Head to head
Harvard University vs University of Massachusetts Amherst
Harvard University (Cambridge, MA) and University of Massachusetts Amherst (Amherst, MA) compared on cost, admissions, size, and outcomes, using each college’s own federal reporting. Every comparison below is drawn from figures both colleges report — where only one reports a number, no comparison is made.
Side-by-side comparison
| Measure | Harvard University | University of Massachusetts Amherst |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Cambridge, MA | Amherst, MA |
| Institution type | University | University |
| Public or private | Private | Public |
| Campus setting | Urban | Rural |
| Published in-state tuitionSticker price before aid | $61,676 | $16,500 |
| Published out-of-state tuition | $61,676 | $38,000 |
| Average net priceAverage paid after grants and scholarships | $19,066 | $22,383 |
| Acceptance rate | 4% | 65% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1500–1580 | 945–1147 |
| Total enrollment | 29,046 | 32,000 |
| Graduation rate | 98% | 83% |
| First-year retention | 98% | 92% |
What the numbers show
- University of Massachusetts Amherst has the lower published in-state tuition ($16,500 vs $61,676 at Harvard University).
- University of Massachusetts Amherst has the lower published out-of-state tuition ($38,000 vs $61,676 at Harvard University).
- Harvard University has the lower average net price after aid ($19,066 vs $22,383 at University of Massachusetts Amherst).
- Harvard University has the higher graduation rate (98% vs 83% at University of Massachusetts Amherst).
- Harvard University has the lower acceptance rate (4% vs 65% at University of Massachusetts Amherst).
- University of Massachusetts Amherst has the larger student body (32,000 students vs 29,046 students at Harvard University).
How to read this comparison
Every statement above is a direct comparison of two reported figures, and appears only when bothcolleges report that measure. Where one reports and the other does not, the row shows “Not reported” and no conclusion is drawn — a data gap is not a finding.
CampusPin does not rank these colleges or declare a winner. A lower acceptance rate is not a quality score, a higher graduation rate partly reflects who a college admits, and published tuition is not what most students pay. Which college is better depends on your program, your finances, and your circumstances.
Frequently asked questions
- Which is cheaper, Harvard University or University of Massachusetts Amherst?
- University of Massachusetts Amherst has the lower published in-state tuition: $16,500 versus $61,676. After grants and scholarships, average net price is $19,066 at Harvard University and $22,383 at University of Massachusetts Amherst — net price is the better basis for a cost comparison.
- Is Harvard University or University of Massachusetts Amherst harder to get into?
- Harvard University has the lower acceptance rate — 4% versus 65%. A lower acceptance rate means more applicants per seat; it is not by itself a measure of academic quality or of your own chances.
- Which has the better graduation rate, Harvard University or University of Massachusetts Amherst?
- Harvard University reports the higher graduation rate: 98% versus 83%. Graduation rates reflect the students a college enrolls as well as the support it provides, so read them alongside admissions selectivity.
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Data sources & methodology
Figures for Harvard University and University of Massachusetts Amherst come from federal datasets and each institution's own reporting.
Sources used across this page
Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.
IPEDS / NCES College Navigator
Federal enrollment, admissions, tuition, retention, and program data. Released annually with a 1–2 year lag.
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
Net price by income band, post-graduation earnings, and federal aid context.
Clery Act campus security reports
Annual campus security and fire-safety disclosures required of U.S. institutions.
Institutional websites
Each school's official admissions, registrar, and financial-aid pages are the authoritative source for current details.
Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.
Suggested citation
CampusPin. Harvard University vs University of Massachusetts Amherst. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/compare/harvard-university-vs-university-of-massachusetts-amherst