UMass vs. UVA

Should I go to University of Massachusetts Amherst or University of Virginia Main Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if UMass or UVA is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

UConn William & Mary UVM UNC Chapel Hill Penn State JMU Virginia Tech Michigan University of Richmond Rutgers UMass Dartmouth Georgetown
University of Massachusetts Amherst vs. University of Virginia Main Campus comparison
University of Massachusetts Amherst University of Virginia Main Campus College 3 College 4
University of Massachusetts Amherst University of Virginia Main Campus
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 UMass UVA
Location Amherst, MA Charlottesville, VA
Setting Town Fringe Small City
Enrollment 32,229 26,082
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #176 #59
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website umass.edu virginia.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 UMass UVA
Tuition (In State) $16,186 $16,980
Tuition (Out of State) $37,405 $51,870
Room & Board $14,123 $12,890
Avg Net Price $22,291 $19,469
Avg Grant Aid $12,350 $26,818
% Receiving Grant Aid 85% 34%

Admission

 UMass UVA
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 45,451 50,926
Admitted 28,871 9,503
Acceptance Rate 63.5% 18.7%
Enrolled % 19.4% 42.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.99 3.85
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Elite
Applicant Competition Low Very High
ACT Range 29/33 32/34
SAT Range 1260/1480 1400/1540
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2024

Academics

 UMass UVA
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Engineering (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)

Outcomes

 UMass UVA
Graduation Rate 67% 94%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $55,200 $77,200
Making Student Loan Payments 76% 86%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $19,500
Median Loan Payment $248 $201

Diversity

 UMass UVA
% Men 49% 45%
% Women 51% 55%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 67% 60%
% Black 4% 6%
% Hispanic 5% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 4% 5%
% Unknown Race 8% 6%

Students

 UMass UVA
% In-State 65% 62%
% Out-of-State 24% 33%

Campus

 UMass UVA
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is larger than than UVA based on total student enrollment (32,229 students vs. 26,082 students)

UMass vs. UVA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMass or UVA?

  • University of Virginia Main Campus is 4.9% more expensive to attend than UMass for in-state tuition ($16,980.00 vs. $16,186.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 38.7% higher at UVA than University of Massachusetts Amherst ($51,870.00 vs. $37,405.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Virginia Main Campus than UMass ($19,469 vs. $22,291)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Virginia Main Campus are 9.6% lower than costs at University of Massachusetts Amherst ($12,890 vs. $14,123)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Massachusetts Amherst than University of Virginia Main Campus (85% vs. 34%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Virginia Main Campus students is 117.1% larger than aid received University of Massachusetts Amherst ($26,818 vs. $12,350)

UMass vs. UVA Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UMass or UVA? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UVA or UMass .

  • The average SAT score at University of Virginia Main Campus (1364) is 138 points higher than at UMass (1226)
  • Incoming UVA students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at UMass (28)
  • Accepted freshman UMass students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at UVA (3.85)
  • UMass has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than UVA (18.7%)

UMass vs. UVA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, UMass or UVA? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between UVA and UMass.

  • The graduation rate at UVA is higher than University of Massachusetts Amherst (94% vs. 67%)
  • Graduates from University of Virginia Main Campus earn on average $22,000 more per year than UMass graduates after ten years. ($77,200 vs. $55,200)
  • University of Virginia Main Campus students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than UMass graduates. ($19,500 vs. $24,000)
  • UVA graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than UMass graduates. ($201 vs. $248)
  • More UVA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMass students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 76%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/