The University of Massachusetts at Amherst
is the flagship campus of the state system. Founded in 1863 as a land-grant university, UMass has evolved into a prominent research institution of ten schools and colleges and enrolls approximately 17,000 undergraduates and some 5,800 graduate students.
Amherst College
founded in 1821 is the oldest of the five campuses and has a student body of 1,600 undergraduate men and women. Amherst is often cited as one of this country's most outstanding liberal arts colleges.
Hampshire College
which opened its doors in 1970, was founded by the other four schools as an experimental and highly innovative liberal arts institution for men and women. Hampshire's emphasis on independent inquiry enables its 1,100 students to design their own programs of study.
Mount Holyoke College
established in 1837 by the well-known educator Mary Lyon, is the oldest college for women in the nation. Today, its 2,000 undergraduates are challenged by the same rigorous standards in pursuing a liberal arts education.
Smith College
established in 1871, was among the first colleges to offer women serious academic training for the professions of medicine, law, and teaching. With an enrollment of 2,500 women, Smith remains the largest private liberal arts college for women in the country.
