The Department of Higher Education has updated its Admissions Standards Reference Guide for 2019. Specific information outlining the revisions to the document can be found in this memorandum.
Note that the standards in this document are minimum requirements. Meeting the minimum standards does not guarantee admission, since admissions officers consider a wide range of factors when reviewing students’ applications, and the state universities and UMass campuses can establish additional requirements. Contacting the colleges directly may provide additional information.
The admissions standards for the state universities and University of Massachusetts emphasize strong academic preparation while in high school. These standards represent minimum requirements; meeting them does not guarantee admission, since college officials consider a wide range of factors in admissions decisions.
The admissions standards for freshmen applicants to the state universities and University of Massachusetts have several components:
This table is not inclusive of all test optional policies at each institution. Some institutions may require test scores from students who are home schooled or attend a school that issues narratives on the transcript in place of letter/number grades. Additionally, some institutions may also require test scores for admission into certain majors/programs, and merit aid/scholarship consideration. This table is also not a guarantee of admission into the university based on test optional policies, as the institution may take other factors into account.
| Institution | Test Optional Programs | GPA (recalculated)* |
|---|---|---|
| Bridgewater State University | All programs are test optional. | Applicants are recommended to have a 3.0 GPA or higher. Those with below a 3.0 should submit test scores. |
All programs are test optional EXCEPT students applying to the nursing program and game design program |
Applicants with a GPA of 3.0 or higher are already eligible candidates for undergraduate admission and are strongly encouraged to submit SAT/ACT scores | |
| Applicants with a GPA below 3.0 that elect to be test optional must submit a letter of recommendation from a teacher or high school guidance counselor | ||
| Framingham State University | All programs are test optional EXCEPT applicants interested pursuing a major in the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics | There is no minimum GPA requirement; however, applicants are encouraged to have a GPA of a 2.5 or higher. |
| MassArt | All bachelor programs are test optional. | Applicants should have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA. If a student's GPA falls below 3.0, Mass Art reserves the right to contact the student and/or guidance counselor during the admissions process to further determine a student's college readiness. |
All programs are test optional EXCEPT students applying to the nursing program. |
Applicants with a 2.5 GPA or higher are encouraged to submit their test scores (SAT/ACT) as it will assist with academic placement at orientation when registering for classes. | |
| Applicants with below a 2.5 GPA must submit a letter of reference from a teacher or high school guidance counselor | ||
| UMass Boston | All programs are test optional EXCEPT students applying to the nursing program. | Applicants should have a minimum of a 3.2 GPA. |
| UMass Dartmouth | Test optional only applies to students applying to the Charlton College of Business and the College of Visual & Performing Arts (CVPA) | Applicants should have a minimum of a 3.25 GPA. |
| UMass Lowell | All programs are test optional. | Applicants should have a minimum of a 3.25 GPA. |
| Worcester State University | All programs are test optional EXCEPT first-time nursing and occupational studies applicants. | Applicants are recommended to have a 3.0 GPA or higher. Applicants with a 2.99 GPA or below must submit one recommendation letter from a high school teacher or counselor and a personal essay. |
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