Admissions Standards for the
Massachusetts State Colleges and University
Massachusetts Board of Higher Education
The admissions standards for the state colleges 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. It is important to note that admissions standards for the state’s community colleges differ. Community colleges may admit any high school graduate or GED recipient.
Freshmen Applicants
The admissions standards for freshmen applicants have two main parts:
1. 16 required academic courses.
2. a minimum required grade point average (GPA) earned in college preparatory courses completed
at the time of application.
Applicant’s must also submit an SAT or ACT score.
Academic Course Requirement
Sixteen college preparatory courses distributed as follows are required. (A course is equivalent to one full school year of study. Courses count towards the distribution only if passed.)
English 4 courses
Mathematics 3 courses (Algebra I & II and Geometry or Trigonometry, or comparable coursework)
Sciences 3 courses (including 2 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)
Minimum Required Grade Point Average (GPA)
The GPA must be achieved based on all college preparatory courses completed at the time of application and should be weighted for accelerated (Honors or Advanced Placement) courses. The required minimum weighted high school GPA is 3.0 for the four-year public campuses.
SAT Scores
Applicants who meet the GPA requirement do not have to use the sliding scale for admission, but still must submit SAT or ACT test scores for consideration if they are applying to a state college or UMass within three years of high school graduation.
Sliding Scale (used when GPA is lower than the minimum required GPA)
If an applicant’s GPA falls below the required minimum, a sliding scale will apply. This scale should be used only when an applicant’s GPA falls below the required 3.0 minimums for admission to the state colleges or UMass.
Sliding Scale for Freshman Applicants to UMass
Weighted High Combined SAT IV & M
School GPA Must Equal or Exceed
(ACT Equivalent in Italics)
2.51 – 2.99 950 (20)
2.41 – 2.50 990 (21)
2.31 – 2.40 1030 (22)
2.21 – 2.30 1070 (23)
2.11 – 2.20 1110 (24)
2.00 – 2.10 1150 (25)
No applicant with a high school GPA below 2.00 may be admitted to a Massachusetts State College or University Campus.
Sliding Scale for Freshman Applicants to State College
Weighted High Combined SAT 1 V & M
School GPA Must Equal or Exceed
(ACT Equivalent in Italics)
2.51 – 2.99 920 (19)
2.41 – 2.50 960 (20)
2.31 – 2.40 1000 (21)
2.21 – 2.30 1040 (22)
2.11 – 2.20 1080 (23)
2.00 – 2.10 1120 (24)
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