Catholic School CompassTrue north for Catholic families.
University of Massachusetts-Boston: Aerial view of UMass Boston campus, September 1993
Photo: Massachusetts Dept. of Environmental Protection, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

College · Catholic life on campus

University of Massachusetts-Boston

  • LocationBoston, MA
  • Type and sizePublic · 4-year · 15,810 students
Official website

University of Massachusetts-Boston is not a Catholic college. This rating measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes.

UMB Catholic Campus Ministry serves UMass Boston students, staff and faculty. Its published schedule lists Mass at the Interfaith Center on campus on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and Sunday Mass at St. Christopher Catholic Church. Programs listed include Bible studies and a becoming-Catholic program, and a priest is named as leading a Bible study.

Mass, confession, and adoration

Confirm with the parish

Mass 4

  • Tuesday5:15 PMInterfaith Center, McCormack Hall 3rd Floor
  • Wednesday12:00 PMInterfaith Center, McCormack Hall 3rd Floor
  • Thursday12:00 PMInterfaith Center, McCormack Hall 3rd Floor
  • Sunday12:30 PMSt. Christopher Catholic Church, 265 Mt Vernon St, Dorchester · Listed on the ministry's activities page as 265 Mt Vernon St.

Times come only from official parish, chaplaincy, or school pages, and can change with the season. Last verified Oct. 12, 2026.

Sources for these times (2)
  1. UMB Catholic | Catholic Campus Ministryumbcatholic.org/home · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Tuesday Mass @ 5:15pm Interfaith Center Wednesday Mass @ 12pm Interfaith Center Thursday Mass @ 12pm Interfaith Center Sunday Mass @ 12:30pm St. Christopher's”
    The ministry lists Mass at the Interfaith Center on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and Sunday Mass at St. Christopher's.
    “Tuesday Mass @ 5:15pm Interfaith Center Wednesday Mass @ 12pm Interfaith Center Thursday Mass @ 12pm Interfaith Center Sunday Mass @ 12:30pm St. Christopher's”
    The ministry lists Mass at the Interfaith Center on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and Sunday Mass at St. Christopher's.
    “Tuesday Mass @ 5:15pm Interfaith Center Wednesday Mass @ 12pm Interfaith Center Thursday Mass @ 12pm Interfaith Center Sunday Mass @ 12:30pm St. Christopher's”
    The ministry lists Mass at the Interfaith Center on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and Sunday Mass at St. Christopher's.
  2. UMB Catholic | Programs & Activitiesumbcatholic.org/get-involved/activities · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Sundays @ 12:30pm Where? St. Christopher Catholic Church (265 Mt Vernon St, Dorchester, Boston, MA)”
    The ministry lists Sunday Mass at 12:30 PM at St. Christopher Catholic Church.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of University of Massachusetts-Boston, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches1 mi2 mi3 miBlessed Mother Teresa: 1.2 mi1Saint Monica - Saint Augustine Catholic Church: 1.4 mi2Our Lady of Czestochowa: 1.5 mi3Gate of Heaven Catholic Church: 1.5 mi4St Ann Catholic Church: 1.7 mi5Cathedral of the Holy Cross: 2.5 mi6University of Massachusetts-Boston (campus)N1 mi
CampusCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. Blessed Mother Teresa — 1.2 mi · 800 Columbia Road, Dorchester
  2. Saint Monica - Saint Augustine Catholic Church — 1.4 mi · 333 Old Colony Avenue, South Boston
  3. Our Lady of Czestochowa — 1.5 mi · Dorchester Avenue, Boston
  4. Gate of Heaven Catholic Church — 1.5 mi · 615 East Fourth Street
  5. St Ann Catholic Church — 1.7 mi · 243 Neponset Avenue, Boston
  6. Cathedral of the Holy Cross — 2.5 mi · 1400 Washington Street, Boston

Within 3 miles, as mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The map may be incomplete. Confirm with the parish or diocese.

Catholic life scorecard

Each line is one thing we looked for. A check means yes, a half means partly, a dash means no. “Not enough information” means official sources did not say.

CCatholic life on campus: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.

Catholic life on campus

61 of 100 points on what we could document.

  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic campus ministry serving this campus (Catholic center, campus ministry, or chaplaincy)Yes
    Sources (1)
    1. UMB Catholic | Catholic Campus Ministryumbcatholic.org/home · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Serving the students, staff, and faculty of UMass Boston, UMB Catholic Campus Ministry seeks to proclaim Jesus Christ”
      UMB Catholic Campus Ministry serves UMass Boston students, staff and faculty.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Dedicated Catholic center or chapel on or next to campusNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Priest chaplain assigned to campus ministryPart-time or shared priest (A priest is named only as 'Fr. Don', who leads a Bible study with seminarians.)
    Sources (1)
    1. UMB Catholic | Programs & Activitiesumbcatholic.org/get-involved/activities · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Co-Ed Bible Study: Tuesdays @ 3:30pm - Led by Fr. Don and Seminarians!”
      A co-ed Bible study is led by Fr. Don and seminarians.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Weekday Mass at the campus ministry1–4 weekdays (Weekday Mass is listed on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at the Interfaith Center.)
    Sources (2)
    1. UMB Catholic | Catholic Campus Ministryumbcatholic.org/home · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Tuesday Mass @ 5:15pm Interfaith Center Wednesday Mass @ 12pm Interfaith Center Thursday Mass @ 12pm Interfaith Center Sunday Mass @ 12:30pm St. Christopher's”
      The ministry lists Mass at the Interfaith Center on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and Sunday Mass at St. Christopher's.
    2. UMB Catholic | Programs & Activitiesumbcatholic.org/get-involved/activities · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Join other UMass Boston students for Mass during the week. Weekday Mass is followed by a free meal, fellowship, and other activities.”
      Weekday Mass is offered for students and held at the Interfaith Center.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Sunday Mass at the campus ministry or a campus chapelOne weekend Mass (One weekend Mass is listed by the ministry, on Sunday at 12:30 PM at St. Christopher Catholic Church, off campus.)
    Sources (1)
    1. UMB Catholic | