Below you will find an overview of minimum academic requirements that you will need to satisfy in high school to apply for Massachusetts State Universities, UMass campuses and community colleges.
For more information on admissions standards, go to your guidance counselor or contact the school's admissions office. You may also use The College Board's college search feature to find out more about a school's average test scores and selectivity.
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. Students shall have fulfilled all requirements for the high school diploma or its equivalent upon enrollment.
Admissions Standards Reference Guide
Admissions Standards FAQs
It is important to note that admissions standards differ; contacting the colleges directly may provide additional information.
* Please note admissions standards are increasing for the classes entering college in fall 2016 and fall 2017! See the chart below and review the Comprehensive Admissions Standards Guide to learn more about the changes, and talk with your guidance counselor about what you need to do to prepare.
| SUBJECT | REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTERING COLLEGE FRESHMEN | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2015 | Fall 2016 | Fall 2017 | |
| English | 4 courses | ||
| Mathematics | 3 courses (Algebra I & II and Geometry or Trigonometry or comparable coursework) |
4 courses (Algebra I & II and Geometry or Trigonometry, or comparable coursework) including mathematics during the final year of high school |
|
| Sciences | 3 courses (from Natural Science and/or Physical Science and/or Technology/ Engineering), including 2 courses with laboratory work. |
3 courses (from Natural Science and/or Physical Science and/or Technology/ Engineering), including 3 courses with laboratory work | |
| 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) |
||
The Massachusetts Community Colleges are committed to an open admission policy. Residents who have earned a high school diploma, GED, associate degree or higher have the opportunity to enroll in a degree or certificate program. Please note that admission to some programs is competitive or may require the completion of prerequisite courses, and some programs have additional requirements including specific deadlines. For more information, contact the school's admissions office.
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