UMass vs. Rutgers

Deciding between University of Massachusetts Amherst and Rutgers University New Brunswick? 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
Rutgers University New Brunswick

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMass Amherst, MA
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Setting
  • UMass Town Fringe
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UMass 31,726
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Type
  • UMass Public 4 Year
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMass #169
  • Rutgers #114
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMass -
  • Rutgers -
  • Status
  • UMass Non-profit
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMass
  • Rutgers

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMass $17,772
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMass $40,449
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Room & Board
  • UMass $16,710
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Average Net Price
  • UMass $22,948
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMass $13,110
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMass 81%
  • Rutgers 50%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMass 50,261
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Admitted
  • UMass 30,020
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMass 59.7%
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • UMass 17.9%
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMass 1410
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMass 31
  • Rutgers 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMass 3.99
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMass A
  • Rutgers B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMass Exceptional
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMass Low
  • Rutgers Low
  • ACT Range
  • UMass 30/33
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • SAT Range
  • UMass 1310/1500
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMass Test optional
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UMass Jan 15, 2027
  • Rutgers

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMass 17:1
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMass
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMass 67%
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMass $55,200
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMass 76%
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMass $24,000
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMass $248
  • Rutgers $229

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMass 48%
  • Rutgers 46%
  • % Women
  • UMass 52%
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMass Medium
  • Rutgers Very High
  • HBCU
  • UMass No
  • Rutgers No
  • % White
  • UMass 67%
  • Rutgers 42%
  • % Asian
  • UMass 9%
  • Rutgers 26%
  • % Black
  • UMass 4%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMass 5%
  • Rutgers 13%
  • % Native American
  • UMass 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMass 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMass 3%
  • Rutgers 3%
  • % International
  • UMass 4%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMass 8%
  • Rutgers 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMass 69%
  • Rutgers 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMass 22%
  • Rutgers 13%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Massachusetts Amherst in Amherst, MA with Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than UMass based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 31,726 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Rutgers University New Brunswick is in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting).
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Massachusetts Amherst 17:1; Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1.

UMass vs. Rutgers Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMass or Rutgers? 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick than UMass ($20,522 vs. $22,948).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 6% lower than at University of Massachusetts Amherst ($15,714 vs. $16,710).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is 0.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMass (about $157 more per year; $17,929.00 vs. $17,772.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8% higher at UMass than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $3,008 more per year; $40,449.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Massachusetts Amherst than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (81% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students is 27.7% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Amherst students ($16,742 vs. $13,110).

UMass vs. Rutgers Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Massachusetts Amherst (1410) is the same as at Rutgers (1410).
  • Incoming UMass students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Amherst 1310/1500; Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Amherst 30/33; Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMass - Test optional; Rutgers - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMass Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMass students have a 0.69 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • UMass has a higher acceptance rate (59.7%) than Rutgers (58.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.9% at UMass vs. 20.5% at Rutgers.

UMass vs. Rutgers Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMass and Rutgers? 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).

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than University of Massachusetts Amherst's (67%).
  • Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of about $11,000 more per year than UMass graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,200 vs. $55,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates have a $1,785 lower median loan debt than UMass graduates ($22,215 vs. $24,000).
  • Among borrowers, Rutgers graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMass graduates ($229 vs. $248).
  • More UMass graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 68%)

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.