A Major research university in an incomparable setting

A leading center for public higher education in the Northeast, the University of Massachusetts Amherst has gained a reputation for excellence in a growing number of fields, for its wide and varied academic offerings, and for its expanding historic roles in education, research, and public service.

The flagship campus of the Commonwealth's University system, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a major research university enrolling more than 24,000 students, from the entire United States and nearly 100 countries.

The campus provides a rich cultural environment in a rural setting close to major urban centers. As a member of the Five College consortium, the University shares a mutually rewarding relationship with students, faculty, and staff from Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, and Smith colleges.

Quick Facts

The 1450-acre UMass Amherst campus is located in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts just minutes from the Connecticut River, with easy access to airports, outdoor recreation, performance arts, and attractions including Tanglewood and the Basketball Hall of Fame. Amherst is about 90 miles from Boston and 175 miles from New York City.

History

Established in 1863 under the Morrill Land Grant Act as Massachusetts Agricultural College, and opened in 1867 on a 310-acre campus with 4 faculty members, 4 buildings and 56 students, "Mass Aggie" became Massachusetts State College in 1931 and the University of Massachusetts in 1947 during a post-World War II growth surge. Today, UMass Amherst is the flagship campus of the five-campus University of Massachusetts System.

Enrollment

18,966 undergraduates
5,680 graduate students
24,646 total undergraduate and graduate students
(Fall 2004 data)

Faculty

1,129 full-time
288 part-time
(Fall 2004 data)

Research

Supported research activities total more than $100 million per year.

Academic Programs

93 undergraduate majors, 70 master's and 50 doctoral programs in 10 schools and colleges.

Library

The university's library system is the largest at a state-supported institution in New England with more than 5.7 million items.

Athletics

23 competing at the NCAA Division I level in men's and women's sports, plus sport clubs and recreational facilities open to students, faculty and staff.

Arts

The Fine Arts Center brings nationally-known theatre, dance and music to campus year-round. Six galleries provide a variety of spaces for visual arts. Student art and performance opportunities abound.

The Five College Consortium

UMass Amherst is a founding member of the nation's oldest and most successful college consortium, Five Colleges, Incorporated, which includes Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, and Smith colleges as well as the university. UMass Amherst students may take courses on any of the five campuses at no extra charge.