Degrees Offered at University of Massachusetts-Amherst
The University of Massachusetts-Amherst appears in our ranking of the Top 50 Most Affordable MPH Online Programs.
The University of Massachusetts-Amherst is a land-grant university and public research institution located in Amherst, Mass. UMass Amherst is known for its rigorous academic standards and quality student experience. Undergraduate and graduate students at UMass Amherst have many options to choose from when it comes to online degree programs. From business and agriculture to nursing practice and health sciences, the degree focuses available to students are wide-ranging. Whether students take classes online or in person, they will have all the advantages offered by the physical campus. UMass Amherst is organized into the following schools and colleges:
- College of Education
- College of Engineering
- College of Humanities and Fine Arts
- College of Information and Computer Sciences
- College of Natural Sciences
- College of Nursing
- College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Commonwealth Honors College
- Isenberg School of Management
- School of Public Health and Health Sciences
- Stockbridge School of Agriculture
- Graduate School
The College of Nursing offers a wide selection of degree plans for undergraduates as well as transfer and graduate students. Nursing majors who already have a bachelor’s degree in another subject can enroll in the accelerated BSN program, which takes 17 months to complete. UMass Amherst also offers an online RN-to-BSN completion program for nurses who already have a registered nursing license. For graduate students of the College of Nursing, the possible degree paths and concentrations are much broader. From the Doctor of Nursing Practice and Ph.D. Nursing program to the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s Online Certificate option, the graduate school of nursing offers many opportunities for students to advance their careers.
The Isenberg School of Management is ranked in the top 10 percent nationally by U.S. News & World Report. The online Master of Business Administration program is ranked third in the nation, and the undergraduate business program at UMass Amherst is ranked first in the Northeast. Business students have many fully online options to choose from, including the Bachelor of Business Administration, Master of Science in Accounting, Master of Science in Business & Analytics and the aforementioned MBA. Business students can also pursue online certificates in subjects such as business analytics, forensic accounting, human resource management and business studies.
UMass Amherst is known for its high-quality agriculture programs offered by the historic Stockbridge School of Agriculture. Undergraduate degree focuses include agriculture and community forestry, landscape contracting, plant and soil sciences, sustainable food and farming, horticulture science, and turfgrass science and management. UMass Amherst also offers master of science and Ph.D. programs in plant and soil sciences. Undergraduate and graduate programs at the Stockbridge School of Agriculture have residency requirements, so students must be able to travel to the campus regularly throughout the semester.
About University of Massachusetts-Amherst
UMass Amherst is the flagship campus of the University of Massachusetts system. It is a member of the Five College Consortium of the Connecticut River Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts. With approximately 30,000 students and 1,300 professors, UMass Amherst offers each student a rewarding experience with small class sizes and personal attention from instructors. The university has an endowment of $347 million. It is located on a 1,463-acre campus with access to urban and suburban areas of Amherst, Mass. Notable alumni include astronaut Catherine Coleman, Nobel Prize-winning physicist Russell Hulse and Former UN Under-Secretary-General Kang Kyung-wha.
University of Massachusetts-Amherst Accreditation Details
Umass Amherst is institutionally accredited by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The NEASC is approved by the U.S. Department of Education to provide accreditation for universities in the Northeast. Because UMass Amherst is a regionally accredited school, students and graduates can rest assured that their credits will be recognized by other institutions. Many individual programs at UMass Amherst are accredited by specialized agencies, including:
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
- American Psychological Association
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Council on Education for Public Health
- National Association of Schools of Art and Design
- National Association of Schools of Music
- National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
These agencies provide oversight for technical, professional and vocational programs. Programmatic accreditation ensures that students with specialized degree focuses can pursue professional careers in competitive fields.
University of Massachusetts-Amherst Application Requirements
UMass Amherst is a highly selective school. Applicants can increase their chances of acceptance by following the guidelines for admission. A high grade point average is important, and students should send their senior-year grades to the UMass Amherst admissions office as early as possible.
All applicants must begin the admissions process by completing an online application and answering the UMass questionnaire. Freshman applicants must include an official high school transcript that includes information about their GPA, course schedule and graduation ranking. Incoming freshmen must have completed the following course units to be considered for enrollment:
- Four units of English
- Four units of mathematics, including senior-level math and Algebra II
- Three units of natural science, including three labs
- Two units of social science, including one unit of U.S. history
- Two units of the same foreign language
- Two electives, including arts and humanities or computer science
Graduate school applicants must include a college transcript with information about an accredited bachelor’s or master’s degree. Students applying for master’s or doctoral programs may be asked to submit GRE test scores prior to admission. The deadlines for applications are November 5 for the spring semester and May 5 for the fall semester.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition at UMass Amherst costs around $14,971 per year for Massachusetts residents and $32,204 per year for non-residents. The cost of books, course materials, and living expenses increases the total amount by around $16,000 per year. Graduate school and online programs cost about the same per-credit-hour as residential undergraduate programs. Students can apply for aid by visiting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) website. FAFSA provides access to public loans and grants to students with financial need.
The University of Massachusetts-Amherst is a competitive school with a global reputation for excellence.