IU vs. UMass

Deciding between Indiana University Bloomington and University of Massachusetts Amherst? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Indiana University Bloomington
University of Massachusetts Amherst

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IU Bloomington, IN
  • UMass Amherst, MA
  • Setting
  • IU Small City
  • UMass Town Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • IU 48,424
  • UMass 31,726
  • Type
  • IU Public 4 Year
  • UMass Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IU #207
  • UMass #169
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IU -
  • UMass -
  • Status
  • IU Non-profit
  • UMass Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IU
  • UMass

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IU $12,144
  • UMass $17,772
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IU $41,891
  • UMass $40,449
  • Room & Board
  • IU $13,984
  • UMass $16,710
  • Average Net Price
  • IU $17,270
  • UMass $22,948
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IU $10,487
  • UMass $13,110
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IU 73%
  • UMass 81%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IU 67,658
  • UMass 50,261
  • Admitted
  • IU 52,918
  • UMass 30,020
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IU 78.2%
  • UMass 59.7%
  • Enrolled
  • IU 18.2%
  • UMass 17.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IU 1290
  • UMass 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • IU 30
  • UMass 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • IU 3.74
  • UMass 3.99
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IU A-
  • UMass A
  • Admissions Standards
  • IU Very High
  • UMass Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • IU
  • UMass Low
  • ACT Range
  • IU 27/33
  • UMass 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • IU 1170/1400
  • UMass 1310/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IU Test optional
  • UMass Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IU
  • UMass Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IU 18:1
  • UMass 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IU
    • Business (21%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)
  • UMass
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Communication (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IU 72%
  • UMass 67%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IU $56,200
  • UMass $55,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IU 72%
  • UMass 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IU $22,500
  • UMass $24,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IU $232
  • UMass $248

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IU 50%
  • UMass 48%
  • % Women
  • IU 50%
  • UMass 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IU Medium
  • UMass Medium
  • HBCU
  • IU No
  • UMass No
  • % White
  • IU 71%
  • UMass 67%
  • % Asian
  • IU 4%
  • UMass 9%
  • % Black
  • IU 4%
  • UMass 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • IU 5%
  • UMass 5%
  • % Native American
  • IU 0%
  • UMass 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IU 0%
  • UMass 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IU 4%
  • UMass 3%
  • % International
  • IU 11%
  • UMass 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IU 0%
  • UMass 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IU 55%
  • UMass 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IU 41%
  • UMass 22%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • IU Yes
  • UMass Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • IU No
  • UMass No
  • Meal Plan
  • IU Yes
  • UMass Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • IU No
  • UMass Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • IU Yes
  • UMass Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Indiana University Bloomington in Bloomington, IN with University of Massachusetts Amherst in Amherst, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Indiana University Bloomington is larger than UMass based on total student enrollment (48,424 students vs. 31,726 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Indiana University Bloomington is located in Bloomington, IN (Small City setting); University of Massachusetts Amherst is in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting).
  • Indiana University Bloomington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Indiana University Bloomington 18:1; University of Massachusetts Amherst 17:1.

IU vs. UMass Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IU or UMass? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Indiana University Bloomington than UMass ($17,270 vs. $22,948).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University Bloomington are 16.3% lower than at University of Massachusetts Amherst ($13,984 vs. $16,710).
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is 46.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than IU (about $5,628 more per year; $17,772.00 vs. $12,144.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.6% higher at IU than at University of Massachusetts Amherst (about $1,442 more per year; $41,891.00 vs. $40,449.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Massachusetts Amherst than at Indiana University Bloomington (81% vs. 73%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Massachusetts Amherst students is 25% larger than aid received by Indiana University Bloomington students ($13,110 vs. $10,487).

IU vs. UMass Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IU or UMass? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UMass and IU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Massachusetts Amherst (1410) is 120 points higher than at IU (1290).
  • Incoming UMass students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at IU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Bloomington 1170/1400; University of Massachusetts Amherst 1310/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Bloomington 27/33; University of Massachusetts Amherst 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IU - Test optional; UMass - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMass Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMass students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at IU (3.74).
  • IU has a higher acceptance rate (78.2%) than UMass (59.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.2% at IU vs. 17.9% at UMass.

IU vs. UMass Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IU and UMass? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Indiana University Bloomington's six-year graduation rate (72%) is higher than University of Massachusetts Amherst's (67%).
  • Graduates from Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of about $1,000 more per year than UMass graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $55,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Indiana University Bloomington graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than UMass graduates ($22,500 vs. $24,000).
  • Among borrowers, IU graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMass graduates ($232 vs. $248).
  • More UMass graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IU students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 72%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.