UMass Amherst is the third highest producer of Fulbright Scholars

Over the last year, seven Fulbright Scholars have come out of UMass Amherst. This is the third highest number that have come from a research institution in the U.S. UMass Amherst falls behind only Arizona State University and University of Florida. Pretty impressive for a “party school,” eh?

This number ties us with Cornell University, and puts us ahead of UC Berkeley and UCLA.

Founded by U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946, the Fulbright Scholarship Program gives grants to students and scholars for their research projects. Allocated and sponsored by the U.S. State Department, these scholarships are given to applicants who present research projects with the intention of improving education, public health, and the environment, among other fields, worldwide.

The State Department of United States emphasizes that while these scholars are creating progress in research, they are also taking part in developing the comprehension and appreciation of cultures around the world. The focuses of study for this year’s scholars range from psychology, to theater, to English teaching assistantships, and beyond.

And this is not the first time UMass has made headlines for our accolades. We were on the list previously with a total of 13 students receiving Fulbrights during the 2024-2015 academic year.

Over the course of the year, all thirteen students have been working on their research projects funded by the State Department in foreign countries such as (but not limited to) Botswana, Kuwait, Germany, and Malaysia.

So next time your friends are asking if you can do a keg-stand from your party school experience, show them your keg-stand… but then, whip out UMass’ stats of Fulbright scholars, the average GPA of your graduating class, and show them that we’re not just here for the parties.