UMass vs. Fordham

Deciding between University of Massachusetts Amherst and Fordham University? 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
Fordham University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMass Amherst, MA
  • Fordham Bronx, NY
  • Setting
  • UMass Town Fringe
  • Fordham Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UMass 31,726
  • Fordham 16,150
  • Type
  • UMass Public 4 Year
  • Fordham Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMass #169
  • Fordham #133
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMass -
  • Fordham Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • UMass Non-profit
  • Fordham Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMass
  • Fordham
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMass $17,772
  • Fordham $64,915
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMass $40,449
  • Fordham $64,915
  • Room & Board
  • UMass $16,710
  • Fordham $24,090
  • Average Net Price
  • UMass $22,948
  • Fordham $48,190
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMass $13,110
  • Fordham $35,988
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMass 81%
  • Fordham 95%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMass 50,261
  • Fordham 43,364
  • Admitted
  • UMass 30,020
  • Fordham 25,719
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMass 59.7%
  • Fordham 59.3%
  • Enrolled
  • UMass 17.9%
  • Fordham 9.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMass 1410
  • Fordham 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMass 31
  • Fordham 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMass 3.99
  • Fordham 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMass A
  • Fordham A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMass Exceptional
  • Fordham Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMass Low
  • Fordham Low
  • ACT Range
  • UMass 30/33
  • Fordham 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • UMass 1310/1500
  • Fordham 1320/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMass Test optional
  • Fordham Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UMass Jan 15, 2027
  • Fordham Jan 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMass 17:1
  • Fordham 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMass
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Fordham
    • Business (26%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMass 67%
  • Fordham 78%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMass $55,200
  • Fordham $64,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMass 76%
  • Fordham 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMass $24,000
  • Fordham $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMass $248
  • Fordham $268
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMass 48%
  • Fordham 39%
  • % Women
  • UMass 52%
  • Fordham 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMass Medium
  • Fordham High
  • HBCU
  • UMass No
  • Fordham No
  • % White
  • UMass 67%
  • Fordham 59%
  • % Asian
  • UMass 9%
  • Fordham 10%
  • % Black
  • UMass 4%
  • Fordham 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMass 5%
  • Fordham 14%
  • % Native American
  • UMass 0%
  • Fordham 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMass 0%
  • Fordham 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMass 3%
  • Fordham 3%
  • % International
  • UMass 4%
  • Fordham 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMass 8%
  • Fordham 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMass 69%
  • Fordham 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMass 22%
  • Fordham 51%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Massachusetts Amherst is larger than Fordham based on total student enrollment (31,726 students vs. 16,150 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

UMass vs. Fordham Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMass or Fordham? 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 Fordham ($22,948 vs. $48,190).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Amherst are 30.6% lower than at Fordham University ($16,710 vs. $24,090).
  • Fordham University is 265.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMass (about $47,143 more per year; $64,915.00 vs. $17,772.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 60.5% higher at Fordham than at University of Massachusetts Amherst (about $24,466 more per year; $64,915.00 vs. $40,449.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fordham University than at University of Massachusetts Amherst (95% vs. 81%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Fordham University students is 174.5% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Amherst students ($35,988 vs. $13,110).

UMass vs. Fordham Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Massachusetts Amherst (1410) is 10 points higher than at Fordham (1400).
  • Incoming UMass students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 31) as students at Fordham (31).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Amherst 1310/1500; Fordham University 1320/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Amherst 30/33; Fordham University 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMass - Test optional; Fordham - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMass Jan 15, 2027; Fordham Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMass students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at Fordham (3.67).
  • UMass has a higher acceptance rate (59.7%) than Fordham (59.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.9% at UMass vs. 9.7% at Fordham.

UMass vs. Fordham Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMass and Fordham? 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).

  • Fordham University's six-year graduation rate (78%) is higher than University of Massachusetts Amherst's (67%).
  • Graduates from Fordham University earn a median of about $9,000 more per year than UMass graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,200 vs. $55,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Massachusetts Amherst graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Fordham graduates ($24,000 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, UMass graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Fordham graduates ($248 vs. $268).
  • More Fordham graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMass students, three years after graduation. (77% 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.