University of Massachusetts Amherst

At UMass Amherst, we welcome you to join our diverse, inclusive community of dreamers, innovators, creators, and doers. Find out how you can explore your interests and build skills to make your mark on the world with a UMass education.

This is your moment.

This is your opportunity.

This is UMass.

UMass At A Glance

Over the past decade, the University of Massachusetts has continued its meteoric rise in both reputation and excellence. Since 2010, UMass Amherst has risen to #26 in the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges Guide, making it one of the most improved institutions among top-tier public universities in America. UMass Amherst, located in Amherst, Massachusetts, sits on nearly 1,450 acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts, 90 miles from Boston and 175 miles from New York City. The campus provides a rich cultural environment in a rural setting close to major urban centers. The University of Massachusetts Amherst is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

Growing from Deep Roots

From our 1863 founding as a land-grant university known as the Massachusetts Agricultural College, the University of Massachusetts Amherst has had an unwavering commitment to social change and the creation of a better world. We have been dedicated to educating the public, generating new knowledge, and applying discoveries to the betterment of society—a mission we still stand for today. For more than 150 years, we have been at the forefront of some of the biggest shifts in our society, from supporting women's rights and our connections with the early abolitionist movement to the social unrest that took place on our campus and across the country throughout the 20th century.

Today, we stand proudly among the top 200 programs worldwide in 29 academic disciplines and continue to garner global recognition for excellence in research, scholarship, and entrepreneurship. Activism and advocacy are alive and well on the UMass campus. We continue to celebrate our deep roots in social change through our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion for all students. From our approach to academics to the student organizations that thrive on our campus, the UMass community of students, faculty, and staff continues to change the world at every turn.

We are revolutionary

At the University of Massachusetts Amherst, a revolutionary spirit runs through our veins. We seek to answer new questions, challenge old conventions, and build a world where everyone, no matter their background, has the freedom to be themselves. We empower each other to do better, reach further, and achieve greater in our pursuit of excellence. When it comes to a challenge, we see possibilities, not problems. When something seems impossible, we work harder, dig deeper, and create innovations that can change the world.

Because at UMass Amherst, we are revolutionary.

Breaking New Ground

Throughout its history, UMass Amherst has demonstrated a strong institutional commitment to expanding the impact of its research and scholarship in new directions, with new partners, and through creative approaches to collaboration.

In fact, UMass scholars across degrees and disciplines are partnering with industry to bring the fruits of their research to the marketplace. From the Innovation Challenge—a four-part, cross-campus entrepreneurship competition for students and young alumni—to facilitating venture funds from collaborators across fields, UMass encourages the entrepreneurial spirit that fills our community with innovators.

Our Commitment to You

The University of Massachusetts Amherst has a long-standing commitment to social progress, a deep value for different perspectives, and a drive for inclusive excellence.

As a public land-grant institution, UMass Amherst has a historic and present-day responsibility to provide access and opportunities for all people. We foster a community of mutual respect by ensuring a safe, progressive, and understanding campus for everyone.

World-Class Education. Anytime, Anywhere.

UMass Amherst is a true University Without Walls (UWW). Championing new approaches and breaking down traditional barriers to education, UWW offers learners a wide range of the highest quality educational programs—from degree completion to graduate programs to professional development—in innovative and flexible formats. We are leading the charge to fully integrate face-to-face and virtual educational experiences at UMass Amherst, providing revolutionary access to all learners.

Your Journey Starts Here

At UMass Amherst, we are a community of fearless leaders, unconventional doers, and free thinking problem solvers who are out to change the world. We believe in the possibility of progress, in the power of inclusion, and in the potential for each of our students to change the world. As a leading research university, our campus contains limitless possibilities to transform your ideas into innovations that can redefine the future. Our student body is composed of bright, bold, unconventional thinkers at all levels on a journey to reshape their world. Start your journey at UMass Amherst.