UCLA vs. UMass

Deciding between University of California Los Angeles 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.

University of California Los Angeles
University of Massachusetts Amherst

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCLA Los Angeles, CA
  • UMass Amherst, MA
  • Setting
  • UCLA Large City
  • UMass Town Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • UCLA 47,335
  • UMass 31,726
  • Type
  • UCLA Public 4 Year
  • UMass Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCLA #66
  • UMass #169
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCLA -
  • UMass -
  • Status
  • UCLA Non-profit
  • UMass Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCLA
  • UMass

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCLA $15,203
  • UMass $17,772
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCLA $49,403
  • UMass $40,449
  • Room & Board
  • UCLA $18,369
  • UMass $16,710
  • Average Net Price
  • UCLA $14,512
  • UMass $22,948
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCLA $25,627
  • UMass $13,110
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCLA 49%
  • UMass 81%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCLA 146,272
  • UMass 50,261
  • Admitted
  • UCLA 13,114
  • UMass 30,020
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCLA 9%
  • UMass 59.7%
  • Enrolled
  • UCLA 50.4%
  • UMass 17.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCLA 1420
  • UMass 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCLA 32
  • UMass 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCLA 3.92
  • UMass 3.99
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCLA A
  • UMass A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCLA Elite
  • UMass Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCLA Extreme
  • UMass Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCLA 29/35
  • UMass 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • UCLA 1300/1530
  • UMass 1310/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCLA Test-free
  • UMass Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCLA Nov 30, 2026
  • UMass Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCLA 20:1
  • UMass 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCLA
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • History (7%)
  • UMass
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Communication (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCLA 90%
  • UMass 67%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCLA $70,700
  • UMass $55,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCLA 78%
  • UMass 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCLA $16,300
  • UMass $24,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCLA $168
  • UMass $248

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCLA 43%
  • UMass 48%
  • % Women
  • UCLA 57%
  • UMass 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCLA Very High
  • UMass Medium
  • HBCU
  • UCLA No
  • UMass No
  • % White
  • UCLA 27%
  • UMass 67%
  • % Asian
  • UCLA 29%
  • UMass 9%
  • % Black
  • UCLA 3%
  • UMass 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCLA 21%
  • UMass 5%
  • % Native American
  • UCLA 0%
  • UMass 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCLA 0%
  • UMass 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCLA 5%
  • UMass 3%
  • % International
  • UCLA 13%
  • UMass 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCLA 2%
  • UMass 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCLA 79%
  • UMass 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCLA 12%
  • UMass 22%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Los Angeles in Los Angeles, CA with University of Massachusetts Amherst in Amherst, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Los Angeles is larger than UMass based on total student enrollment (47,335 students vs. 31,726 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); University of Massachusetts Amherst is in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting).
  • University of California Los Angeles is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Los Angeles 20:1; University of Massachusetts Amherst 17:1.

UCLA vs. UMass Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCLA 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 University of California Los Angeles than UMass ($14,512 vs. $22,948).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Amherst are 9% lower than at University of California Los Angeles ($16,710 vs. $18,369).
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is 16.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCLA (about $2,569 more per year; $17,772.00 vs. $15,203.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 22.1% higher at UCLA than at University of Massachusetts Amherst (about $8,954 more per year; $49,403.00 vs. $40,449.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Massachusetts Amherst than at University of California Los Angeles (81% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Los Angeles students is 95.5% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Amherst students ($25,627 vs. $13,110).

UCLA vs. UMass Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCLA or UMass? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UMass and UCLA.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at University of California Los Angeles (1420) is 10 points higher than at UMass (1410).
  • Incoming UCLA students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (32 vs. 31 at UMass).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of California Los Angeles 1300/1530; University of Massachusetts Amherst 1310/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of California Los Angeles 29/35; University of Massachusetts Amherst 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCLA - Test-free; UMass - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCLA Nov 30, 2026; UMass Jan 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman UMass students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at UCLA (3.92).
  • UMass has a higher acceptance rate (59.7%) than UCLA (9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 50.4% at UCLA vs. 17.9% at UMass.

UCLA vs. UMass Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCLA and UMass? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • University of California Los Angeles's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than University of Massachusetts Amherst's (67%).
  • Graduates from University of California Los Angeles earn a median of about $15,500 more per year than UMass graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,700 vs. $55,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Los Angeles graduates have a $7,700 lower median loan debt than UMass graduates ($16,300 vs. $24,000).
  • Among borrowers, UCLA graduates have an estimated $80 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMass graduates ($168 vs. $248).
  • More UCLA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMass students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 76%)

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.