University of Massachusetts Amherst

UMass Amherst is the flagship of the University of Massachusetts system, in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts. It is a big, research-focused public university with strengths in computer science, business, engineering and food systems, and it consistently earns praise for its campus dining. Students can take classes at four nearby colleges (Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke and Smith) through the Five College Consortium, and the W.E.B. Du Bois Library is one of the tallest academic libraries in the world. It is a strong, more affordable choice for a big college experience.