Tuition, Cost & Aid

For a great undergraduate education you don't need to spend tons of money, especially if you are planing to continue you education after undergrad. UMass Amherst has understanding professors, knowledgeable teaching assistants, award winning dining, and a campus designed to fit anyone's personality.

Most of the dorms are surprisingly nice, and if you don't have too much more than the essentials, there's plenty of space. The food is decent, plus you get meal exchanges that you can use at most of the restaurants on campus. One hidden gem at UMass: the Newman Center Cafe. They have very good cheap food, and they serve it up very fast. Another excellent thing about UMass is that almost anyplace you need to go, you can take a bus - and they're all free.

With the consortium, you can choose to enroll in courses at any of the five colleges within the surrounding area--Amherst College, UMass Amherst, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College and Smith College--all while paying the UMass Amherst tuition (much lower than the rest). The cost of the university is impeccable in comparison to its reputation as one of the nation's most leading research facilities. The dorm rooms are very large and the food is great! Definitely worth the cost.

One of the main reasons I came here was because of their veterinary program-UMass is one of the only schools in this area that actually has a pre-vet program/major. Even as a freshman I'm getting hands on experience already, such as taking vitals, looking for parasites, taking ultrasounds, and drawing blood. Also, working here will give me a huge step up on other students applying to vet schools, because while most people have experience with small animals (cats, dogs, etc.), UMass is giving me experience with large animals (cows, alpacas, horses, goats). In addition, everyone in this program is very helpful and gives a lot of advice, especially when it comes to looking for internships.
Also, there are a lot of great groups here to join that aren't available at smaller schools, like Goat Group, Ski and Board Club, Rock Climbing, Outdoor Club, and others. And there are brand new, multi-million dollar buildings that are beautiful and just amazing, such as the new gym (top of the art facility, with an indoor track and three levels of machinery), and the new science building (with lots of new computers and resource centers!). It's just amazing.

Because UMass is funded by the state, the tuition for those that live in Massachusetts is fantastic when compared to the education you receive. It can be a bit pricey for out-of-state students, but not as much as any of the Ivy League or big-name universities. Plus, freshmen are guaranteed housing and I have always been satisfied with the food at the dining halls.

I'm here on scholarship and financial aid, not paying a thing. This was the main reason I came here. It is a good school for most majors, and a GREAT school for some (management and engineering are the two I can think of right now) so if you can stand being around a lot of people who make a lot of noise definitely come check it out.

UMass is really helpful with financial aid and has great food that you normally wouldn't expect on a college campus. There are six different residence areas, and UMass even helps with nearby off campus housing if preferred.

For in-state residents this place is almost a steal, especially for nursing, business, and engineering majors. The reputation of the nursing and business programs are so well-known, that it virtually eliminates the supposed stigma of attending a public university. Also, engineering students here are just honestly worked so hard and pushed so far, that it cannot help but give them an edge.

Tuition keeps raising just like every other school, but it is more reasonable than other schools and offers incredible opportunities and resources.

This school is very inexpensive, especially if you currently live in Massachusetts, and the education you will receive is greatly outweighs the cost. In today's economic world, the ability to graduate without large amounts of student loans is priceless, especially if you are planning on continuing on to grad school.