UMass vs. Pitt

Deciding between University of Massachusetts Amherst and University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,500 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMass Amherst, MA
  • Pitt Pittsburgh, PA
  • Setting
  • UMass Town Fringe
  • Pitt Large City
  • Enrollment
  • UMass 31,726
  • Pitt 35,724
  • Type
  • UMass Public 4 Year
  • Pitt Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMass #169
  • Pitt #138
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMass -
  • Pitt -
  • Status
  • UMass Non-profit
  • Pitt Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMass
  • Pitt

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMass $17,772
  • Pitt $21,926
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMass $40,449
  • Pitt $41,430
  • Room & Board
  • UMass $16,710
  • Pitt $13,620
  • Average Net Price
  • UMass $22,948
  • Pitt $25,223
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMass $13,110
  • Pitt $16,494
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMass 81%
  • Pitt 53%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMass 50,261
  • Pitt 60,898
  • Admitted
  • UMass 30,020
  • Pitt 35,372
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMass 59.7%
  • Pitt 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • UMass 17.9%
  • Pitt 13%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMass 1410
  • Pitt 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMass 31
  • Pitt 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMass 3.99
  • Pitt 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMass A-
  • Pitt A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMass Exceptional
  • Pitt Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMass Low
  • Pitt Low
  • ACT Range
  • UMass 30/33
  • Pitt 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • UMass 1310/1500
  • Pitt 1280/1460
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMass Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Pitt Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • UMass Jan 15, 2027
  • Pitt

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMass 17:1
  • Pitt 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMass
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Pitt
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMass 67%
  • Pitt 79%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMass $55,200
  • Pitt $58,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMass 76%
  • Pitt 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMass $24,000
  • Pitt $26,909
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMass $248
  • Pitt $278

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMass 12%
  • Pitt 11%
  • % Women
  • UMass 13%
  • Pitt 16%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMass Medium
  • Pitt Low
  • HBCU
  • UMass No
  • Pitt No
  • % White
  • UMass 67%
  • Pitt 74%
  • % Asian
  • UMass 9%
  • Pitt 9%
  • % Black
  • UMass 4%
  • Pitt 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMass 5%
  • Pitt 3%
  • % Native American
  • UMass 0%
  • Pitt 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMass 0%
  • Pitt 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMass 3%
  • Pitt 3%
  • % International
  • UMass 4%
  • Pitt 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMass 8%
  • Pitt 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMass 69%
  • Pitt 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMass 22%
  • Pitt 33%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is larger than UMass based on total student enrollment (35,724 students vs. 31,726 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting).
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Massachusetts Amherst 17:1; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 13:1.

UMass vs. Pitt Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMass or Pitt? 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 Pitt ($22,948 vs. $25,223).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus are 18.5% lower than at University of Massachusetts Amherst ($13,620 vs. $16,710).
  • University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is 23.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMass (about $4,154 more per year; $21,926.00 vs. $17,772.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.4% higher at Pitt than at University of Massachusetts Amherst (about $981 more per year; $41,430.00 vs. $40,449.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Massachusetts Amherst than at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (81% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus students is 25.8% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Amherst students ($16,494 vs. $13,110).

UMass vs. Pitt Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Massachusetts Amherst (1410) is 40 points higher than at Pitt (1370).
  • Incoming UMass students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 31) as students at Pitt (31).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Amherst 1310/1500; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 1280/1460.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Amherst 30/33; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMass - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Pitt - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMass Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMass students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at Pitt (3.79).
  • UMass has a higher acceptance rate (59.7%) than Pitt (58.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.9% at UMass vs. 13% at Pitt.

UMass vs. Pitt Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMass and Pitt? 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).

  • University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than University of Massachusetts Amherst's (67%).
  • Graduates from University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of about $2,800 more per year than UMass graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $55,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Massachusetts Amherst graduates have a $2,909 lower median loan debt than Pitt graduates ($24,000 vs. $26,909).
  • Among borrowers, UMass graduates have an estimated $30 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pitt graduates ($248 vs. $278).
  • More UMass graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pitt students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 75%)

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.