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UConn UVM Penn State Rutgers UMass Dartmouth BU UD University of Massachusetts-Lowell Binghamton University Northeastern Purdue University of New Hampshire-Main Campus| Howard University | University of Massachusetts Amherst | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Howard | UMass | ||
| Location | Washington, DC | Amherst, MA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Town Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 13,416 | 31,810 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #249 | #176 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | howard.edu | umass.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Howard | UMass | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $32,878 | $16,591 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $32,878 | $38,527 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,474 | $14,869 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $30,028 | $22,954 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $21,422 | $12,343 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 75% |
Admission |
Howard | UMass | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 30,342 | 50,424 | ||
| Admitted | 10,587 | 29,129 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 34.9% | 57.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21.4% | 18.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.66 | 3.99 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 22/28 | 29/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1100/1298 | 1300/1480 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Feb 15, 2026 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Howard | UMass | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Howard | UMass | ||
| Graduation Rate | 63% | 67% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $51,800 | $55,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 33% | 76% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $24,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $248 |
Diversity |
Howard | UMass | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 8% | 12% | ||
| % Women | 16% | 12% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Extremely Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | Yes | No | ||
| % White | 2% | 67% | ||
| % Black | 91% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 0% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 0% | 3% | ||
| % International | 5% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 8% |
Students |
Howard | UMass | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 1% | 67% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 91% | 23% | ||
Campus |
Howard | UMass | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Massachusetts Amherst is larger than than Howard based on total student enrollment (31,810 students vs. 13,416 students)
Howard vs. UMass Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Howard or UMass?
- Howard University is 98.2% more expensive to attend than UMass for in-state tuition ($32,878.00 vs. $16,591.00)
- Out of state tuition is 17.2% higher at UMass than Howard University ($38,527.00 vs. $32,878.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Massachusetts Amherst than Howard ($22,954 vs. $30,028)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Amherst are 10.8% lower than costs at Howard University ($14,869 vs. $16,474)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Howard University than University of Massachusetts Amherst (100% vs. 75%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Howard University students is 73.6% larger than aid received University of Massachusetts Amherst ($21,422 vs. $12,343)
Howard vs. UMass Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Howard or UMass? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UMass or Howard .
- The average SAT score at University of Massachusetts Amherst (1226) is 121 points higher than at Howard (1105)
- Incoming UMass students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Howard (24)
- Accepted freshman UMass students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at Howard (3.66)
- UMass has a higher acceptance rate (57.8%) than Howard (34.9%)
Howard vs. UMass Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Howard or UMass? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between UMass and Howard.
- The graduation rate at UMass is higher than Howard University (67% vs. 63%)
- Graduates from University of Massachusetts Amherst earn on average $3,400 more per year than Howard graduates after ten years. ($55,200 vs. $51,800)
- University of Massachusetts Amherst students graduate with a $3,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Howard graduates. ($24,000 vs. $27,000)
- UMass graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than Howard graduates. ($248 vs. $279)
- More UMass graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Howard students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 33%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/