
As a land-grant university, UMass Amhersts mission is to provide teaching, research and public service to benefit people in Massachusetts, the nation and the world. This mission remains as vital today as it was when the institution opened its doors as the Massachusetts Agricultural College in 1867 UMass Amherst is one of the major public research universities in America. Nestled in idyllic Amherst, Massachusetts, the campus is consistently ranked among the top public research universities in the nation, and offers a rich cultural environment in a rural setting close to major urban centers. UMass Amherst, located in Amherst, Massachusetts, sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, 90 miles from Boston and 175 miles from New York City. The campus provides a rich cultural environment in a rural setting close to major urban centers.