UMass vs. Hunter

Deciding between University of Massachusetts Amherst and CUNY Hunter College? 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 Massachusetts Amherst
CUNY Hunter College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMass Amherst, MA
  • Hunter New York, NY
  • Setting
  • UMass Town Fringe
  • Hunter Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UMass 31,726
  • Hunter 22,538
  • Type
  • UMass Public 4 Year
  • Hunter Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMass #169
  • Hunter #297
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMass -
  • Hunter -
  • Status
  • UMass Non-profit
  • Hunter Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMass
  • Hunter

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMass $17,772
  • Hunter $7,382
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMass $40,449
  • Hunter $15,332
  • Room & Board
  • UMass $16,710
  • Hunter $11,832
  • Average Net Price
  • UMass $22,948
  • Hunter $4,431
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMass $13,110
  • Hunter $9,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMass 81%
  • Hunter 87%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMass 50,261
  • Hunter 32,271
  • Admitted
  • UMass 30,020
  • Hunter 17,362
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMass 59.7%
  • Hunter 53.8%
  • Enrolled
  • UMass 17.9%
  • Hunter 16.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMass 1410
  • Hunter 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMass 31
  • Hunter
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMass 3.99
  • Hunter 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMass A
  • Hunter A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMass Exceptional
  • Hunter Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMass Low
  • Hunter Low
  • ACT Range
  • UMass 30/33
  • Hunter
  • SAT Range
  • UMass 1310/1500
  • Hunter 1100/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMass Test optional
  • Hunter Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UMass Jan 15, 2027
  • Hunter

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMass 17:1
  • Hunter 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMass
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Hunter
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Psychology (16%)
    • English and Literature (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Health Professions (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMass 67%
  • Hunter 46%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMass $55,200
  • Hunter $48,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMass 76%
  • Hunter 56%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMass $24,000
  • Hunter $11,548
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMass $248
  • Hunter $119

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMass 48%
  • Hunter 33%
  • % Women
  • UMass 52%
  • Hunter 67%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMass Medium
  • Hunter Very High
  • HBCU
  • UMass No
  • Hunter No
  • % White
  • UMass 67%
  • Hunter 27%
  • % Asian
  • UMass 9%
  • Hunter 26%
  • % Black
  • UMass 4%
  • Hunter 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMass 5%
  • Hunter 29%
  • % Native American
  • UMass 0%
  • Hunter 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMass 0%
  • Hunter 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMass 3%
  • Hunter 2%
  • % International
  • UMass 4%
  • Hunter 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMass 8%
  • Hunter 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMass 69%
  • Hunter 82%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMass 22%
  • Hunter 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Massachusetts Amherst in Amherst, MA with CUNY Hunter 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 Hunter based on total student enrollment (31,726 students vs. 22,538 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); CUNY Hunter College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. CUNY Hunter College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Massachusetts Amherst 17:1; CUNY Hunter College 14:1.

UMass vs. Hunter Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMass or Hunter? 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 CUNY Hunter College than UMass ($4,431 vs. $22,948).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY Hunter College are 29.2% lower than at University of Massachusetts Amherst ($11,832 vs. $16,710).
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is 140.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hunter (about $10,390 more per year; $17,772.00 vs. $7,382.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 163.8% higher at UMass than at CUNY Hunter College (about $25,117 more per year; $40,449.00 vs. $15,332.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Hunter College than at University of Massachusetts Amherst (87% vs. 81%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Massachusetts Amherst students is 34.4% larger than aid received by CUNY Hunter College students ($13,110 vs. $9,755).

UMass vs. Hunter Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Massachusetts Amherst (1410) is 150 points higher than at Hunter (1260).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Amherst 1310/1500; CUNY Hunter College 1100/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Amherst 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMass - Test optional; Hunter - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMass Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMass students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at Hunter (3.7).
  • UMass has a higher acceptance rate (59.7%) than Hunter (53.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.9% at UMass vs. 16.7% at Hunter.

UMass vs. Hunter Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMass and Hunter? 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).

  • University of Massachusetts Amherst's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than CUNY Hunter College's (46%).
  • Graduates from University of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of about $6,400 more per year than Hunter graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,200 vs. $48,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Hunter College graduates have a $12,452 lower median loan debt than UMass graduates ($11,548 vs. $24,000).
  • Among borrowers, Hunter graduates have an estimated $129 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMass graduates ($119 vs. $248).
  • More UMass graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hunter students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 56%)

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.