University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst) is one of the largest public research universities in the United States. Nestled in idyllic Amherst, Massachusetts, the campus is consistently ranked among the top public research universities in the nation, and offers a rich cultural environment in a rural setting close to major urban centers.
Established in 1863, UMass Amherst offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. Over 28,000 students are currently enrolled, including nearly 21,000 undergraduates from 68 countries and 49 states. UMass Amherst also employs 1,300 full-time instructional faculty and has approximately 244,000 living alumni around the world.
Renowned for its high level of research activity, UMass Amherst’s supported research activities totalled more than $191 million in fiscal 2013. It is a leader in life sciences, ranking third in funding from the National Science Foundation among Massachusetts colleges and universities, behind only MIT and Harvard. In 2013, it was awarded $95 million by the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center to partner with life sciences companies to develop new products and services.
UMass Amherst also specialises in climate change research. In 2011, it was selected by the U.S. government to lead a consortium of seven universities and host a major new initiative, the Northeast Climate Science Center to study the effects of climate change on ecosystems, wildlife, water and other resources in the region, funded with a $7.5 million grant.
Other notable achievements:
- We rank among the nation’s Top 30 public universities in the U.S. News & World Report’s annual college guide.
- Eight of our faculty members at UMass Amherst are among “the world’s leading scientific minds,” whose publications are among the most influential in their fields, according to a 2014 survey by Thomson Reuters.
- The academic and leadership excellence of 14 UMass Amherst students have been recognized by the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. The 14 current Fulbright scholarships are a campus record.
- We rank among the top 200 programs worldwide in 17 academic disciplines, according to the 2014 QS World University Subject Ratings.
- We are ranked among the top 10 research universities nationwide for our commitment to leadership in sustainability by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.
- UMass Amherst’s operations contributed $1.9 billion in economic activity to the Massachusetts economy in fiscal 2013.
- UMass Amherst engages the community with 359 programs, partnering with 499 organizations in 21 states, and involving 86 different campus units.
- UMass Amherst competes in 21 intercollegiate sports (10 for men and 11 for women). All teams participate in NCAA Division I.
