Let’s answer that for University of Massachusetts-Boston using what the federal government reports about it. I’m not going to sell you on this university or tear it down. I’m going to explain what its official data says so that, when the time comes to decide, you can decide with the complete picture rather than isolated pieces.
What Kind of University It Is
University of Massachusetts-Boston is a public, four-year institution located in Boston, Massachusetts, within Suffolk County, in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metropolitan area. Its census classification places it in a large city with a population of 250,000 or more. That does not tell you how to get to campus or what living options are nearby—you have to find that out yourself—but it does tell you that we are not talking about an isolated college town.
The Carnegie system, which classifies the nation’s colleges and universities by what they do, places it among doctoral institutions with high research activity. It also identifies it as a large, primarily nonresidential school: that means that, according to 2019-20 data, either fewer than 25 out of every 100 undergraduate students lived in institution-provided housing, or fewer than half studied full time. The data does not say which of the two applied, nor does it say there are no residence halls—in fact, there are, as we will see later. What it does tell you clearly is this: if your child will commute every day, tuition is not the only thing you need to budget for. You also need to budget for the bus, gas, and hours spent traveling.
Another Carnegie data point: this university enrolls many transfer students. If your child plans to come here after studying at another institution, this is exactly what you need to know so you can request, in writing, which courses will count and which will not. The “many transfer students” label does not say how many credits they arrive with or how many are lost along the way. That must be asked case by case.
As for special designations: University of Massachusetts-Boston is not a historically Black college or university, is not a tribal college or university, and is not a land-grant institution. Of the 3,012 colleges and universities in this national directory, 138 have at least one of those three labels; this one is not among them. That does not tell you which communities it serves or how your child will feel on that campus. Ask directly: which cultural centers exist today, which student organizations are active, and, better yet, ask someone who already studies there.
The Size of the Community
In fall 2023, University of Massachusetts-Boston reported an enrollment of 15,810 students. It is a large school: the government places it in the band between 10,000 and 19,999 students, and compared with 519 similar public schools in this census, it is on the larger side—between one and three out of every ten have more students.
But that large number hides something important: it is divided between 12,373 undergraduate students and 3,437 graduate students. If your child is entering to pursue a bachelor’s degree, the number that really matters is not the total. It is 12,373. A substantial part of this school’s population consists of people who have already completed a degree and returned for another credential.
Among undergraduates, 19 out of every 100 students were reported as Hispanic or Latino in fall 2023. That is not a majority, but neither is it unusual: compared with 519 similar selective public schools, it ranks above the midpoint of the group without reaching the highest quartile. Keep an important limitation in mind: that comparison is based on school type, not state, and the part of the country where a school is located weighs heavily on this figure.
There are also more women than men—57 out of every 100 undergraduates—and a meaningful share of adult students: 16 out of every 100 are between 25 and 64 years old. The school does not report the specific data on where entering students came from for this cycle.
How the Academic Year Is Structured
The year is organized into semesters: two long terms of about 15 weeks each. The university stated that it accepts credit for AP exams, as well as what IPEDS calls credit for life experience—work, portfolios, licenses, and prior certifications—in addition to credit for military training. It also enrolls high school students in college courses for credit through a formal dual-enrollment program.
All of this is potentially good news, but it comes with a real warning: stating that the university accepts AP does not mean it awards credit for every exam. We do not know what scores it requires or whether those credits count toward your child’s specific degree program. Request the equivalency evaluation in writing before enrolling. Do not budget for the savings until you have it in hand.
As for its academic offerings: between July 2022 and June 2023, this university awarded 2,389 bachelor’s degrees across 22 fields of study. None accounts for a large share—not even the most popular, business and management, which represented only 17 out of every 100 degrees awarded that year. It is a broad selection without a single dominant field. Still, 22 active fields do not mean 22 individual majors: each field groups several programs together. Verify the specific program that interests your child.
The student-to-instructional-staff ratio is 15 to 1, a middle-range figure compared with similar schools—neither among the lowest nor among the highest. This figure does not tell you the actual size of first-year classes; it is only an institution-wide ratio.
And something worth knowing: this university reports structured study-abroad opportunities and teacher-certification pathways, including state approval for initial teacher certification. If your child’s degree path points toward teaching, this is a lead worth pursuing directly with the school.
How Admission Works
University of Massachusetts-Boston does not have open admission: it reviews several components before saying yes. Of nine possible considerations, it marks six as required: the high school record, high school GPA, the specific required college-preparatory curriculum, a personal essay, letters of recommendation, and an English-proficiency exam for applicants to whom it applies. It also considers work experience and whether a family member attended the university, though neither is required.
