FY25 Annual Report to the Legislature
Excellence, Impact, Stewardship: How UMass is powering the Commonwealth’s economy and future
The University of Massachusetts has released its FY2025 Annual Report to the Legislature, highlighting the university’s achievements in access, affordability, academic quality, and financial stewardship. The report, delivered to state legislative leaders and available on the UMass website, is another testament to the university’s long-standing commitment to transparency and accountability.
UMass President Marty Meehan emphasized the university’s progress in key areas that directly benefit students and the Commonwealth.
Expanding Access & Affordability
Ensuring that a high-quality education remains within reach for Massachusetts students, all four UMass undergraduate campuses now offer tuition-free programs for qualifying students from families earning $75,000 or less. This initiative was made possible through the historic MASSGrant Plus Expansion and the record $409 million in UMass-funded institutional aid, which has increased by 73 percent under President Meehan’s leadership.
National and International Reputation
UMass, its campuses, and its faculty continue to earn national and international acclaim.
UMass has made impressive gains in national and international rankings, reflecting its growing impact. The university climbed 39 spots to No. 84 in the 2025 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, maintaining its status as the top public university in New England. UMass Amherst also earned its highest-ever ranking, placing No. 26 among public universities in the U.S. and No. 58 among all universities, public or private, in this year’s News & World Report rankings.
In a historic achievement, UMass Chan Medical School faculty member Dr. Victor Ambros was awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his groundbreaking co-discovery of microRNA. This was the second Nobel Prize earned by a member of the UMass Chan faculty, and the third in the university’s history.
Strong Financial Management
UMass’s commitment to sound financial practices continues to earn national recognition. The university maintains strong bond ratings from S&P, Fitch, and Moody’s and was honored with the PRIMA Outstanding Achievement in Enterprise Risk Management Award for its innovative risk management program.
Systemwide Admissions Initiative
UMass is pioneering new approaches to admissions and student success. A recent pilot program between UMass Amherst, UMass Dartmouth, and UMass Lowell has begun offering admission to qualified students who were not initially accepted at UMass Amherst, demonstrating the university’s commitment to retaining talent within the system and working collaboratively to improve enrollment at all campuses.
President Meehan underscored the university’s resilience in navigating the challenges facing higher education today. “This year’s report makes clear that UMass has the leadership, vision, and financial discipline to meet these challenges while continuing to deliver a world-class education for our students and an extraordinary return on investment for the Commonwealth,” said UMass President Meehan.
For more details, explore the full FY2025 Annual Report to the Legislature on the UMass website.