Yale vs. UMass

Deciding between Yale University 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.

Yale University
University of Massachusetts Amherst

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Yale New Haven, CT
  • UMass Amherst, MA
  • Setting
  • Yale Midsize City
  • UMass Town Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Yale 15,564
  • UMass 31,726
  • Type
  • Yale Private 4 Year
  • UMass Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Yale #5
  • UMass #169
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Yale -
  • UMass -
  • Status
  • Yale Non-profit
  • UMass Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Yale
  • UMass

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • UMass $17,772
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • UMass $40,449
  • Room & Board
  • Yale $19,900
  • UMass $16,710
  • Average Net Price
  • Yale $22,408
  • UMass $22,948
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Yale $65,892
  • UMass $13,110
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Yale 56%
  • UMass 81%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Yale 57,517
  • UMass 50,261
  • Admitted
  • Yale 2,227
  • UMass 30,020
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Yale 3.9%
  • UMass 59.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Yale 69.8%
  • UMass 17.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Yale 1520
  • UMass 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • Yale 34
  • UMass 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Yale 3.95
  • UMass 3.99
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Yale A
  • UMass A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Yale Elite
  • UMass Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Yale Extreme
  • UMass Low
  • ACT Range
  • Yale 33/35
  • UMass 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Yale 1470/1570
  • UMass 1310/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Yale Required
  • UMass Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Yale Jan 2, 2027
  • UMass Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Yale 5:1
  • UMass 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Yale
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • History (9%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Ethnic Studies (7%)
  • UMass
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Communication (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Yale 97%
  • UMass 67%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Yale $118,400
  • UMass $55,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Yale 84%
  • UMass 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Yale $13,500
  • UMass $24,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Yale $139
  • UMass $248

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Yale 47%
  • UMass 48%
  • % Women
  • Yale 53%
  • UMass 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Yale Very High
  • UMass Medium
  • HBCU
  • Yale No
  • UMass No
  • % White
  • Yale 47%
  • UMass 67%
  • % Asian
  • Yale 17%
  • UMass 9%
  • % Black
  • Yale 7%
  • UMass 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Yale 11%
  • UMass 5%
  • % Native American
  • Yale 1%
  • UMass 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Yale 0%
  • UMass 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Yale 6%
  • UMass 3%
  • % International
  • Yale 11%
  • UMass 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Yale 1%
  • UMass 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Yale 6%
  • UMass 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Yale 81%
  • UMass 22%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Yale University in New Haven, CT with University of Massachusetts Amherst in Amherst, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Massachusetts Amherst is larger than Yale based on total student enrollment (31,726 students vs. 15,564 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Yale University is located in New Haven, CT (Midsize City setting); University of Massachusetts Amherst is in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting).
  • Yale University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Yale University 5:1; University of Massachusetts Amherst 17:1.

Yale vs. UMass Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Yale 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 Yale University than UMass ($22,408 vs. $22,948).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Amherst are 16% lower than at Yale University ($16,710 vs. $19,900).
  • Yale University is 278.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMass (about $49,478 more per year; $67,250.00 vs. $17,772.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 66.3% higher at Yale than at University of Massachusetts Amherst (about $26,801 more per year; $67,250.00 vs. $40,449.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Massachusetts Amherst than at Yale University (81% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Yale University students is 402.6% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Amherst students ($65,892 vs. $13,110).

Yale vs. UMass Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Yale 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 Yale.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Yale University (1520) is 110 points higher than at UMass (1410).
  • Incoming Yale students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at UMass).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Yale University 1470/1570; University of Massachusetts Amherst 1310/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Yale University 33/35; University of Massachusetts Amherst 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Yale - Required; UMass - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Yale Jan 2, 2027; UMass Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMass students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at Yale (3.95).
  • UMass has a higher acceptance rate (59.7%) than Yale (3.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 69.8% at Yale vs. 17.9% at UMass.

Yale vs. UMass Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Yale 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).

  • Yale University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than University of Massachusetts Amherst's (67%).
  • Graduates from Yale University earn a median of about $63,200 more per year than UMass graduates about ten years after starting college ($118,400 vs. $55,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Yale University graduates have a $10,500 lower median loan debt than UMass graduates ($13,500 vs. $24,000).
  • Among borrowers, Yale graduates have an estimated $109 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMass graduates ($139 vs. $248).
  • More Yale graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMass students, three years after graduation. (84% 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.