Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
U. Massachusetts-Boston admits about 8 in 10 applicants (84%). That puts it in the "Accessible" tier, more selective than 36% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
$60 to apply
Can be waived for applicants with financial need.
Grants credit for AP exams
Men and women
Men were admitted at 81%, women at 85%.
Yield
12% of admitted students enroll, on the lower end nationally.
Applying early
Early action (not binding): apply by Nov 1; decisions by Dec 31
Where you stand
How U. Massachusetts-Boston reads a record
and GPA are both very important; tests are considered. 33% of first-years who sent test scores had a 3.75 or higher. Scores are optional. 32% of first-years sent an SAT and 2% an ACT. Most first-years were admitted without scores. Most high schools no longer rank; this college doesn't lean on it. Requires 4 years of English, 4 of math, 3 of science, and 1 of social studies. See the years by subject
What they look at
Considers whether an applicant's parent attended (legacy status).
- High school GPA
- Required
- High school record
- Required
- Class rank
- Not considered
- College-prep program
- Required
- Recommendations
- Required
- Essay
- Required
- Legacy status
- Considered
- Work experience
- Considered
- Demonstration of competencies
- Not considered
- English proficiency test
- Required
- Other tests
- Not considered
Transferring in
80% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 84% of first-year applicants
3,205 applied · 2,568 admitted · 1,131 enrolled
Transfers may start in the fall, spring, and summer.
Minimum college GPA: 2.5
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
Dates
- Fall entry: priority date June 15, decisions on a rolling basis
- Spring entry: priority date December 15, decisions on a rolling basis
What the application needs
- High school transcript
- Not required
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Not required
- Interview
- Not required
- Standardized test scores
- Not required
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Not required
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Apply by February 15 for fall 2023.
- Priority date: November 1. Applying by then can matter for scholarships, programs, or housing.
- Admitted students must reply by May 1, or within 2 weeks if admitted later.
- $300 housing deposit, due May 1, refundable.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year. Longest postponement: 1 Year.
What you'll need in high school
Requires a high school diploma; accepts the GED.
Recommends a college-preparatory program in high school.
| Years of | Required |
|---|---|
| English | 4 |
| Math | 4 |
| Science (lab: 3) | 3 |
| Foreign language | 2 |
| Social studies | 1 |
| History | 1 |
| Academic electives | 2 |
| Total | 17 |
A unit is a year of the subject; lab science is part of science.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2022 first-years
First-years' high school GPA
Average GPA 3.48
High schools grade differently, and colleges recalculate or weight GPAs their own way, so compare this college only with itself.
First-years by high school GPA (4.0 scale)
- 4.019%
- 3.75–3.9914%
- 3.50–3.7415%
- 3.25–3.4916%
- 3.00–3.2417%
- below 3.019%
The middle half had GPAs of 3.00–3.99.
All nine bands
| GPA | Sent test scores |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 19.0% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 14.0% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 15.0% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 16.0% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 17.0% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 18.0% |
| 2.0–2.49 | 1.0% |
| 1.0–1.99 | 0.0% |
| below 1.0 | 0.0% |
17% were in the top tenth of their high school class, 27% in the top quarter, of the 38% whose high school reported a rank.
Source:University of Massachusetts-Boston Common Data Set 2022–23, Fall 2022About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1180 on the SAT, right around the national median for colleges that report scores.
Optional
Scores are considered if you send them. For students who entered in fall 2024.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
submitted ACT
Read with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;University of Massachusetts-Boston Common Data Set 2022–23, 2022–23;University of Massachusetts-Boston Common Data Set 2022–23, Fall 2022;University of Massachusetts-Boston Common Data Set 2022–23, Fall 2024 applicants;University of Massachusetts-Boston Common Data Set 2022–23, Fall 2023 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)