University of Massachusetts Amherst
Academics
How strong are the academics at University of Massachusetts Amherst?
Let's cover class sizes, graduation rates, and outcomes.
17:1
Student to faculty ratio
32
Average class size
75%
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 17:1. The typical school is 14:1. While this ratio is important, what’s more important is how big a typical class is.
Class Sizes
Most Common
10-19
2-9
333
10-19
932
20-29
605
30-39
222
40-49
131
50-99
265
100+
230
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:
92%
First-year retention rate
75%
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
Finance, General
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Communication, General
187.8
255.24
322.68
390.12
457.56
525
The Full List
Major
Graduates
Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science And Related Fields
- Pre-Veterinary Studies 77
- Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture 40
- Animal Sciences, General 28
- Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant 17
- Horticultural Science 15
- Food Science 14
- Plant Sciences, General 7
- Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture 7
- Turf and Turfgrass Management 4
- Pre-Veterinary Studies 1
Architecture And Related Services
- Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology 95
- Landscape Architecture 17
Area
- Women's Studies 8
- Women's Studies 5
- African-American/Black Studies 3
- Near and Middle Eastern Studies 3
- Russian, Central European, East European and Eurasian Studies 3
- African-American/Black Studies 2
- Near and Middle Eastern Studies 1
- Russian, Central European, East European and Eurasian Studies 1
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General 315
- Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology 177
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 139
- Microbiology, General 44
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General 6
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2
- Microbiology, General 1
Business
- Finance, General 323
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General 229
- Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management 224
- Accounting 133
- Business Administration and Management, General 129
- Hospitality Administration/Management, General 55
- Hospitality Administration/Management, General 6
Communication
- Communication, General 244
- Communication and Media Studies 244
- Journalism 64
- Communication, General 44
- Communication and Media Studies 44
- Journalism 24
Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services
- Computer Science 448
- Informatics 41
- Computer Science 14
- Informatics 1
Education
- Education, General 64
- Education, General 7
Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering 142
- Civil Engineering, General 97
- Computer Engineering, General 76
- Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering 74
- Electrical and Electronics Engineering 56
- Chemical Engineering 38
- Industrial Engineering 27
English Language And Literature/Letters
- English Language and Literature, General 113
- English Language and Literature, General 18
Foreign Languages
- Linguistics 40
- Spanish Language and Literature 25
- Spanish Language and Literature 19
- Japanese Language and Literature 11
- Comparative Literature 10
- German Language and Literature 8
- French Language and Literature 8
- Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General 7
- Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics 7
- German Language and Literature 7
- Linguistics 6
- French Language and Literature 5
- Italian Language and Literature 4
- Italian Language and Literature 4
- Chinese Language and Literature 4
- Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General 4
- Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics 4
- Portuguese Language and Literature 4
- Comparative Literature 2
- Chinese Language and Literature 1
- Portuguese Language and Literature 1
Health Professions And Related Programs
- Public Health, General 191
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 100
- Communication Sciences and Disorders, General 52
- Public Health, General 4
- Communication Sciences and Disorders, General 1
History
- History, General 65
- History, General 3
Legal Professions And Studies
- Legal Studies 87
- Non-Professional Legal Studies 87
- LEGAL PROFESSIONS AND STUDIES 87
- Legal Studies 24
- Non-Professional Legal Studies 24
- LEGAL PROFESSIONS AND STUDIES 24
Liberal Arts And Sciences
- Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other 67
- Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other 20
- Humanities/Humanistic Studies 0
- General Studies 0
Mathematics And Statistics
- Mathematics, General 172
- Mathematics, General 41
- Statistics, General 0
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
- Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other 229
- Nutrition Sciences 46
- Sustainability Studies 19
- Biological and Physical Sciences 13
- Sustainability Studies 1
- Nutrition Sciences 1
- Mathematics and Computer Science 1
- Linguistics and Computer Science 0
Natural Resources And Conservation
- Environmental Science 83
- Natural Resources/Conservation, General 77
- Environmental Science 2
- Natural Resources/Conservation, General 2
Parks
- Sport and Fitness Administration/Management 112
- Sport and Fitness Administration/Management 28
Philosophy And Religious Studies
- Philosophy 21
- Philosophy 9
- Jewish/Judaic Studies 0
Physical Sciences
- Physics, General 40
- Chemistry, General 33
- Geology/Earth Science, General 13
- Astronomy 12
- Physics, General 5
- Geology/Earth Science, General 2
- Astronomy 2
Psychology
- Psychology, General 525
- Psychology, General 74
Public Administration And Social Service Professions
- Public Policy Analysis, General 0
Social Sciences
- Economics, General 231
- Political Science and Government, General 148
- Econometrics and Quantitative Economics 127
- Sociology, General 93
- Economics, General 52
- Anthropology, General 35
- Political Science and Government, General 21
- Social Sciences, Other 19
- Sociology, General 13
- Anthropology, General 11
- Geography 7
- Social Sciences, Other 4
- Geography 4
- Econometrics and Quantitative Economics 3
Visual And Performing Arts
- Fine/Studio Arts, General 31
- Music Performance, General 31
- Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General 31
- Art History, Criticism and Conservation 14
- Dance, General 10
- Music, General 10
- Dance, General 3
- Fine/Studio Arts, General 2
- Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General 2
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