University of Massachusetts-Boston is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Boston, Massachusetts. It enrolls 11,512 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNew England Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
69/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes32
Value80
Affordability67
Selectivity50
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 83.8%, University of Massachusetts-Boston is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
83.8%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1070 – 1290
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
22 – 29
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether University of Massachusetts-Boston is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
6.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending University of Massachusetts-Boston isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $17,707 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$17,707
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
42%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
51%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$15,908
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$38,125
Room & Board (on-campus)
$19,128
Room & Board (off-campus)
$15,179
Books & Supplies
$1,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,994
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,364
Total Cost of Attendance
$30,544
Application fee: $60 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$14,070
$30,001 – $48,000
$13,558
$48,001 – $75,000
$15,663
$75,001 – $110,000
$20,885
Over $110,000
$25,571
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$7,00025%percentile
$21,974Medianpercentile
$26,40775%percentile
$35,32490%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $15,865
↓ $6,109
No Pell $12,500
↓ $9,474
Dependent students $12,750
↓ $9,224
Independent students $21,499
↓ $475
Female students $15,000
↓ $6,974
Male students $15,000
↓ $6,974
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $10,332, less than completers ($21,974), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
51% of full-time students who enrolled at University of Massachusetts-Boston graduate within six years, and 72% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
51%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
72%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered University of Massachusetts-Boston earn a median of $65,865 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$65,865
Earning > $25K
80%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$50,900
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$57,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$49,100
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$56,700
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$58,200
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $6,900, about 12% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
32.1 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 80% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
University of Massachusetts-Boston is home to 11,512 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 43% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
11,512
Part-Time
15%
First-Generation
43%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 29.8%3,429
Hispanic 21.2%2,444
Black 18.2%2,097
Asian 16.4%1,882
International 6.7%769
Other 4.0%462
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at University of Massachusetts-Boston. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityBoston, Massachusetts
Housing
Limited on-campus housing1,102 beds
Adult Learners
16%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
University of Massachusetts-Boston offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
115 distinct programs across
24 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of Massachusetts-Boston is 15:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$18,651
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$147M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$104,907
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
709 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
141
20%
$151,325
Associate Professors
220
31%
$117,752
Assistant Professors
106
15%
$92,915
Lecturers
225
32%
$70,961
No Rank
17
2%
$77,726
Pros & Cons of University of Massachusetts-Boston
A quick at-a-glance summary of how University of Massachusetts-Boston tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Above-average post-graduation earnings
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, University of Massachusetts-Boston is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions about University of Massachusetts-Boston
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about University of Massachusetts-Boston.
Is University of Massachusetts-Boston hard to get into?
University of Massachusetts-Boston has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 83.8%.
What is the acceptance rate at University of Massachusetts-Boston?
University of Massachusetts-Boston has an acceptance rate of 83.8%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for University of Massachusetts-Boston?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of Massachusetts-Boston scored between 1070 and 1290 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for University of Massachusetts-Boston?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of Massachusetts-Boston scored between 22 and 29 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does University of Massachusetts-Boston cost?
The average net price after aid at University of Massachusetts-Boston is $17,707 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is University of Massachusetts-Boston worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $65,865 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $17,707 per year. That's roughly 3.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is University of Massachusetts-Boston known for?
University of Massachusetts-Boston is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Nursing, Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do University of Massachusetts-Boston graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering University of Massachusetts-Boston are $65,865, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is University of Massachusetts-Boston accredited?
Yes. University of Massachusetts-Boston is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend University of Massachusetts-Boston?
University of Massachusetts-Boston enrolls 11,512 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at University of Massachusetts-Boston?
University of Massachusetts-Boston graduates 51% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is University of Massachusetts-Boston a public or private college?
University of Massachusetts-Boston is a Public institution.
Where is University of Massachusetts-Boston located?
University of Massachusetts-Boston is located in Boston, Massachusetts.
What programs does University of Massachusetts-Boston offer?
University of Massachusetts-Boston offers 115 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Nursing, Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at University of Massachusetts-Boston?
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of Massachusetts-Boston is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Massachusetts
Other colleges in Massachusetts share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Psychology
Computer Science
Business Administration
Related Guides
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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Rankings That Feature University of Massachusetts-Boston
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