History
The Massachusetts Agricultural College (MAC) was founded in 1863 under the national Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act. Set on 310 rural acres, it offered its first classes in 1867. It then had four faculty members, four wooden buildings, 56 students, and a curriculum combining modern farming, science, technical courses, and a smattering of the liberal arts.
Education
109 bachelor's degree programs, five associate's, 78 master’s and 48 doctoral programs in nine schools and colleges.
Research
UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth’s flagship public research university, is one of the nation's top universities for research as measured by national and international rankings, academic citations, and research funding. The campus spends more than $200 million on research each year, demonstrating its contribution to the nation’s position as a technological and economic leader. We work in conjunction with academic, government, and private partners to translate new knowledge and scientific discoveries into technical innovations and scholarly works that create opportunity for students, faculty and the public.
Career
The mission of the Career Development Hub, and of career centers university-wide, is to educate students in all phases of their career development and to empower them in making gratifying career decisions to develop and transition successfully in a diverse and global society.
University Ranking
Student services
The Student Affairs and Campus Life is a campus community that actively embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion grounded in core values of compassion, care, and concern for others. We center around eight key functions that together create a supportive living and learning environment of responsive care and support for retention, graduation, and success beyond college.
Housing services
The university has 52 residence halls including traditional residence halls, suites and apartments throughout campus.
Whether you prefer a residential area nestled amid rolling hills or a neighborhood located at the heart of the campus, a high-rise tower or a red brick residence hall, a suite or a traditional room, UMass Amherst offers a housing option to meet your needs and expectations.
Each residential area houses classrooms, recreational and social centers, kitchenettes, and cultural centers - in addition to the bedrooms, study areas, laundries, television rooms, and dining facilities you might expect. Each residential area also has its own student governing body and is, in effect, a community unto itself.
Library services
As a key partner in teaching, learning, and research at UMass Amherst and beyond, the Libraries foster a diverse, inclusive, and user-centered environment in which to engage with ideas and acquire the skills necessary for independent learning and critical thinking.
ICT services
Information technologies at the flagship research campus of the Commonwealth support our core mission of teaching, learning, research, and engagement by using technology to reach new heights of excellence.
Medical services
UHS provides comprehensive health and wellness services for the UMass Amherst campus community, with a special focus on the needs and concerns of college students.
- Allergy Shots
- COVID-19 Testing
- Eye Care and Optical Services
- General Medical Care
- Immunizations
- Neurology
- Nutrition Services
- Obstetrics & Gynecology
and many more...
Campus life
UMass Amherst, located in Amherst, Massachusetts, sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, 90 miles from Boston and 175 miles from New York City. The campus provides a rich cultural environment in a rural setting close to major urban centers.
Sports facilities
Campus Recreation welcomes you as we strive to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for all participants. As members of the campus community and patrons of recreation facilities, including the Recreation Center, Boyden gymnasium, handball/squash courts and pool, Curry Hicks pool, Turf Fields and Mullins tennis courts, we need your assistance in maintaining a safe and healthy environment. We strongly encourage our patrons to read, understand and abide by the policies and procedures. Campus Recreation reserves the right to immediately implement policies and/or procedures to protect our patrons.
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).