amherst is in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; University of Massachusetts Amherst 17:1.

Harvard vs. UMass Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or UMass? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harvard University than UMass ($17,525 vs. $22,948).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Amherst are 21.1% lower than at Harvard University ($16,710 vs. $21,190).
  • Harvard University is 247% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMass (about $43,904 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $17,772.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 52.5% higher at Harvard than at University of Massachusetts Amherst (about $21,227 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $40,449.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Massachusetts Amherst than at Harvard University (81% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 418.8% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Amherst students ($68,015 vs. $13,110).

Harvard vs. UMass Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard or UMass? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UMass and Harvard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 140 points higher than at UMass (1410).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 31 at UMass).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; University of Massachusetts Amherst 1310/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; University of Massachusetts Amherst 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; UMass - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; UMass Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at UMass (3.99).
  • UMass has a higher acceptance rate (59.7%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 17.9% at UMass.

Harvard vs. UMass Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard and UMass? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than University of Massachusetts Amherst's (67%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $81,500 more per year than UMass graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $55,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $17,500 lower median loan debt than UMass graduates ($6,500 vs. $24,000).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $181 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMass graduates ($67 vs. $248).
  • More UMass graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 70%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.