UMass vs. Barnard

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Massachusetts Amherst in Amherst, MA with Barnard College in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Massachusetts Amherst is larger than Barnard based on total student enrollment (31,726 students vs. 3,487 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Massachusetts Amherst is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Barnard College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Barnard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Massachusetts Amherst 17:1; Barnard College 10:1.

UMass vs. Barnard Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMass or Barnard? 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 Massachusetts Amherst than Barnard ($22,948 vs. $26,407).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Amherst are 23% lower than at Barnard College ($16,710 vs. $21,714).
• Barnard College is 293.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMass (about $52,116 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $17,772.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 72.8% higher at Barnard than at University of Massachusetts Amherst (about $29,439 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $40,449.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Massachusetts Amherst than at Barnard College (81% vs. 33%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Barnard College students is 381.5% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Amherst students ($63,131 vs. $13,110).

UMass vs. Barnard Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UMass or Barnard? 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 Barnard and UMass.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Barnard College (1520) is 110 points higher than at UMass (1410).
• Incoming Barnard students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (33 vs. 31 at UMass).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of Massachusetts Amherst 1310/1500; Barnard College 1470/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of Massachusetts Amherst 30/33; Barnard College 32/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMass - Test optional; Barnard - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UMass Jan 15, 2027; Barnard Jan 4, 2027.
• Enrolled freshman UMass students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at Barnard (3.85).
• UMass has a higher acceptance rate (59.7%) than Barnard (8.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.9% at UMass vs. 68.6% at Barnard.

UMass vs. Barnard Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMass and Barnard? 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.

• Barnard College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than University of Massachusetts Amherst's (67%).
• Graduates from Barnard College earn a median of about $11,700 more per year than UMass graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,900 vs. $55,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Barnard College graduates have a $6,153 lower median loan debt than UMass graduates ($17,847 vs. $24,000).
• Among borrowers, Barnard graduates have an estimated $64 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMass graduates ($184 vs. $248).
• More Barnard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMass students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.