Community college transfer requirements to University of Massachusetts Amherst

University of Massachusetts Amherst is a major receiving institution for community college transfer students in Massachusetts. This page summarizes the published minimum GPA, application deadline, credit cap, and articulation framework you need to plan the transfer.

Transfer-admission profile

University of Massachusetts Amherst publishes a transfer-admission policy distinct from its freshman policy. The minimum cumulative community college GPA for transfer applicants is approximately 2.7; competitive majors — particularly engineering, nursing, computer science, and the business school — typically require a higher GPA, often 3.2 or above, plus specific grades in named lower-division prerequisite courses. The university accepts up to 75 semester hours of community college credit toward the bachelor's; anything earned beyond that cap will appear on the transcript but will not reduce the credits required for graduation.

The application window is Jun 1 (fall) / Nov 1 (spring), and applicants should plan to have an official transcript from every previously attended college, the FAFSA submitted by the priority deadline, and (where required) a brief transfer essay or major-specific supplement. Some University of Massachusetts Amherst programs admit only for the fall term; others admit for both fall and spring. Confirm with the receiving department before you commit to a transfer term.

Articulation framework

Because University of Massachusetts Amherst is part of UMass in Massachusetts, transfer students from in-state community colleges benefit from the following articulation programs:

• MassTransfer (Massachusetts) — A MassTransfer A2B Degree from a Massachusetts community college guarantees admission to any state university or UMass campus with full credit transfer and a tuition discount at higher GPAs.

Following the relevant articulation program is the cleanest way to ensure a credit-for-credit move into University of Massachusetts Amherst. Out-of-state transfers and applicants who skip the program are evaluated course-by-course by the registrar, which usually loses some credit at the margin.

Step-by-step transfer plan

1. Decide your target major. Read the University of Massachusetts Amherst department's transfer guide for that major, which lists every required and recommended lower-division course.
2. Pick a feeder community college in Massachusetts that offers the matching transfer-track associate degree (AA, AS, or the state's transfer-associate variant).
3. Map every semester against the University of Massachusetts Amherst articulation table. Confirm with both your community college advisor and the receiving department that the courses you plan to take will count.
4. Maintain a cumulative GPA above 2.7 — and well above for the competitive majors. Aim for at least 3.2 if you're targeting an oversubscribed program.
5. File the FAFSA before the priority deadline, request an official transcript from every prior college, and submit your application before Jun 1 (fall) / Nov 1 (spring).
6. After admission, attend the transfer orientation, lock in your major declaration with the receiving department, and request a final credit evaluation in writing.

Common feeder community colleges

The community colleges below are the largest in Massachusetts by enrollment, and they each maintain established transfer pipelines into University of Massachusetts Amherst. Each profile lists the college's transfer rate, costs, and program offerings:

Popular majors for transfer-in

Each program-area page below outlines the typical two-year coursework, prerequisites, and recommended sequence for transferring into the corresponding bachelor's program at University of Massachusetts Amherst:

• Business Administration at University of Massachusetts Amherst
• Nursing (RN) at University of Massachusetts Amherst
• Computer Science at University of Massachusetts Amherst
• Information Technology at University of Massachusetts Amherst
• Engineering Transfer at University of Massachusetts Amherst
• Early Childhood Education at University of Massachusetts Amherst
• Criminal Justice at University of Massachusetts Amherst
• Psychology at University of Massachusetts Amherst
• Biology / Pre-Health at University of Massachusetts Amherst
• Communications & Media at University of Massachusetts Amherst
• Liberal Arts (General Studies) at University of Massachusetts Amherst
• Hospitality & Culinary at University of Massachusetts Amherst