The University of Massachusetts Amherst is the state’s flagship university. Located in the beautiful Pioneer Valley, it’s part of the Five College Consortium, allowing cross-registration with nearby colleges Amherst College, Smith College, Mount Holyoke College, and Hampshire College. Richard Gere once graced the campus as a student, as did President Calvin Coolidge (but he was very quiet, so people may not have noticed!). With over 23,000 undergraduates and an acceptance rate of 59%, UMass Amherst isn’t exactly a competitive institution, though it still ranks highly among America’s public universities. US News & World Report ranks it number 29 among its top public schools. 

If you’ve found yourself on this post, you’re probably chomping at the bit to know: What kind of GPA do I need to get into the University of Massachusetts Amherst? Well, look no further. We at Ivy Coach are going to get into all of that, right here, right now. 

GPA Percentage of University of Massachusetts Class of 2029

The following is the GPA breakdown of the members of the University of Massachusetts Class of 2029:

GPA	Percentage of University of Massachusetts Class of 2029
4.0	67%
3.75-3.99	17%
3.5-3.74	10%
3.25-3.49	4%
3.0-3.24	1%
2.5-2.99	0%
2.0-2.49	0%
1.0-1.99	0%

GPA Percentage of University of Massachusetts Class of 2028

The following is the GPA breakdown of the members of the University of Massachusetts Class of 2028:

GPA	Percentage of University of Massachusetts Class of 2028
4.0	60.9%
3.75-3.99	21.8%
3.5-3.74	12.0%
3.25-3.49	4.0%
3.0-3.24	0.8%
2.5-2.99	0.5%
2.0-2.49	0.1%
1.0-1.99	0%

GPA Percentage of University of Massachusetts Class of 2027

The following is the GPA breakdown of the members of the University of Massachusetts Class of 2027:

GPA	Percentage of University of Massachusetts Class of 2027
4.0	54.5%
3.75-3.99	22.94%
3.5-3.74	14.45%
3.25-3.49	6.64%
3.0-3.24	0.97%
2.5-2.99	0.47%
2.0-2.49	0.04%
1.0-1.99	0%

Further Context on GPAs of UMass Students

If you’re not a charts person, let’s talk through what these numbers mean. Last year, for the Class of 2029, 67% of the enrolled first-year students at the University of Massachusetts Amherst had perfect GPAs in high school. An additional 17% had a GPA between 3.75 and 3.99. Only 5% of the incoming class had a GPA below 3.75. 

Things were slightly less competitive the year before. For the University of Massachusetts Class of 2028, 60.9% of incoming first-year students had a perfect GPA. 21.8% of students had a GPA between 3.75 and 3.99. 12.0% had a GPA between 3.5 and 3.74. 

Finally, for the University of Massachusetts Class of 2027, things were even less competitive GPA-wise. Only roughly half of the class (54.5%) had a 4.0 in high school. 22.94% had a GPA between 3.74 and 3.99. 14.45% had a GPA between 3.5 and 3.74. And a not insignificant amount of the class had a GPA between 3.25 and 3.49 with 6.64% of students. 

Numbers, numbers, numbers. They are a huge piece of the puzzle, but that’s all they are: a piece. There are other factors to consider. UMass Amherst is a state school and gives preferential treatment to Massachusetts residents relative to those applying from beyond the state’s borders. The University of Massachusetts regularly rejects students who have perfect GPAs and high test scores. And many students admitted with low GPAs are exceptional cases. Many, for example, are likely recruited athletes. 

Can Students Get into the University of Massachusetts with a Low GPA?

The short answer is that it’s possible, but unlikely. The numbers above bear that out. 

But it’s important to keep in mind that UMass Amherst has a holistic admissions review process. It’s about so much more than spotless report cards. Admissions officers look for leadership, accomplishment, personal integrity, and leadership skills. UMass Amherst wants to admit students who are going to shape campus culture, classroom conversation, research output, and, ultimately, UMass Amherst’s impact on the country and reputation in the world. At the end of the day, they want students who will go on to become successful alumni. 

It’s true that these kinds of students usually have great GPAs in high school. But there are other ways to demonstrate excellence. 

How Ivy Coach Can Help Your Child’s Chances at UMass

If you’re interested in discerning if your child has a shot of getting into the University of Massachusetts, we recommend setting up Ivy Coach’s Strategy Session. Not only will you find out if your child has a chance of getting into the University of Massachusetts, but you’ll receive a game plan of how your child can optimize their admission to the best school possible.  To learn more about Ivy Coach’s Strategy Session, fill out our complimentary consultation form, and we’ll contact you.