The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (UMD) was founded in 1895 and was initially known as the Southwestern Massachusetts University (SMU). It was incorporated into the public university system of Massachusetts in 1991. The campus, a brutalist marvel, is located on the scenic south coast just minutes away from the beach and provides easy access to Providence, Boston, and Newport. Let’s know about University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Admissions Requirements And GPA.
The requirements at University of Massachusetts Darthmouth for admissions is a score of at least 1020 on the SAT or 71 and above on the ACT. Additionally, an individual maintaining a GPA score above 3.2 would highly be appreciated.
Universities view applications holistically, meaning it is not a single score or an essay that needs your focus. Likewise, lacking in one aspect can be made up for by excelling in another. UMassD is a safety school at best and a match school at worst for many.
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Admissions Requirements And GPA
SAT Requirements
UMassD is test-optional which means that there is no minimum score requirement. The university encourages students to submit their test scores if they reflect their overall academic performance and supplement their application. An SAT composite score of 1020 or higher makes you eligible for scholarship consideration. However, there is a caveat; the average SAT composite score UMassD is 1090 on the New 1600 SAT, meaning that the stated scholarship threshold of 1020 alone may help your application but it may not increase your chances of getting a merit-based scholarship.
A percentile breakdown of SAT scores per the National Center for Educational Statistics Database (Fall 2020) given below should help decide if your SAT score will support your application.
| Test | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
| SAT Reading | 490 | 600 |
| SAT Math | 500 | 590 |
Therefore, you should aim for an SAT composite score of 1190 or higher to rank among top 25% of your peers. In contrast, a score of 990 will place you in the lowest quarter. Fortunately, UMassD allows you to “superscore” your SATs, meaning you can submit multiple scores, and only the best ones across all dates will be considered.
ACT Requirements
UMassD also accepts ACT scores, and like the SATs, they are optional. The average ACT score for UMassD is 23, whereas the threshold for scholarship consideration is 20. The latest ACT percentile breakdown per the NCES Database is given below.
| Test | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
| ACT English | 19 | 29 |
| ACT Math | 19 | 26 |
| ACT Composite | 20 | 26 |
Thus, a score below 19 will probably impact your application negatively and would require a retake. Unfortunately, you cannot superscore your ACT. Therefore, you must send the best scores at the time of application.
GPA Requirements
While a high school GPA is required for UMassD, no minimum threshold is explicitly stated for admissions. The lowest GPA required to be considered for scholarship is 2.75 on a 4.00 scale, however, which should give you an idea of how much your GPA needs to be to avoid having your application rejected at the outset. The minimum GPA requirement for international applicants is 2.5.
Scholarships
First-year applicants are automatically considered for merit-based admission scholarships, the test score and GPA requirements for which are tabulated below.
| Scholarship/Award | SAT/ACT | GPA |
| Chancellor’s Scholarship | 1200/25 | 3.8 |
| Dean’s Scholarship | 1100/22 | 3.4 |
| UMassD Admissions Award | 1000/20 | 2.75 |
| UMassD Success Scholarship | Undisclosed |
Other admissions scholarships require applicant action, details for which can be found here.
Language Score Requirements
Test scores accepted by UMassD, along with their minimum requirements, are tabulated below.
| Test | Min. Requirement |
| IELTS | 6.5 |
| TOEFL | 79 |
| PTE | 53 |
The language score requirement is waived if the applicant:
- has English as their first language. This includes citizens of Australia, Canada (except Quebec), the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Guyana, and English-speaking countries of Africa and the West Indies.
- provides verification from their secondary school that their medium of education is English.
- is enrolled in an International Baccalaureate curriculum.
- attends American School.
- is enrolled in a curriculum leading to Cambridge International Examinations.
Other Requirements
- Academic transcripts. The following college preparatory courses are required:
| Course | Required Units |
| English | 4 |
| Mathematics | 4 |
| Foreign Language | 2 |
| Science | 3 |
| Social Sciences | 2 |
| Electives | 2 |
- Application fee: $60 (waivable)
- A recommendation letter from an instructor or school counselor (optional, highly recommended).
- A 650-word personal statement (optional).
- A personal essay with a maximum of 500 words on a topic of the applicant’s choice (optional, for international applicants).
Overall, UMassD is not very selective, and with average test scores and GPA, it is a good option for a safety school. While admissions are offered on a rolling basis, early action applicants have a higher chance of getting in.
FAQs
What are my chances of getting into UMassD?
UMass Dartmouth has an acceptance rate of 78%, meaning it is not a competitive school. The early action acceptance rate is even higher (approximately 90%). Therefore, if you score average, you are very likely to be accepted. With below average scores, you must supplement your application with extracurriculars and good essays.
Should I submit my SAT/ACT scores?
While UMass Dartmouth is test-optional, 93% of the applicants submitted their test scores in 2020. Therefore, submitting scores is recommended; however, you should note the percentile breakdown of scores to decide if submitting the scores helps your application or not. Additionally, UMassD automatically considers you for merit-based scholarships irrespective of your test score submission if you possess a GPA of 3.25 or higher.
Does UMassD prefer the SAT or ACT?
Neither is one test harder than the other, nor does the school prefer one over the other. That being said, of the total applicants in Fall 2020, 87% submitted the SAT, and 6% submitted the ACT.
How much SAT Essay or ACT Writing score is required?
UMassD is essay-score-optional; however, the essay/writing section is no longer part of the SAT. If your school still opts in during School Day Testing, your essay score will not be considered.
Will UMassD assess my secondary school rank?
Secondary school rank is considered during evaluation, but it is not required.
A college hunt can be a daunting experience for most of us. With a wide array of requirements and stipulations, determining one’s chances across safety schools to hard-reach schools can be arduous. The situation is exacerbated by the dichotomy between requirements that will get your application through the door and those that will set you apart from the crowd and earn you a seat at the table.