The University of Massachusetts Boston (UMass Boston) is a public research university and the only public research institution in the city of Boston. Founded in 1964 as Boston State College and integrated into the UMass system in 1982, the university sits on a 177-acre waterfront peninsula in Columbia Point, Dorchester — with direct views of Dorchester Bay, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, and the Boston skyline. UMass Boston serves roughly 16,000 students, draws students from 136 countries, and is consistently cited as the most diverse college campus in New England and one of the most diverse in the nation. Academically, UMass Boston operates 11 colleges and schools and offers 200+ degree and certificate programs. Its signature strengths sit in the applied professions and social sciences: the Manning College of Nursing and Health Sciences (one of the largest nursing programs in Massachusetts), the College of Management (AACSB-accredited), the College of Science and Mathematics (biology, computer science, marine sciences), and the McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies, which is nationally recognized for conflict resolution, public policy, and gerontology research. Research centers in climate, oceanography (the School for the Environment sits literally on the Atlantic), public policy, and New England economic studies give undergraduates early exposure to active inquiry. For international students, UMass Boston's proposition is the Boston advantage at a public-university price: a global academic hub (55+ colleges and universities in the metro), direct MBTA Red Line access to downtown, a densely diverse campus where English learners feel unusually at home, and scholarship eligibility for strong applicants. International undergraduates with a 3.3+ GPA are automatically considered for merit scholarships of up to $10,000 per year. The Office of Global Programs provides F-1 advising, OPT/CPT authorization, conditional-admission pathways through the ELI (English Language Institute), and the Beacon Student Success Center extends first-year advising to every new international student.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceThe deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Domestic
$15,935 – $17,135
/yr
Out-of-State / Intl
$40,487 – $42,000
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Largest college at UMass Boston with 3,900+ undergraduates. Homes of the McCormack Graduate School of Policy & Global Studies, which produces nationally ranked MPA and conflict-resolution graduates.
UMass Boston's STEM core with 3,200+ undergraduates. Home to the School for the Environment, which leverages the waterfront campus for marine sciences, climate, and sustainability research.
AACSB-accredited business school with 1,985 students. Strong in accounting, finance, and marketing; MBA and executive programs serve the Boston metropolitan economy.
Prepares BSN, MSN, DNP, and exercise-science professionals for Boston's world-class hospital network (Mass General Brigham, Boston Children's, Dana-Farber).
Nationally recognized MPA and conflict-resolution graduate school, including centers on gerontology, international relations, and public policy.
Prepares teachers, counselors, and special education professionals across K-12 and higher education settings.
4 years
Highly selective nursing program with clinical placements across Boston's Longwood Medical Area (MGH, Beth Israel Deaconess, Boston Medical Center). STEM-designated; graduates placement rate exceeds 95%.
4 years
STEM-CIP-designated CS degree with specialization tracks in cybersecurity, software engineering, and data science; 24-month OPT extension eligible. Capstone industry projects with Boston tech employers.
4 years
Interdisciplinary degree using UMass Boston's waterfront location for marine and coastal research. Partnerships with NOAA, the New England Aquarium, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $38,125
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
