Choosing a college is no easy task

Many students and families find the college selection process stressful and demanding. These days, the process is more complicated than ever — and the stakes have never been higher.

Quality, affordability, and value are the key factors, and you find yourself asking: Can I find a university where it all comes together, where I can get a world-class education that is affordably priced?

In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, there is a place where it comes together — and that place is on the Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, Lowell, and Worcester campuses of the University of Massachusetts.

UMass offers something for everyone. It is a world-class university that provides a wide array of academic programs to meet the needs of every well-prepared student.

As you will see on these pages, the University of Massachusetts offers attractive options: from the flagship campus in Amherst; to the urban excellence of the Boston and Lowell campuses; to the distinctive, growing campus in Dartmouth. UMass Worcester is for graduate study only, with its nationally acclaimed School of Medicine and outstanding nursing and biomedical sciences graduate schools. If you are thinking about a future in the health sciences, begin your journey at one of the UMass undergraduate campuses and strive to claim your place at the state’s academic medical center.

The key asset at the University of Massachusetts is a distinguished, dedicated, energetic faculty that is second to none. On our campuses, you will study with faculty members who are the leading thinkers in their fields, and winners of Nobel and Pulitzer Prizes, as well as the National Book Award and MacArthur genius grants. They are cutting-edge researchers who create knowledge... and then convey it to their students.

Students who enroll at the University of Massachusetts will also be able to take advantage of sparkling new facilities, ranging from new student-housing and recreation facilities to new and refurbished classrooms and research laboratories. UMass has invested more than $1 billion in its facilities over the past five years and the results are obvious as soon as you set foot on campus.

UMass is committed to being affordable and accessible. As you may know, a public university like the University of Massachusetts is more affordable than a private institution because the state provides funding that lowers the cost. UMass historically has met 90 percent of the demonstrated financial need of in-state, undergraduate students and has provided significant scholarships for out-of-state students as well. In addition, in-state undergraduates at UMass graduate with less average debt than undergraduates from any other New England public university.

As you make your higher education decisions, we encourage you to take a long, thoughtful look at the University of Massachusetts. Our stature and profile have never been higher. After considering our quality, our wide range of academic programs, our facilities, and our affordability, join the many thousands of bright, talented students and choose UMass — a smart decision.