University of Massachusetts--Amherst User Reviews and Ratings
Best Decision of my Life
By David, Class of 2021, From Massachusetts
Literally everything is coming up UMass. A rise of 28 spots (among public universities) in 10 years is nothing short or incredible. Chancellor Subbaswamy announced his vision to transform UMass into a top-20 public university a couple years ago and he is well on his way towards getting us there. Most importantly, he's done a great job at catering to what the students want. Students get to watch the completely transformed athletic department, who sent the Hockey team to the National Championship last year, for free. Our facilities rival that of the most expensive private colleges in the country, with multiple major renovation projects all over this campus in the last five years. Through careful spending the University has completely transformed itself from what it was while maintaining among the lowest prices in New England. Tuition and fees have consistently been raised at levels significantly below the national and regional average. Oh, and UMass has been ranked #1 for best dining halls in America four years in a row. Safe to say catering to what the students want has worked, and it will continue to, with a new Student Union Building and dining hall to open in the fall of 2020, and new campus housing breaking ground this winter. The network you build with a UMass Amherst education is comparable to that of the University of California System. Not only are you graduating with a degree from the largest campus in New England, but the 75,000-strong UMass System is far more interconnected than our competitors in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, or Maryland. As the private colleges around Boston outside of Harvard and MIT's tier (Boston College, Boston University, Tufts, and Northeastern) continue to rise over $65,000-$75,000 a year, more and more students of the nation's education capital will be choosing UMass Amherst, and this historic rise will continue as the quality of its students and resources do as well. It's an incredible time to be a student at UMass.
What best describes you? Current Student
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：5
Health & Safety
Score：5
Best In-State Value for Business Concentration
By KH, Class of 2018, From Boston, MA
The school has nearly shed it's reputation as a party school, and is regarded highly as a research institution. I was a student of Isenberg and found the coursework had prepared me for the real world. Isenberg provides a smaller community in a huge school, allowing like-minded people to connect and learn together. I found I was able to find my own path, as I was afforded opportunities to take advantage of without the 'hand-holding' that I feel smaller business schools seem to have.
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：4
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：4
Health & Safety
Score：4
Online MPH Avoid
By Gabe, From Boston
I wonder who the people are that have rated the online MPH program so highly at UMASS; perhaps they're reviewing different programs that are taught on campus. UMASS' online MPH program has incredibly little content. You can complete the program without a single lecture or professorial instruction. There are no classes; no meetings. Most instructors are adjuncts; some are qualified but spend no time on the classes. You are expected to teach yourself the material from a book; sometimes there is an accompanying slide deck but they were usually only a few slides or a summary of the textbook. UMASS itself provides zero content. Typically, at most universities, graduate classes are 36-42 hours of in-class instruction, a textbook, numerous papers from peer-reviewed journals, and enough papers, problem sets, and exams to need to spend 70-80 hours studying outside the classroom. Therefore, in total, a graduate course typically takes 106-122 hours of work. UMASS' online MPH courses never took more than 12-18 hours total time per course. The program office knows this and conflates the lack of content to the communication medium of the Internet, which are wholly unrelated. If you can't get into any other MPH program and/or want one that's cheap with in-state tuition, maybe consider UMASS. From my experience, I would never hire or want to work with a UMASS MPH alumnus unless they had other qualifications.
What best describes you? Alumni
I love UMass!
By Patrick G., From Duxbury
UMass is such an incredible place. My professors were caring, involved and available to help me be successful. The campus is beautiful, and the whole atmosphere is awesome. I am very proud to be a UMass alum. I visit Amherst on a regular basis and feel like I am home every time I'm there.
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：5
Health & Safety
Score：5
Great school for Pre-meds!
By Class of 2018, From DC
I was a premed pursuing dual degrees and I was truly grateful for the many opportunities and mentorships I was given. I was able to hop from one research lab to another in my first 2 years, allowing me to fully discover my passion for science (and also what I hate!). UMass also has amazing support for career and premed advice, and their career fair is one of the best in the state that even schools from Boston would come all the way to meet their potential employers. They also have incredible support for academics, particularly the LRC services which range from one on one tutoring, group tutoring, to lecture-style review sessions, covering all types of needs a student can possibly have. And did I not mention how AMAZING their dining hall food is? I mean it is NO.1 IN THE NATION and the dining certainly became my comfort place. Also a PLUS: you can take classes from the neighboring 4 colleges including Amherst college. I cannot say enough how much I love UMass and I think it is honestly one of the best choices I have made in my life (Choosing UMass over private expensive colleges, which I doubt the expensive tuition would give you that much more than what UMass can offer)
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：4
Health & Safety
Score：5
#1 school in MA
By 2013, From Boston, MA
If you put in the work, you'll get the best education of your life. I double majored and still went out four times a week so it's possible to have fun and come out on top. Work hard, play hard.
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：4
Classes & Teachers
Score：4
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：4
Health & Safety
Score：5
Wonderful university!
By Pedro, From RJ
My experience at UMass was amazing. The campus us beautiful, and even though it is quite big, after a few weeks you'll feel at home. The food is spectacular! The gym and libraries are wonderful, and staff everywhere is friendly and willing to help. The faculty is mostly great. And Amherst is a wonderful city to live in, it has the feel of a small city (which it is) but all the amenities of a big city (theaters, cinemas, great restaurantes, booming cultural life, you name it...).
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：4
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：4
Health & Safety
Score：5
Best school in the nation
By Class of 2016, From New Haven, CT
Academics, social life, environment, food, facilities, athletics. Love it all
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：5
Health & Safety
Score：5
Excellent student-centered school
By Aaron, From Massachusetts
I found the the staff and faculty to be amazing.
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：5
Health & Safety
Score：5
Loved my time at UMass!
By Mark S (Class of 2015), From California
I cannot say enough positive things about UMass Amherst. The campus is beautiful and big enough to encompass all the facilities needed for a World-Class University, but small enough that you feel comfortable. The professors are, from my experience, excellent. They seem truly interested in the success and well being of the students. This is a GREAT school with a long and impressive academic legacy and I would attend here again in an instant. The academics, culture, activities, safety, food, and general beauty of the campus are so rare today. The town of Amherst is also pretty nice and the opportunity for exploring the beautiful region of Western Massachusetts is outstanding.
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：4
Health & Safety
Score：4
Great school
By Boaz, From Africa
Great academic programs. Beautiful campus. Friendly faculty and students. Free and innovative atmosphere. You name it!
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：5
Health & Safety
Score：5
You couldn't find a better school
By Kevin G (94), From Boston, MA
UMass was an amazing experience on all levels. It has only gotten better since I graduated as those still close to the University have expressed. A good example is the food, its ranked the best in the country. Doesn't seem like a big deal when picking a school, but when you eating there everyday for four years, it becomes very important to keeping you focused. Academics and sports are outstanding. Campus life is active, and very fun. The school is very walk-able and though it is a big school, it gets small really fast. Its located in the mountains of the western part of the state. UMass is one of 5 highly ranked universities in the area that you can take classes at and share bus services which are free. The area is almost totally focused on the schools, particularly UMass, so your not dealing with other distractions. It is a very safe place to go to school as well. You really could find a better school or experience. Can't believe it is not ranked in the top 5, no good reason why.
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：5
Health & Safety
Score：5
I wouldn't want to go to school anywhere else
By David J., Class of 2021, From Amherst, MA
I've loved my time at UMass. I never want to leave this place. Every day I'm more sure I made the right choice in picking YOUMass.
What best describes you? Current Student
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：5
Dorms & Housing
Score：5
Health & Safety
Score：5
