The University of Massachusetts Amherst is the flagship public research university of Massachusetts, in the Pioneer Valley. It is best known for computer science, engineering, management and hospitality, and for the Five College consortium that lets students take classes at Amherst and Smith. Choose it for a top public degree within two hours of Boston.
Amherst, United States
Official website: umass.edu
#275
Top 30 (U.S. News)
Top 20 in the US (U.S. News)
No. 1 in the US for over five years (Princeton Review)
$30,000 – $43,000
International students, non-resident undergraduate and master's rates
$15,000 – $20,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on umass.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MS Data Science
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MS Electrical and Computer Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MS Business Analytics
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MBA (Isenberg School of Management)
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
BS Computer Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences — a top-20 US computer science programme.
Five College consortium — take classes at Amherst, Smith, Mount Holyoke and Hampshire colleges.
Isenberg School of Management — AACSB-accredited, with a top-ranked hospitality programme.
Campus dining ranked No. 1 in the US year after year.
Graduates join Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Raytheon, MassMutual and Boston's biotech and tech firms.
STEM master's graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
Computer science bachelor's graduates report median starting salaries above USD 90,000.
Isenberg MBA graduates report median base salaries around USD 100,000.
Undergrad
15 Jan 2027
Postgrad
Varies by programme
Undergrad
15 Oct 2026
Postgrad
Varies by programme
The 1,450-acre campus sits on the edge of Amherst town, with a central pond, the 26-storey library tower and a free bus network linking the Five Colleges.
Amherst is a small college town in the Pioneer Valley with low rent, hiking trails and four seasons of New England weather. Boston is two hours away, New York three.
Form I-20 issued by UMass Amherst
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
For fall 2027 undergraduate entry, Early Action closes 5 November 2026 and Regular Decision closes 15 January 2027; spring 2027 entry closes 15 October 2026. Graduate deadlines are set by each programme, with computer science closing around 15 December and most engineering master's in January or February.
Undergraduates can start in fall (September) or, for some majors, spring (January). Most master's programmes are fall entry, though some engineering departments also admit for spring. Computer science, data science and the Isenberg MBA are fall only. Check your programme's page to confirm.
You need an F-1 student visa. The International Programs Office issues your Form I-20 after you accept the offer and submit proof of funding. Then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and book an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Computer science, data science, electrical and computer engineering, business analytics and the Isenberg MBA attract the most international applicants. Graduate admission needs a bachelor's degree with a GPA of at least 3.0, TOEFL 80-100 or IELTS 6.5-7.0, and the GRE for some programmes. Undergraduate admission is holistic, with an acceptance rate around 60%.
UMass Amherst offers a limited number of merit scholarships to international undergraduates, considered automatically when you apply by the Early Action deadline; need-based aid is not available. Graduate students can apply for teaching and research assistantships, which waive tuition and pay a stipend in many science and engineering departments.
