A new way to tour UMass Amherst
A typical UMass Amherst tour can feel impersonal, leaving you with more questions than answers. You’re just a face in the crowd following a scripted tour led by a guide the school assigns you.
SchoolScoops offers private University of Massachusetts, Amherst tours tailored to your interests. Choose your own UMass student tour guide and enjoy a personalized campus visit where you'll get candid answers to your questions.
SchoolScoops is the more personal way to tour University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Private and personalized UMass Amherst tours
On a traditional UMass Amherst campus tour you’re just a number in a big group. With SchoolScoops, you can book a private University of Massachusetts, Amherst tour led by a real UMass student, giving you a personalized campus visit and the chance to ask all the questions that are important to you.
Choose your own tour guide
Unlike a traditional UMass Amherst campus tour, SchoolScoops lets you choose your own tour guide. Whether you want to meet an engineering major, a student-athlete or a fellow transfer student, you'll get authentic insights and advice from someone who truly gets you.
No scripts, just scoops
Traditional UMass Amherst campus tours are essentially a sales pitch—the tour guide works for the school and their job is to show you the highlights. SchoolScoops guides don’t work for their school, so there’s no sales pitch—just honest, unfiltered advice about the UMass experience.
Find out if UMass Amherst is the school for you
Choosing where to go to college is a major decision and a huge investment. A private UMass Amherst tour helps you decide if University of Massachusetts, Amherst is the right fit for your academic goals, career ambitions and college experience.
Can't make it to campus?
Book a 1-on-1 video chat with a UMass Amherst student for personalized insights. Learn about academics, campus culture, and Amherst life without leaving home.
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Real feedback on student-led campus tours
Get to know UMass Amherst
UMass Amherst is a leading public research university known for excellence in the sciences, engineering, business, and the humanities, grounded in a strong commitment to research, innovation, and public service.
Overview
UMass Amherst, founded in 1863, is a public land-grant research university located in Amherst, Massachusetts. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across multiple colleges and schools. A UMass Amherst campus tour highlights the university’s strong academics, vibrant campus life, and deep school pride that define the UMass experience.
Size
UMass Amherst has a total enrollment of approximately 32,000 students, including around 23,000 undergraduates and 9,000 graduate and professional students. A private tour of UMass Amherst gives you the opportunity to experience the size and energy of the campus firsthand.
Acceptance rate
UMass Amherst has an acceptance rate of around 65%, with slightly higher rates for in-state applicants. Half of admitted students who submitted test scores have an SAT score between approximately 1220–1420 or an ACT score between 27–32. A UMass Amherst campus tour helps applicants better understand the admissions experience through the perspective of current students.
Cost
For the 2024 academic year, UMass Amherst’s undergraduate tuition is approximately $17,000 for in-state students and $39,000 for out-of-state students, with graduate tuition varying by program. Around 70% of undergraduates receive financial aid, with an average need-based award of roughly $11,000.
Ranking
According to U.S. News & World Report, UMass Amherst is ranked #67 among National Universities. Rankings are based on widely recognized measures of academic quality, including graduation rates, faculty resources, and student outcomes. Booking a UMass Amherst campus tour highlights why the university is nationally recognized.
Academics
UMass Amherst offers more than 200 degree programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels across its colleges and schools. It maintains a student-to-faculty ratio of approximately 17:1, supporting strong academic engagement and access to faculty. On a UMass Amherst campus tour, students can see how rigorous academics balance with an active campus life.
Traditions
UMass Amherst’s most cherished traditions include Homecoming and hockey game day at the Mullins Center, the Blarney Blowout celebration, springtime gatherings around campus ponds and quads, and a strong culture of school pride tied to UMass athletics and student life. Experiencing these traditions during a UMass Amherst campus tour highlights the energy and pride of the student community.
Campus landmarks
UMass Amherst’s most iconic landmarks include Old Chapel, the W. E. B. Du Bois Library, McGuirk Alumni Stadium, the scenic Campus Pond, Mullins Center, and the Student Union—together showcasing the campus’s blend of academic tradition, natural beauty, and vibrant student life.
Student body
UMass Amherst enrolls a majority of students from Massachusetts, with strong representation from across New England, as well as New York, New Jersey, and other East Coast states. The student body also includes a growing number of students from across the U.S. and around the world. A private UMass Amherst tour offers perspective on how these diverse backgrounds shape campus life.
Become a SchoolScoops guide
In college? Earn $40/hour hosting 1-on-1 UMass Amherst campus tours and video chats with prospective students. Share your UMass experience and help future Minutemen find their path.
Become a guideYour UMass Amherst questions, answered
Where is UMass Amherst located?
UMass Amherst is located in Amherst, Massachusetts, in the scenic Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts. A UMass Amherst campus tour lets you experience the college-town atmosphere and natural surroundings that shape student life on campus.
How many students attend UMass Amherst?
UMass Amherst enrolls approximately 32,000 students, including about 23,000 undergraduates and 9,000 graduate and professional students.
When was UMass Amherst founded?
UMass Amherst was founded in 1863, making it the flagship campus of the University of Massachusetts system and one of the state’s oldest public universities.
What conference is UMass Amherst in?
UMass Amherst competes primarily in the Atlantic 10 Conference in NCAA Division I athletics, with football competing in the FBS as an independent.
Does UMass Amherst require an essay?
Yes, UMass Amherst requires a personal essay as part of its undergraduate application, typically submitted through the Common Application.
How much is tuition at UMass Amherst?
For 2024–2025, undergraduate tuition at UMass Amherst is approximately $17,000 per year for in-state students and $39,000 for out-of-state students. Graduate tuition varies by program and residency status.
How hard is it to get into UMass Amherst?
UMass Amherst is moderately competitive, with an acceptance rate of around 65%. Applicants with strong academics, solid coursework, and meaningful extracurricular involvement tend to have the best chances of admission.
What GPA is required for UMass Amherst?
Admitted students typically have strong high school GPAs, often around 4.0 or higher (weighted). While there is no strict minimum, applicants with **solid coursework and grades—generally in the mid-to-high 3s unweighted or above—**are most competitive for admission.
Does UMass Amherst have a nursing program?
Yes, UMass Amherst offers a well-regarded nursing program through its College of Nursing, including a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and several graduate nursing degrees.
Is UMass Amherst public or private?
UMass Amherst is a public university and serves as the flagship campus of the University of Massachusetts system.
Is UMass Amherst a good school?
Yes, UMass Amherst is widely regarded as a strong public research university, known for its academic quality, research strengths, and nationally competitive athletics. It is consistently recognized among top public universities in the U.S.
How big is UMass Amherst?
The UMass Amherst campus spans more than 1,450 acres in Amherst, Massachusetts, making it one of the largest public university campuses in the country, with extensive facilities for academics, athletics, research, and student life.
How can I book a tour of UMass Amherst?
You can schedule an official admissions tour through the UMass Amherst Visitor Center — or book a private, student-led UMass Amherst campus tour through SchoolScoops for a more personalized experience led by a current student.
Does UMass Amherst offer private campus tours?
Yes. SchoolScoops allows you to book private UMass Amherst campus tours with guides you choose, making your visit more authentic and personal by learning directly from current students.
Interested in other schools?
SchoolScoops also offers tours and video chats at many other schools
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