Clark University vs University of Massachusetts-Amherst (UMass)
Clark University and University of Massachusetts-Amherst, both esteemed institutions in Massachusetts, offer distinct educational experiences. Clark, a private research university, boasts a highly selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 48%, while UMass-Amherst, a public research university, is more accessible with an acceptance rate of 71%. Clark's student body is smaller and more diverse, with 2,200 undergraduates from 48 states and 60 countries, while UMass-Amherst's student body is larger and more local, with over 28,000 undergraduates primarily from Massachusetts. Both universities offer a wide range of undergraduate programs, with popular majors at Clark including Psychology, Biology, and Economics, and popular majors at UMass-Amherst including Business, Engineering, and Computer Science. With graduation rates of 86% and 79% respectively, both universities ensure that their students are well-prepared for successful careers. Explore the comparison
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![]() Clark University |
![]() University of Massachusetts-Amherst |
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Overview |
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Location | Worcester, Massachusetts | Amherst, Massachusetts |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 87.0% | 91.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 48.0% | 65.5% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$60
Graduate:
$100
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Undergraduate:
$85
Graduate:
$85
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SAT range | 1218 - 1403 | 1250 - 1460 |
ACT range | 27 - 30 | 28 - 33 |
Students submitting SAT score | 17.0% | 26.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 5.0% | 5.0% |
Total number of applicants | 8,151 | 42,540 |
Total number of admissions given out | 3,915 | 27,877 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 505 | 4,872 |
Yield rate | 12.9% | 17.5% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $62,302 |
In state:
$32,434
Out of state:
$52,959
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Average net price | $31,565 | $17,291 |
Tuition | $49,950 |
In state:
$15,791
Out of state:
$36,316
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$6,000
Meal plan:
$4,150
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Room/dormitory:
$7,611
Meal plan:
$5,984
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
95.0%
Average amount $27,608 |
86.0%
Average amount $10,662 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
60.0%
Average amount $5,282 |
39.0%
Average amount $5,123 |
Students taking out private loans |
9.0%
Average amount $16,271 |
7.0%
Average amount $15,924 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,302
Men 42.1% Women 57.9% |
24,231
Men 48.8% Women 51.2% |
Graduate students |
1,048
Men 49.3% Women 50.7% |
7,814
Men 47.9% Women 52.1% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 23.0% | 11.1% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 1,633 | 13,582 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Mississippi New York Connecticut Maine New Jersey | New York New Jersey Connecticut California New Hampshire |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 9:1 | 18:1 |
Institutional accreditation | New England Commission on Higher Education | New England Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 79.0% | 83.7% |
Dropout rate | 6.8% | 5.1% |
Transferred out | 14.1% | 10.5% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Geography and Cartography (Master's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Master's Degrees)
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
Public Administration (Master's Degrees)
Community Organization and Advocacy (Master's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Master's Degrees)
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Education, General (Doctoral Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
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