That last factor—family legacy—is something your child cannot change. If it does not apply in their case, do not spend energy on it. Spend that energy on what is within their control: the essay, the letters, and the academic record.
The application is long. It has several required components, and each one needs real time, not one sleepless night. The application fee is $60.
Now, the numbers on how accessible admission is. In the 2023 cycle, out of 20,918 first-time applicants, 17,353 were offered a place: 83 out of every 100. That is a common admission rate among similar schools, a little above the midpoint of that group. Put another way: this school receives thousands of applications, and even so, 83 out of every 100 receive a yes. Your child has a real reason to apply and a real reason to submit a complete application on time. But remember: that figure comes from a single cycle, not a fixed promise. When it is your child’s turn, check the number again for the applicable year.
Here is a surprising figure that is worth understanding clearly: out of every 100 admitted students, only 14 enrolled. That is a low rate compared with similar schools. In family terms: out of every 7 young people who receive a yes, about one ultimately comes here. Do not read that as a mark against the school—the federal record does not say why each person made their choice. What it does tell you, and this is what matters for your family, is that what others decided does not predict what your child will be offered. Wait for your letter with the actual net price before deciding whether this school stays on the list.
The SAT and ACT are not required. Among the students who enrolled, 28 out of every 100 submitted an SAT score, and among them, the middle half scored between 540 and 650 in reading and writing and between 540 and 640 in mathematics. These figures describe students who had already enrolled and chose to submit their scores; they are not a minimum or a guarantee for anyone else.
Regarding transfers: from a cohort of full-time bachelor’s-degree-seeking students who entered in 2017, 23 out of every 100 transferred to another institution without completing a degree here. That is a common figure compared with similar schools. Changing schools is not failing, but your child should know in advance how to request the records needed to transfer if necessary. On the other hand, in fall 2023, 1,249 students enrolled here for the first time after studying elsewhere—a high number of incoming transfer students. That number does not say how many of their courses were accepted. Once again, ask for that in writing.
What It Costs and What Students Actually Pay
At University of Massachusetts-Boston, among 394 first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid, paid the in-state or in-district rate, and had EFC records showing family income below $30,000, the average net price was $13,072. Among 286 students from the same population with EFC family income from $48,001 to $75,000, it was $17,572; among 345 students with EFC family income above $110,000, it was $25,375. For dependent students, the band combines their parents’ income with their own.
There is a difference of $12,303 between the average for the lowest-income band, which included 394 students, and the average for the highest-income band, which included 345 students. These are group averages, not a prediction of your family’s price. Among first-year students who received any grant or scholarship aid, the average was $17,554.
Among the 519 schools of the same type and control included in this census that reported this figure with the same time coverage, this one falls within the most expensive quartile for lower-income families. That does not mean you should rule it out. It means you should request the financial aid letter before deciding.
Because the price changes so much from one income band to another, correctly identifying your band is the first step. The income bands in this profile describe first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid; at public institutions, they use the in-state or in-district rate. The overall average with grant or scholarship aid, when shown, describes first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal, state, local, or institutional grants or scholarships. The financial aid letter sent to you is what matters.
Financial Aid and Loans: What You Need to Understand Before Signing
76 out of every 100 degree-seeking students received a grant, scholarship, or other aid that does not have to be repaid. Among those who received it, the average was $11,396. And 44 out of every 100 received a Pell Grant, the federal aid for low-income families.
Keep something important in mind: the percentage and the average should not be multiplied by each other. One measures how many people received something; the other measures how much was received only by those who did. When your financial aid letter arrives, separate it by hand into three piles: what does not have to be repaid, what must be repaid with interest, and what must be earned through work. Many letters mix them together in a single column, and that is where families become confused.
Regarding loans: 52 out of every 100 undergraduate students received a federal loan during the 2022-23 academic year—more than four out of ten, and actually more than half. That is a high share compared with similar schools: seven out of ten schools in that group, or more, had a lower share of students with loans. Here, financing an education with debt is common.
Among those who borrowed, the average amount per borrower that year was $6,640. If your child borrowed a similar amount in each of the four years of the degree program, the total would be around $26,560, not including interest. That number is decided before the first signature, not at the end of the journey. And an important clarification: that average covers only federal loans in the student’s name. It does not include Parent PLUS loans that parents sometimes sign for, bank debt, or credit-card debt. Nor is it the total debt someone leaves with upon graduation—to determine that, the four years would have to be added together, and that number is not included in this report.
