The University of Massachusetts Boston is a public research university on a waterfront campus in Boston's Dorchester neighbourhood. It is best known for business, nursing, computer science, public policy, environmental science and its diverse, urban student body, with Boston's biotech, finance and healthcare employers a short train ride away. Choose it for a Boston degree at public-university prices.
Boston, United States
Official website: umb.edu
#1001
R1 — very high research activity
One of the most diverse universities in New England
Waterfront campus beside the JFK Presidential Library
$30,000 – $38,000
International students, non-resident undergraduate and master's rates
$20,000 – $26,000
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 umb.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Information Technology
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MBA (College of Management)
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Business Analytics
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Finance
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
BS Nursing
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
Boston's only public university, with tuition well below the city's private colleges.
Harbor campus — views across Boston Harbor and the JFK Library next door.
College of Management — AACSB-accredited, with strong ties to Boston's finance sector.
Urban mission — a large share of first-generation and international students.
Graduates join State Street, Fidelity, Mass General Brigham, Boston Scientific and Boston's biotech firms.
STEM master's graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
Nursing graduates enter Boston's teaching hospitals, among the best in the US.
Business analytics and finance alumni move into Boston's asset management and fintech companies.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
The 177-acre campus sits on Columbia Point in Dorchester, with the Campus Center on the harbour, the new residence halls nearby and a free shuttle to the JFK/UMass Red Line station, 15 minutes from downtown.
Boston is one of the biggest student cities in the world, with a huge biotech, finance and healthcare job market. Rent is among the highest in the US, and most students share apartments in Dorchester or Quincy.
Form I-20 issued by UMass Boston
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
Undergraduate admission is rolling, with a 1 December 2026 priority date for fall 2027 scholarships; international applicants should apply by May to leave time for the visa. Graduate deadlines are set by each programme, with most business and computing master's closing between 1 February and 1 June.
Undergraduates can start in fall (September) or spring (January). Most master's programmes, including computer science, information technology, the MBA, business analytics and finance, admit for both fall and spring. Nursing is fall only. Check your programme's admissions page to confirm.
You need an F-1 student visa. The Office of Global Programs 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, information technology, the MBA, business analytics and finance attract the most international applicants. Graduate admission needs a bachelor's degree with a GPA of at least 3.0, TOEFL 79 or IELTS 6.5, and the GRE or GMAT for some programmes. Undergraduate admission is holistic, with an acceptance rate around 80%.
UMass Boston offers limited merit scholarships to international undergraduates, considered automatically if you apply by the priority date; need-based aid is not available. Graduate students can apply for teaching and research assistantships, which are most common in computer science and the sciences.
