Study: Getting Into UMass Amherst Tougher For In-State Applicants

BOSTON (AP) — A new report suggests that gaining admission to the University of Massachusetts' flagship campus in Amherst is more difficult for Massachusetts residents than it is for those who live outside the state.

The Boston-based Pioneer Institute says the study released Tuesday challenges the widely accepted notion that out-of-state applicants are held to more rigorous academic standards than their Massachusetts counterparts.

Researchers said records for the period of 2010 to 2016 found the average high school GPA for out-of-state students admitted to UMass-Amherst was 3.67, compared to 3.87 for Massachusetts residents.

Average combined SAT scores for non-residents were also slightly lower.

The report notes the university has been steadily increasing its percentage of out-of-state students, who pay higher tuition than in-state students.
University officials had no immediate comment on the report.

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