{"id":13963,"date":"2019-03-20T11:29:51","date_gmt":"2019-03-20T18:29:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/hs\/?p=13963"},"modified":"2019-12-19T11:35:24","modified_gmt":"2019-12-19T19:35:24","slug":"umass-amherst-admissions-the-sat-act-scores-and-gpa-you-need-to-get-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/hs\/college-admissions\/umass-amherst-admissions-the-sat-act-scores-and-gpa-you-need-to-get-in\/","title":{"rendered":"UMass Amherst Admissions: The SAT, ACT Scores, and GPA You Need to Get In"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"UMass<\/p>\n

The University of Massachusetts, Amherst is one of the nation\u2019s leading public universities — ranked 24th — but going there is also like being enrolled in four more prestigious colleges. <\/p>\n

That\u2019s because UMass Amherst is a member of the Five College Consortium<\/a>, along with Smith, Mt. Holyoke, Hampshire College, and the 2nd best liberal arts college in America, Amherst College. <\/p>\n

That means you can choose from over 6,000 courses at any of those schools for no extra cost. <\/p>\n

Even better, UMass Amherst has New England\u2019s best honors college<\/strong> and ranks 4th nationally in research grants<\/strong> to their students. <\/p>\n

There aren\u2019t many universities offering their students as diverse an education, whether you\u2019re looking for stellar research opportunities or a vibrant liberal arts education. <\/p>\n

UMass Amherst Admissions Fast Facts<\/h2>\n

Average GPA: <\/strong>3.90
\nAcceptance Rate: <\/strong> 64%
\nAverage SAT: <\/strong>1292
\nAverage ACT: <\/strong>28.8<\/p>\n

If UMass Amherst sounds like the place for you, keep reading to learn what you need to be a competitive applicant! <\/p>\n

More About UMass Amherst SAT Scores<\/h2>\n

UMass generally expects applicants\u2019 SAT scores to be in the top quarter<\/strong> of results nationally, fitting with their high admissions criteria. <\/p>\n

There\u2019s no minimum SAT score, but since more than three quarters of accepted students submitted SAT scores in 2019 it\u2019s a good idea to send yours in if you scored highly, and applicants are required to submit the ACT or the SAT<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

Here’s a breakdown of UMass Amherst SAT Scores:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/th>\n25th Percentile<\/th>\n50th Percentile<\/th>\n75th Percentile<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
UMass Amherst SAT Scores<\/td>\n1220<\/td>\n1292<\/td>\n1380<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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The average score of admitted applicants in 2019 was a 1292<\/strong>, and the middle 50% of scores fell between 1220 and 1380. That means 25% of those admitted scored below 1220, and another 25% had above 1380. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s a good idea to aim for a 1380 or higher<\/strong>, landing you in the top quarter of applicants and really increasing your chances.<\/p>\n

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More About UMass Amherst ACT Scores<\/h2>\n

The average ACT in 2019 was a 28.8<\/strong>, which is in the 90th percentile of ACT scores<\/strong> nationally — that means only 10% of test-takers got a higher result. <\/p>\n

Here’s a breakdown of UMass Amherst ACT Scores:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/th>\n25th Percentile<\/th>\n50th Percentile<\/th>\n75th Percentile<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
UMass Amherst ACT Scores<\/td>\n26<\/td>\n28.8<\/td>\n31<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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50% of admitted students scored between a 26 and a 31, meaning anything under a 26 is a below average score and higher than 31 is above average. <\/strong> <\/p>\n

One-quarter of students scored lower than the average range, which means a low test score doesn\u2019t mean you won\u2019t be admitted as long as you have an otherwise strong application. That said, getting a 28.8 or higher — a score in the top quartile of applicants — can really boost your chances of getting in. <\/p>\n

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More About UMass Amherst Average GPA <\/h2>\n

The average GPA of admitted applicants in 2019 was a 3.90, <\/strong> which means you should be mostly an A student, with one or two Bs but no Cs, to be competitive. <\/p>\n

If your school offers IB, AP, or Dual Enrollment classes and adjusts your grades accordingly, your GPA can end up being much more competitive.<\/p>\n

Enrolling in those courses also demonstrates your willingness to take on a challenging, college preparatory course load. <\/p>\n

UMass Amherst Acceptance Rate<\/h2>\n

UMass Amherst admissions are selective, with a 64% acceptance rate<\/strong> in 2019. For comparison, the average acceptance rate nationally is only about 65.5%, so we\u2019re not talking a real difference in competition. <\/p>\n

That said, if you look at admissions statistics<\/a> over the last few years, average test scores of admitted students are growing while the number of students admitted is falling. Like a lot of schools, it\u2019s only going to get more difficult to get in.<\/p>\n

UMass Amherst Freshman Profile<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re thinking of applying to college, you probably want to know what your classmates will be like, right?
\nUMass gives us a lot of demographic info<\/a> on their recent classes, so we can get a pretty good picture of who chooses to enroll. <\/p>\n

Here are some of the highlights: <\/p>\n