The University of Massachusetts Amherst is the flagship campus of the UMass system — a major public research university founded in 1863 in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts. With over 32,000 students, UMass Amherst is one of New England's largest universities and consistently ranks among the top public universities in the Northeast. Home to the Commonwealth Honors College, five distinctive residential areas, and a vibrant campus culture, UMass balances world-class research with an energetic student community.