University of Massachusetts Amherst
The University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst or simply UMass) is a public land-grant research university in Amherst, Massachusetts. It is the oldest, largest, and flagship campus of the University of Massachusetts system, and was founded in 1863 as the Massachusetts Agricultural College. It is also a member of the Five College Consortium, along with four other colleges in the Pioneer Valley.
Not to be confused with Amherst College.
Former names
Massachusetts Agricultural College (1863–1931)[1]
Massachusetts State College (1931–1947)
"By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty."
April 29, 1863[2]
$507 million (2023)[3]
Tricia Serio[4]
1,550 full-time and 385 part-time (Fall 2023)[5]
22,854 (Fall 2023)[5]
4,566 (Fall 2023)[5]
Large suburb, 1,463 acres (5.92 km2)
Maroon and white[8]
- NCAA Division I FBS – Atlantic 10
- Hockey East
- Independent (football)
- NEISA
UMass Amherst is the largest university in Massachusetts by campus size and undergraduate enrollment.[11] The university offers academic degrees in 109 undergraduate, 77 master's, and 48 doctoral programs. Programs are coordinated in nine schools and colleges.[12] As of Fall 2022, UMass Amherst has an annual enrollment of more than 32,000[5] students, along with approximately 1,900 faculty members.[5] The University of Massachusetts Amherst is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity".[13] According to the National Science Foundation, the university spent $211 million on research and development in 2018.[14][12]
The university's 21 varsity athletic teams compete in NCAA Division I and are collectively known as the Minutemen and Minutewomen. The university is a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference while playing ice hockey in Hockey East and football as an FBS independent school.
Academic rankings
126
67
90
141
151–200
245
123
160
There are 243,628 University of Massachusetts Amherst alumni worldwide.[93] Notable UMass Amherst alumni include Greg Landry, Jeff Corwin, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Taj Mahal, Bill Paxton, William Monahan, Kenneth Feinberg, Bill Cosby,[94] Natalie Cole,[95] Julius "Dr. J" Erving, Rick Pitino, Bill Pullman, Betty Shabazz, Briana Scurry, Jack Welch, John F. Smith Jr., Jean Worthley, Jeff Reardon, Mike Flanagan, Lawrence Mestel, and Richard Gere.
