UMass vs. MHC

Deciding between University of Massachusetts Amherst and Mount Holyoke College? 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.

University of Massachusetts Amherst
Mount Holyoke College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMass Amherst, MA
  • MHC South Hadley, MA
  • Setting
  • UMass Town Fringe
  • MHC Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UMass 31,726
  • MHC 2,275
  • Type
  • UMass Public 4 Year
  • MHC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMass #169
  • MHC #81
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMass -
  • MHC -
  • Status
  • UMass Non-profit
  • MHC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMass
  • MHC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMass $17,772
  • MHC $67,018
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMass $40,449
  • MHC $67,018
  • Room & Board
  • UMass $16,710
  • MHC $19,684
  • Average Net Price
  • UMass $22,948
  • MHC $32,526
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMass $13,110
  • MHC $52,418
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMass 81%
  • MHC 77%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMass 50,261
  • MHC 5,226
  • Admitted
  • UMass 30,020
  • MHC 1,883
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMass 59.7%
  • MHC 36%
  • Enrolled
  • UMass 17.9%
  • MHC 27.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMass 1410
  • MHC 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMass 31
  • MHC 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMass 3.99
  • MHC 3.87
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMass A
  • MHC A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMass Exceptional
  • MHC Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMass Low
  • MHC High
  • ACT Range
  • UMass 30/33
  • MHC 32/35
  • SAT Range
  • UMass 1310/1500
  • MHC 1380/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMass Test optional
  • MHC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UMass Jan 15, 2027
  • MHC Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMass 17:1
  • MHC 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMass
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • MHC
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMass 67%
  • MHC 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMass $55,200
  • MHC $50,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMass 76%
  • MHC 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMass $24,000
  • MHC $21,206
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMass $248
  • MHC $219

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMass 48%
  • MHC 1%
  • % Women
  • UMass 52%
  • MHC 99%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMass Medium
  • MHC Very High
  • HBCU
  • UMass No
  • MHC No
  • % White
  • UMass 67%
  • MHC 45%
  • % Asian
  • UMass 9%
  • MHC 10%
  • % Black
  • UMass 4%
  • MHC 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMass 5%
  • MHC 8%
  • % Native American
  • UMass 0%
  • MHC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMass 0%
  • MHC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMass 3%
  • MHC 4%
  • % International
  • UMass 4%
  • MHC 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMass 8%
  • MHC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMass 69%
  • MHC 19%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMass 22%
  • MHC 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Massachusetts Amherst in Amherst, MA with Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Massachusetts Amherst is larger than MHC based on total student enrollment (31,726 students vs. 2,275 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Mount Holyoke College is in South Hadley, MA (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Mount Holyoke College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Massachusetts Amherst 17:1; Mount Holyoke College 9:1.

UMass vs. MHC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMass or MHC? 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 University of Massachusetts Amherst than MHC ($22,948 vs. $32,526).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Amherst are 15.1% lower than at Mount Holyoke College ($16,710 vs. $19,684).
  • Mount Holyoke College is 277.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMass (about $49,246 more per year; $67,018.00 vs. $17,772.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 65.7% higher at MHC than at University of Massachusetts Amherst (about $26,569 more per year; $67,018.00 vs. $40,449.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Massachusetts Amherst than at Mount Holyoke College (81% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Holyoke College students is 299.8% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Amherst students ($52,418 vs. $13,110).

UMass vs. MHC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UMass or MHC? 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 MHC and UMass.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Mount Holyoke College (1460) is 50 points higher than at UMass (1410).
  • Incoming MHC students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 31 at UMass).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Amherst 1310/1500; Mount Holyoke College 1380/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Amherst 30/33; Mount Holyoke College 32/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMass - Test optional; MHC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMass Jan 15, 2027; MHC Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMass students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at MHC (3.87).
  • UMass has a higher acceptance rate (59.7%) than MHC (36%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.9% at UMass vs. 27.2% at MHC.

UMass vs. MHC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMass and MHC? 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).

  • Mount Holyoke College's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than University of Massachusetts Amherst's (67%).
  • Graduates from University of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of about $5,200 more per year than MHC graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,200 vs. $50,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Mount Holyoke College graduates have a $2,794 lower median loan debt than UMass graduates ($21,206 vs. $24,000).
  • Among borrowers, MHC graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMass graduates ($219 vs. $248).
  • More MHC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMass students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 76%)

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.