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University of Massachusetts Amherst

Amherst, Massachusetts

31,810 Students on Campus
Amherst Location
39,263 Metro Population
31,810 Students on Campus
Amherst Location
39,263 Metro Population

About This Campus

The University of Massachusetts Amherst is a world-class public university, renowned for the quality of its academic programs, the scope and impact of its research, and the strength of its public service mission. UMass is one of the leading centers of public higher education in the Northeast. We are part of the Five College Consortium, which allows students to take classes and access libraries and activities at four prestigious liberal arts colleges in the Pioneer Valley: Amherst, Hampshire, Mt. Holyoke, and Smith. All Five College schools are connected by free PVTA bus lines. UMass has esteemed faculty teaching in top-ranked departments. A recent building boom has created many state of the art academic facilities.

We are a Best of the Best LGBTQ+ Friendly University.

We lead the nation in best campus food with healthy, local, sustainable options.

Welcoming residential campus. Over 50% of our 24,000 undergraduates live on campus.

Helpful Information

Consider coming for Fall Semester! It is beautiful, and not very cold! On Campus Housing is provided although preferences for specific areas can not always be met. Parking is available but will not be near where the student is living on campus. Off campus housing costs have risen in recent years and can be expensive. It is important for all students researching exchanges to check on the curriculum for their major at UMass - the curriculum can vary from your home school requirements.

Location Information

UMass is a 1100 acre campus located in the Pioneer Valley college town of Amherst one hour north of Hartford CT, two hours west of Boston and three hours from New York City. All cities are connected by Peter Pan bus lines.

Academics

REGISTRATION:
TERM DATES:

Fall Start Date: 09/08/2026 - Fall End Date: 12/23/2026

Spring Start Date: 02/02/2027 - Spring End Date: 05/20/2027

CLOSED PROGRAMS:

Nursing, Education, College Writing course 112, Psychology 241 Methods. In most departments, the courses that fulfill the "Junior Year Writing Requirement" and courses that satisfy the "Integrative Experience Requirement" (see course descriptions) are closed to exchange students. UMass Amherst does not have many 1 credit courses like physical education. Departments may restrict specific courses without notice.

RESTRICTED/LIMITED PROGRAMS:

Architecture (NAAB accredited schools only), Studio Art, Dance, and Music classes are only available to BFA/Art, Dance, and Music declared majors and may require portfolio submission for access to studio courses. Studio work space is also extremely limited. Music Lessons rarely available even to declared majors. Computer Science courses are extremely limited, restricted to majors, and require very specific pre-requisites (see more on Conditions Tab) Isenberg School of Management; Accounting, Finance, Management, Marketing, OIM, Sport Mgmt, Hospitality and Tourism Mgmt majors are restricted to declared majors at their home institution (see more on Conditions tab). Riccio College of Engineering majors; Biomedical, Chemical, Civil & Environmental, Computer, Electrical, Industrial, Mechanical are restricted to students with those declared majors at their home institution (see more on Conditions Tab). Upper level courses in many departments are restricted to majors in those departments and often require comparable pre-requisites. All 500 level courses will require instructor permission.

OTHER ACADEMIC INFORMATION:

Computer Science, Biomedical and Computer Engineering not only require major status at the home campus but many pre-requisites and Coordinators should contact the UMass Amherst Coordinator for more information prior to placement. Accounting, Finance, Management, Marketing and OIM not only require major status at the home campus but require completion of Micro and Macro Economics and Calculus.

NOTABLE ACADEMICS PROGRAMS:
  • School of Earth and Sustainability — Offers a diverse suite of undergraduate majors, minors, and certificates addressing the most critical social and environmental challenges for today and the future.
OPTIONS:

Honors Access: Yes

UNDERGRADUATE MAJORS OPEN TO NSE STUDENTS:

Conditions

GPA AND OTHER ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS:
EXCHANGE PREFERENCES:
  • Full Year Exchange: Accepted
  • Single Term Exchange: Accepted
  • Summer Exchange: Not Available
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS (Visa Students):
  • Does your campus accept International Students (those already in the U.S. on a student visa)? Will accept on Home or Away
CANADIAN EXCHANGE:
Learn More
  • Receive from Canada: Not Participating
  • Accept international students studying in Canada on a visa? - No

Tuition/Finance

Figures per Semester are current as of 10/01/2024
TUITION:
  • Campus Budget
  • Fees are subject to change without notice
  • Home Tuition Payment: Available
  • Away Tuition Payment: Available
    Estimated cost: $9244
MAXIMUM CREDIT HOURS PER SEMESTER:
  • Home Payment: 19
  • Host Payment: 19
MISCELLANEOUS FEES:
Purpose
Amount
Period
Plan
Status
NSE Program Fee
$100
Year
Away & Home
Mandatory
Housing
$300
Year
Away & Home
Optional
Parking Fee
$304
Year
Away & Home
Optional
IMPORTANT NOTES:

IMPORTANT: All students must have health insurance approved by UMass Amherst. All International Students MUST pay the UMass Amherst supplemental student health insurance fee of $1,240.00/sem. No Exceptions. For others, the Student Health Insurance is waivable with proof of approved insurance. All students should expect at least one course to have a lab/materials fee particularly in science, art and architecture courses. Lab fees can vary but are approx 95.00.

Financial Aid for NSE Students. Regardless of Payment Plan, financial aid is awarded by and disbursed from your home campus.

Room/Meals

Figures per Semester are current as of 02/10/2026
ON-CAMPUS HOUSING PER SEMESER:
  • Is on-campus housing available? Yes
  • Is on-campus living required? No
  • Number of reserved housing spaces: 0
  • Average Room Cost (per term): $4668
  • On-Campus Housing
Off-CAMPUS HOUSING:
NOTES ABOUT ON-CAMPUS HOUSING:

Available though desired location is not guaranteed. Full year housing contract can be retracted if only attending one semester as long as deadlines are met. If deadlines are not met, housing cancellation fees can be significant. No housing deposit. North Residential Area is the only apartment area on campus. It is more expensive than the standard residence hall.

NOTES ABOUT OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING:

Off Campus housing is nearby, but costs are higher the closer to campus. Students living off campus should make sure they are on a PVTA Bus Line.

MEAL PLANS:
  • Are meal plans available on campus? Yes
  • Is a meal plan purchase required for on-campus, non-apartment residence halls? Yes
  • Average Meal Plan Cost (per term): $3685
  • Campus Meal Plans
NOTES ABOUT MEAL PLANS:

We have a nationally recognized, award winning food service here at UMass. Excellent vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, Kosher options. On Campus students are automatically billed for the mid-range meal plan but there are several meal plans available.

Fees are subject to change without notice.

Chance of Acceptance

Priority Placements for Academic Year 26/27

If this is your top choice campus...

Home Tuition Payment Plan

Excellent

This campus accepts most (75%+) applicants. You may want to consider adding alternate choice campuses marked as OPEN or EXCELLENT to ensure placement.

Away Tuition Payment Plan

Open

This campus usually accepts all eligible applicants. Apply and start packing your bags!

If this is your alternate choice campus...

Home Tuition Payment Plan

Limited

This campus usually accepts less than 50% of students that request it. Be prepared to be placed at an alternative choice. If applying to a site with a 'limited' chance of placement, we suggest that you list a minimum of 3-5 campuses on your application, with one to two sites that have an OPEN or EXCELLENT chance of acceptance.

Away Tuition Payment Plan

Open

This campus usually accepts all eligible applicants. Apply and start packing your bags!

Resources

CAMPUS SOCIAL MEDIA: