UMASS & STATE UNIVERSITY REQUIRED COURSEWORK 

The admissions standards for the state universities and UMass emphasize a strong academic high school background so that students enter college ready to learn. These standards represent minimum requirements; meeting them does not guarantee admission, since campus officials consider a wide range of factors in admissions decisions. It is important to note that admissions standards for the state’s community college differ. Community colleges may admit any high school graduate or GED recipient.

For more detailed information about the admissions standards for MA State Universities and the University of Massachusetts, please visit the Admissions Standards webpage from the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education.

Freshman Applications 

The admissions standards for freshmen applicants at Massachusetts Public four-year institutions have three primary components;

1. Successful completion of required academic courses in specific subjects.

2. A minimum average and weighted grade point average (GPA) earned in high school level academic courses.

3. The submission of SAT or ACT scores, if required by individual schools, for specific programs, or based on an applicant’s GPA. Please review each school's admissions websites or contact their admissions offices for the most accurate information.)

Academic Course Requirement

All freshmen applicants are required to successfully complete the following courses in each academic subject, for a total of 17 required courses:

• English - 4 Courses

• Mathematics - 4 courses (Algebra I & II and Geometry or Trigonometry, or comparable coursework) including mathematics during the final year of high school.

• Sciences - 3 courses with laboratory work (drawn from Natural Science and/or Physical Science and/or Technology/Engineering)

• Social Sciences - 2 courses (including 1 course in U.S. History)

• Foreign Languages - 2 courses (in a single language)

• Electives - 2 courses (from the above subjects or from the Arts & Humanities or Computer Sciences)