University of Massachusetts Amherst
Academics

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How strong are the academics at University of Massachusetts Amherst?

Let's cover class sizes, graduation rates, and outcomes.

18:1
Student to faculty ratio
33
Average class size
76%
4-year grad rate

Class Sizes

Class sizes likely stayed the same for you through high school. You'll find that college is much different. Some of the largest universities have classes that can seat hundreds of students in giant lecture halls. Conversely, as they progress and their focus narrows, higher-level courses can sometimes have just a handful of students.

UMass Amherst has an average student-to-faculty ratio of 18:1. The typical school is 14:1. While this ratio is important, what’s more important is how big a typical class is.

Class Sizes
2-9
309
10-19
931
20-29
527
30-39
225
40-49
147
50-99
257
100+
229

Honors Programs

University of Massachusetts Amherst has an honors program and/or honors college. Specifics of these programs vary, but benefits of being in an Honors Program might include priority registration, being part of a tight-knit community, and accessing unique learning opportunities.

Learn more about honors options on UMass Amherst's website.

Outcomes

It’s critical to understand a school’s outcomes to understand if your four (or more) years at the school will be worth it. Here are some key statistics about the outcomes of students who enroll at University of Massachusetts Amherst:

91%
First-year retention rate
76%
4-year grad rate
83%
6-year grad rate

Majors

Many students choose a school largely based on the what they want to study. The are University of Massachusetts Amherst's most popular majors, ranked by how many people graduated with the concentration in the most recent year:

Psychology, General
Computer Science
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Finance, General
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
211.4
275.72
340.04
404.36
468.68
533

The Full List

Major Graduates
Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science And Related Fields
  • Pre-Veterinary Studies 72
  • Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture 41
  • Animal Sciences, General 28
  • Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant 25
  • Plant Sciences, General 22
  • Horticultural Science 14
  • Food Science 14
  • Turf and Turfgrass Management 4
Architecture And Related Services
  • Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology 118
  • Landscape Architecture 16
Area
  • Women's Studies 8
  • African-American/Black Studies 2
  • Near and Middle Eastern Studies 2
  • Russian, Central European, East European and Eurasian Studies 1
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
  • Biology/Biological Sciences, General 365
  • Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 169
  • Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology 167
  • Microbiology, General 70
Business
  • Finance, General 343
  • Marketing/Marketing Management, General 204
  • Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management 188
  • Accounting 135
  • Business Administration and Management, General 129
  • Hospitality Administration/Management, General 77
Communication
  • Communication, General 258
  • Communication and Media Studies 258
  • Journalism 71
Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services
  • Computer Science 489
  • Informatics 35
Education
  • Education, General 49
Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering 153
  • Civil Engineering, General 83
  • Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering 82
  • Computer Engineering, General 75
  • Chemical Engineering 61
  • Electrical and Electronics Engineering 42
  • Industrial Engineering 20
English Language And Literature/Letters
  • English Language and Literature, General 104
Foreign Languages
  • Linguistics 37
  • Spanish Language and Literature 33
  • German Language and Literature 10
  • Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics 9
  • Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General 9
  • Japanese Language and Literature 7
  • Chinese Language and Literature 5
  • Italian Language and Literature 4
  • Comparative Literature 4
  • Portuguese Language and Literature 2
  • French Language and Literature 2
Health Professions And Related Programs
  • Public Health, General 253
  • Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 148
  • Communication Sciences and Disorders, General 71
History
  • History, General 82
Legal Professions And Studies
  • Non-Professional Legal Studies 84
  • LEGAL PROFESSIONS AND STUDIES 84
  • Legal Studies 84
Liberal Arts And Sciences
  • Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other 75
  • Humanities/Humanistic Studies 0
  • General Studies 0
Mathematics And Statistics
  • Mathematics, General 213
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
  • Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other 265
  • Nutrition Sciences 59
  • Sustainability Studies 24
  • Biological and Physical Sciences 10
  • Linguistics and Computer Science 0
  • Mathematics and Computer Science 0
Natural Resources And Conservation
  • Environmental Science 79
  • Natural Resources/Conservation, General 72
Parks
  • Sport and Fitness Administration/Management 124
Philosophy And Religious Studies
  • Philosophy 11
  • Jewish/Judaic Studies 0
Physical Sciences
  • Physics, General 40
  • Chemistry, General 35
  • Astronomy 14
  • Geology/Earth Science, General 9
Psychology
  • Psychology, General 533
Public Administration And Social Service Professions
  • Public Policy Analysis, General 0
Social Sciences
  • Economics, General 223
  • Political Science and Government, General 169
  • Econometrics and Quantitative Economics 124
  • Sociology, General 109
  • Anthropology, General 31
  • Social Sciences, Other 14
  • Geography 8
Visual And Performing Arts
  • Fine/Studio Arts, General 32
  • Music Performance, General 26
  • Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General 19
  • Art History, Criticism and Conservation 13
  • Music, General 12
  • Dance, General 8

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