This percentage describes other families, not yours. The amount your child would need to borrow comes from their own financial aid letter. Wait for that letter before ruling out the school and before committing to it.
The institution also reports offering an installment tuition payment plan as an additional way to manage the cost.
Housing, Campus Life, and Support
University of Massachusetts-Boston does have its own housing. It does not require all first-time, full-time students to live there—that denies a universal requirement; it does not mean that no program requires it. The reported maximum capacity of institution-controlled housing is 1,102 students. It also offers meal plans, although the number of meals per week varies according to the plan selected. The existence of housing does not guarantee that a bed will be available for your child: request this year’s rate, the housing application deadline, and whether a place is guaranteed or your child will be placed on a waiting list, all in writing.
Regarding ROTC: the university did not mark any ROTC opportunities in its report. That does not prove there is no pathway nearby—it only means none was marked in this specific field. If that scholarship or pathway matters to your family, ask the admissions office directly before assuming it is unavailable.
In athletics, the university does compete at the intercollegiate level and is affiliated with the NCAA, with reported membership in basketball, baseball, and cross-country or track and field. If your child wants to continue competing here, contact the coach for the relevant sport directly: ask whether there is a place on the team, which division it competes in, and whether that sport offers scholarships. Get the answer in writing.
The university offers distance education at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, although only 4 out of every 100 undergraduate students take all their classes that way—the other 96 take at least one class in person. It also reports at least one program that can be completed entirely through distance education, although it does not specify whether that program is undergraduate or graduate: confirm the specific level and degree program if this interests your child.
The library has paid staff, physical and digital materials, interlibrary lending, and annual expenditures exceeding the government-reported threshold of $100,000. That is a solid foundation, but it does not guarantee that specific databases are available for your child’s field of study—ask using the program’s name.
Finally, the institution reports combined academic and career counseling services, employment services for current students and graduates, participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program, a dedicated point of contact for veterans and their families, a student veterans organization, and an officially published address for disability services.
Persistence and Graduation: The Part That Carries the Most Weight
Here we come to the question that matters most to a family: if my child enrolls here, how likely are they to finish?
Let’s start with retention: from a cohort of 2,357 full-time students who entered in fall 2022, 73 out of every 100 were still enrolled here or had already completed a bachelor’s degree one year later. That is slightly below the midpoint among similar schools in this census. Among part-time students, the number is very different: only 39 out of every 100. These are two different groups of people with different circumstances—do not mix those numbers together and assume that one proves something about the other.
Now for graduation, which is where you need to pause and look carefully. Of the 1,787 full-time students who entered in 2017, 51 out of every 100 had earned a degree from this school six years later. At four years, the figure is only 31 out of every 100—twenty percentage points lower. And four years is exactly the timeframe most families have built into their budgets.
It is nearly an even split: after six years, 51 out of every 100 had earned a bachelor’s degree here, and 49 had not. The report counts outcomes, not the reasons behind each individual story. This does not mean the school is bad or that your child will be part of one half or the other. It means that before deciding, it is worth asking exactly what support is available to help students finish on time and how long the specific program that interests your child actually takes—because every additional semester has a real cost that must be anticipated, not discovered halfway through.
After eight years, looking at a broader cohort that includes both full-time and part-time students, 57 out of every 100 had earned a degree or certificate from this school. Among Pell Grant recipients, the figure was nearly identical: 58 out of every 100. Their being so close does not mean the path was equally easy for both groups. And the report lists an unknown enrollment status as of August 2023 for 21 out of every 100—that does not mean they did not continue studying elsewhere; it simply means the report did not determine their status.
None of these figures predicts what will happen to your child in particular. They are outcomes for entire cohorts, not an individual forecast. But they do point to the right questions to ask the university directly: how often this happens, why, and what the university is doing to change it.
What Comes Next
You now understand in considerable depth one real part of what University of Massachusetts-Boston is: its size, its community, how it admits students, what it costs, how much aid it provides, and how often its students reach graduation. No figure here tells you whether this is the right university for your child. That depends on two other pieces that only you and your family can provide: what your child wants to study and has accomplished so far, and what you are able and willing to pay.
Combine this piece with those other two. A real plan will come from that combination, not from any single figure.
Source note: the information in this article comes from data reported by the institution to the U.S. Department of Education’s IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System), primarily from the 2022-23 and 2023-24 cycles, as well as the Carnegie Classification. Best College Aid does not represent University of Massachusetts-Boston or any government agency; this article organizes and explains existing public information.