Embry-Riddle vs University of Massachusetts-Amherst (UMass)

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach and University of Massachusetts-Amherst, two distinct institutions with unique offerings, await your exploration. Embry-Riddle, renowned for its aviation programs, boasts a 92% acceptance rate, while UMass-Amherst, a public research university, welcomes a broader range of students with a 68% acceptance rate. Discover the contrasts in their popular majors, with Embry-Riddle excelling in Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, and UMass-Amherst shining in Computer Science, Engineering, and Psychology. Delve into the student body demographics, where Embry-Riddle's international student population stands at 14%, compared to UMass-Amherst's 10%. Explore their graduation rates, with Embry-Riddle achieving a 70% four-year graduation rate and UMass-Amherst reaching a 76% six-year graduation rate. Dive into the comparison table to uncover

	Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach	University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Overview
Location	Daytona Beach, Florida	Amherst, Massachusetts
Campus setting	City: Small	Suburb: Large
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Private (Non Profit)	Public
Calendar system	Semester	Semester
Degrees offered	Undergraduate and Graduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	80.0%	91.0%
Common app member	No	Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	72.3%	65.5%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $50 Graduate: $50	Undergraduate: $85 Graduate: $85
SAT range	1140 - 1330	1250 - 1460
ACT range	23 - 29	28 - 33
Students submitting SAT score	54.0%	26.0%
Students submitting ACT score	27.0%	5.0%
Total number of applicants	9,255	42,540
Total number of admissions given out	6,691	27,877
Admitted students who chose to enroll	1,862	4,872
Yield rate	27.8%	17.5%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Not required	Required
Recommendation letters	Not required	Required
High school transcript	Not required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	Required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$57,754	In state: $32,434 Out of state: $52,959
Average net price	$35,923	$17,291
Tuition	$37,512	In state: $15,791 Out of state: $36,316
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $7,380 Meal plan: $4,974	Room/dormitory: $7,611 Meal plan: $5,984
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	95.0% Average amount $20,273	86.0% Average amount $10,662
Students receiving federal student loan	51.0% Average amount $5,508	39.0% Average amount $5,123
Students taking out private loans	19.0% Average amount $28,129	7.0% Average amount $15,924

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	8,916 Men 73.6% Women 26.4%	24,231 Men 48.8% Women 51.2%
Graduate students	677 Men 71.3% Women 28.7%	7,814 Men 47.9% Women 52.1%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Low
Out-of-state students	67.9%	N/A
International students	11.8%	11.1%
Campus local/setting	City: Small	Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity	3,389	13,582
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	Florida Texas New York Pennsylvania New Jersey	New York New Jersey Connecticut California New Hampshire

Academics
Popular study areas	Transportation and Logistics Engineering Business Psychology Military Technologies	Business Engineering Health Professions Multidisciplinary Studies Computer and Information Science
Students to faculty ratio	18:1	18:1
Institutional accreditation	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges	New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome
Graduation rate	62.2%	83.7%
Dropout rate	34.8%	5.1%
Transferred out	N/A	10.5%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $77,654 Year 2: $75,047 Year 3: $88,105 Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Master's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $74,576 Year 3: $84,606 Air Transportation (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $78,896 Year 2: $77,039 Year 3: $84,059 Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $64,540 Year 2: $65,080 Year 3: $77,320 Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $65,961 Year 2: $64,087 Year 3: $72,560 Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $67,674 Year 2: $55,964 Year 3: $68,673 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $56,141 Year 2: $59,314 Year 3: $65,858 Air Transportation (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $53,995 Year 2: $48,833 Year 3: $61,969 Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $40,234 Year 2: $41,937 Year 3: $59,418 Homeland Security (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $40,792 Year 2: $40,667 Year 3: $55,183	Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $112,236 Year 2: $99,741 Year 3: $118,959 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $97,497 Year 2: $97,071 Year 3: $105,578 Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $79,216 Year 2: $78,232 Year 3: $95,030 Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $71,683 Year 2: $75,518 Year 3: $94,055 Education, General (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $71,391 Year 2: $76,460 Year 3: $79,970 Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $65,906 Year 2: $67,202 Year 3: $79,007 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $72,222 Year 2: $69,338 Year 3: $76,636 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $68,607 Year 2: $68,647 Year 3: $74,913 Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $66,719 Year 2: $65,594 Year 3: $74,578 Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $62,571 Year 2: $63,646 Year 3: $73,746

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the primary academic focuses of Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach and UMass Amherst?

Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach is renowned for its specialized focus on aviation and aerospace education. Its programs are heavily geared towards preparing students for careers in these industries. UMass Amherst, on the other hand, is a comprehensive public research university offering a wide range of programs across various disciplines, including engineering, sciences, humanities, and business. While UMass Amherst also has an excellent engineering program, it doesn't have the same singular focus on aviation as Embry-Riddle.
How do the campus environments differ between Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach and UMass Amherst?

Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach offers a smaller, more focused campus environment with a strong sense of community centered around aviation. It's located in Daytona Beach, Florida, providing access to beaches and a warmer climate. UMass Amherst has a larger, more diverse campus with a vibrant student life typical of a large public university. Located in Amherst, Massachusetts, it offers a more traditional New England college town experience with distinct seasons.
What types of programs are offered at Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach that are not available at UMass Amherst?

Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach specializes in aviation-specific programs such as Air Traffic Management, Aerospace Engineering with a focus on aeronautics, Aviation Maintenance Science, and Unmanned Aircraft Systems Science (drones). These highly specialized programs are not typically found at UMass Amherst, which offers a broader range of engineering disciplines.
What types of programs are offered at UMass Amherst that are not available at Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach?

UMass Amherst offers a much wider array of programs outside of aviation and aerospace. This includes strong programs in fields like business administration, nursing, education, social sciences, humanities, and the arts. They also have specialized programs like Food Science, Landscape Architecture, and a comprehensive range of graduate programs that are not available at Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach.
How do the costs of attending Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach and UMass Amherst compare?

Generally, Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach, as a private institution, tends to have a higher tuition cost compared to UMass Amherst, which is a public university, especially for in-state students. However, the overall cost can vary depending on factors like financial aid, scholarships, and residency status. It's best to check the official websites of both universities for the most up-to-date tuition and fee information and to explore available financial aid options.
What are the career prospects like for graduates of Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach and UMass Amherst?

Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach graduates are highly sought after in the aviation and aerospace industries, with strong placement rates in airlines, aerospace companies, and government agencies. UMass Amherst graduates have diverse career opportunities across various sectors, reflecting the university's broad range of academic programs. Career prospects depend heavily on the specific major and the individual's skills and experience.
How do the research opportunities compare between Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach and UMass Amherst?

UMass Amherst, as a major research university, offers extensive research opportunities across many disciplines, with numerous research centers and institutes. Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach also provides research opportunities, particularly in aviation and aerospace-related fields, but the scope and scale are generally smaller compared to UMass Amherst.
What is the student-faculty ratio like at Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach and UMass Amherst?

Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach typically has a lower student-faculty ratio compared to UMass Amherst. This can lead to smaller class sizes and more personalized attention from professors. UMass Amherst, being a larger public university, generally has larger class sizes, especially in introductory courses.
What are the admission requirements like for Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach and UMass Amherst?

Both universities require a strong academic record, including high school transcripts, standardized test scores (though test-optional policies may apply), and letters of recommendation. Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach may place more emphasis on math and science coursework, given its focus on technical fields. UMass Amherst considers a broader range of factors, including extracurricular activities and essays, reflecting its more holistic admission process.
If I'm interested in a career outside of aviation and aerospace, is Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach still a good choice?

While Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach excels in aviation and aerospace, if your interests lie primarily outside of these fields, UMass Amherst would likely be a better fit. UMass Amherst offers a much broader range of academic programs and career pathways, allowing you to explore diverse interests and develop skills applicable to various industries.

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