Finance & Accounting at the University of Massachusetts Amherst
The University of Massachusetts Amherst appears in our ranking of the Top 35 Most Affordable Online Bachelor’s in Finance.
The University of Massachusetts Amherst offers its students a wealth of different majors and concentrations with multiple options available for studying accounting and finance. The university’s finance and accounting programs are offered by the Isenberg School of Management. There are four degree options available for students interested in studying accounting and finance at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Those options include two undergraduate degrees in finance and accounting, a Master of Science in Accounting, and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in finance. The university also offers an online Bachelor of Business Administration with major options in accounting or finance, and its innovative Accounting Transitions Program, which helps students who have non-accounting degrees earn the credits they need to enter the Master of Science in Accounting program.
Students who enroll in one of the university’s undergraduate programs will be able to specialize in an area of their personal interest. For students in the undergraduate finance program, tracks include corporate finance, financial analyst, financial risk management, alternative investments, and the option to earn a Real Estate Certificate.
For graduate-level study, students may choose the Online MBA program, which is available to complete 100 percent online, or the in-person option where students can study in Boston, Springfield, or Shrewsbury. Students who want to work in investment banking, venture capital, or corporate finance may want to explore the MBA in finance option at the university.
Alternatively, students may find the Master of Science in Accounting as their preferred degree if they’re interested in becoming Certified Public Accountants. The degree program features classes like Taxes and Business Decisions, Financial Statement Analysis, and Exploring Data Analytics. Students will even learn valuable skills like business writing and how to use industry-standard software.
Students who are interested in academic research and scholarly pursuits may want to research the university’s Ph.D. programs where areas of study related to accounting include accounting theory and simple accounting. The Ph.D. program is described as intensely focused and requires that students study full-time in a residential program.
About the University of Massachusetts Amherst
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is the flagship campus of the UMass system and was established in 1863. Originally known as Massachusetts Agricultural College, the school has an excellent reputation as a public university with more than 30,000 students enrolled. The main campus is located in downtown Amherst and covers 1,463 acres. The university’s popular newspaper is known as “The Massachusetts Daily Collegian.”
The official colors of the university are white, black, and maroon, and the school is classified as a research university by the Carnegie Foundation. The university spends more than $200 million each year on research. The university is part of the Atlantic 10 Conference, and students play in NCAA Division I games as the Minutewomen and Minutemen. There are 21 varsity teams that play at the university with Sam the Minuteman as their mascot.
University of Massachusetts Amherst Accreditation Details
Regional accreditation for the University of Massachusetts Amherst is given by the New England Commission of Higher Education, which was once known as the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The university most recently went through the reaccreditation process in 2018 and will do so again in 2028. Some programs are also accredited by additional organizations and agencies.
Discipline-specific agencies affiliated with programs at the university include the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, and the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education. Additional approvals come from the National League for Nursing, the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, and the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.
University of Massachusetts Amherst Application Requirements
High school graduates and current high school students interested in applying to the University of Massachusetts Amherst must submit the Common Application, their official high school transcripts, and scores from the SAT or ACT. Applicants will also need to submit a letter of recommendation and an application fee of $80. Students from countries where the primary language is not English will need to take an English proficiency test.
Some majors require that students submit additional materials to qualify for admission. Those programs include architecture, dance, art, and music. Additionally, prospective students should also make sure they take the university’s recommended class sequence in high school that includes four units of English, four units of mathematics, and a handful of classes in other areas. Home-schooled applicants are welcome to apply to the university but may need to submit additional documentation.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition and fees vary for students attending the University of Massachusetts Amherst and are based on the academic level of the student’s program, as well as the student’s residency status. Undergraduate students from Massachusetts will pay $16,389 for tuition and fees and $13,598 for room and board, which comes to a total cost of $29,987. Out-of-state students who want to attend the University of Massachusetts Amherst will pay $35,710 for tuition and the same amount as residents for room and board for a total cost of $49,308.
Prospective graduate students who want to attend the University of Massachusetts Amherst will pay tuition based on the number of credits they take for the semester. Tuition for one credit for in-state students is $2,081.50, with additional service fees bringing the total to $2,404.50. Out-of-state graduate students will pay $3,963.50 for tuition with additional fees bringing the total to $3,963.50 for the first credit. Each credit thereafter adds around $479 to the total cost of tuition.
Students can qualify to participate in the federal financial aid program when they submit their FAFSA form. The form becomes available on October 1, and students should submit the form as soon as they can to qualify for financial aid for the next school year. To receive federal direct loans, students must complete their subsidized or unsubsidized loan master promissory note, as well as participate in entrance counseling.
Students may also qualify for alternative loans if they find that their federal aid award isn’t sufficient for what they need to pay for college. Scholarships and awards available from the University of Massachusetts Amherst are offered by the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance.
