University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Amherst, Massachusetts · Public · 59.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 83/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
UMass Amherst is the flagship public research university of Massachusetts, enrolling 23,671 students with an ROI score of 83 (Strong Value). The admission rate is 59.7%. In-state tuition is $17,772, with average net price at $22,383. Six-year average earnings hit $44,200 and the 10-year median is $71,631. Completion is 83.3%. Payback of 6.3 years is competitive. The school has deep engineering and computer science programs: Computer Science (498 graduates) earns $88,554 at year one and $123,519 at year four; Computer Engineering (75 graduates) earns $89,327/$113,083. Finance (343 graduates) and Economics (417 graduates) add strong business outcomes. For the price, UMass Amherst offers a credible path to high-earnings careers across technology, engineering, and business - particularly at in-state tuition rates.
University of Massachusetts-Amherst scores in the top 11% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $17,772/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $40,449/yr |
| Average net price | $22,383/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $89,532 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $71,631 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $44,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,763 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $241 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.3 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 83.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 23,671 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $17,772/year ($40,449/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $22,383/year, or roughly $89,532 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $10,164/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $30,793/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $22,763, which works out to about $241 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($44,200) and comes to 0.52, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $10,164 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $10,456 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $12,932 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,964 |
| $110,001+ | $30,793 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $10,164/year - about $40,000 for four years. For a flagship research university with 83.3% completion and $71,631 in 10-year earnings, this is a strong deal. The payback of 6.3 years at average net price is even more favorable at in-state prices for aided low-income students.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30-48k bracket pays $10,456/year - nearly flat with the lowest bracket, a positive feature. The 48-75k bracket rises to $12,932/year, and the 75-110k bracket reaches $18,964/year.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families over $110,000 pay $30,793/year. The investment case is strong for high-income families as well, particularly for students entering high-earning fields.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Massachusetts-Amherst with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $51,274 | D |
| Computer Science | $123,519 | B+ |
| Economics | $80,434 | C+ |
| Biology | $72,726 | C |
| Finance and Financial Management | $96,995 | B+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $92,623 | B+ |
| Mathematics | $83,338 | C+ |
| Communication and Media Studies | $60,891 | C |
| Public Health | $63,854 | C |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $63,383 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer Science
Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.266 on $23,569 median debt earns a B+ grade. The Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences has built credible industry relationships with Northeast tech employers and Boston-area firms. At in-state net prices, the ROI of a CS degree here rivals private engineering schools charging three times more.
Computer Engineering
Computer Engineering graduates 75 students per year with one-year earnings of $89,327 and four-year earnings of $113,083. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.302 on $27,000 median debt earns a B+ grade. The program sits within UMass's College of Engineering, which draws recruiting from semiconductor, defense, and tech firms operating in the Boston-Route 128 corridor. Graduates enter roles in hardware design, embedded systems, and technology product development. The four-year earnings represent strong returns on a public flagship investment.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance at UMass Amherst graduates 343 students per year. One-year earnings of $68,920 and four-year earnings of $96,995 are strong for a public university finance program. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.337 on $23,250 median debt earns a B+ grade. The Isenberg School of Management's reputation is solid in the Northeast, and the volume of graduates creates a self-reinforcing alumni network in finance and accounting roles.
Accounting
The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.344 on $23,250 median debt earns a B+ grade. Public accounting firms actively recruit from UMass, and the CPA track provides a clear post-graduate earnings ramp.
Economics
Economics graduates 417 students per year - the school's second-largest program by count after Psychology. One-year earnings of $52,309 and four-year earnings of $80,434 reflect solid outcomes for a liberal arts economics program at a flagship. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.497 on $26,000 median debt earns a C+ grade. Economics graduates enter a broad range of careers including finance, consulting, government, and law, and many pursue graduate school. The C+ grade reflects the higher debt-to-earnings ratio relative to engineering and finance, but the absolute earnings are competitive.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 80.6% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 83.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 78.7% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 83.0% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Massachusetts-Amherst’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 59.7% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 660-770 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 650-730 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 30-33 |
| Enrollment | 23,671 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 19.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $14,663 |
UMass Amherst admits 59.7% of applicants. The ACT range is 30-33 and the SAT range is 650-770. Out-of-state applicants face the same admission rate but pay dramatically more - $40,449 tuition versus $17,772 in-state, which changes the ROI calculation significantly.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Massachusetts-Amherst (this school) | 83 | $22,383 | $71,631 |
| University of Connecticut | 85 | $25,097 | $73,997 |
| The University of Texas at Dallas | 84 | $18,267 | $68,227 |
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick | 83 | $24,406 | $74,479 |
| Bridgewater State University | 59 | $16,383 | $57,466 |
| Fitchburg State University | 58 | $14,262 | $53,874 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See University of Massachusetts-Amherst side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
Admitted students cluster in the ACT 30-33 range and SAT 650-730 reading, 660-770 math. At 23,671 students, the campus is large - students comfortable in large lecture environments and who proactively seek internships and career services will benefit most. Engineers, computer scientists, and business students have the clearest pathways to strong ROI here. Students in humanities and social sciences face a more competitive job market with lower starting salaries.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, University of Massachusetts-Amherst pays off. You'd pay about $22,383 a year after aid ($89,532 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $71,631 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6.3 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 83.3% graduation rate, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $22,763 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $44,200 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
University of Massachusetts-Amherst: Common Questions
Is University of Massachusetts-Amherst worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students University of Massachusetts-Amherst pays off. It scores 83/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $22,383 a year after aid ($89,532 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $71,631 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6.3 years to earn back.
How much does University of Massachusetts-Amherst cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $22,383 a year, or roughly $89,532 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do University of Massachusetts-Amherst graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $71,631 ten years after enrolling, roughly $29,831 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off University of Massachusetts-Amherst?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 6.3 years for University of Massachusetts-Amherst. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Massachusetts-Amherst graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $22,763, against average earnings of $44,200 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at University of Massachusetts-Amherst?
The six-year graduation rate is 83.3%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.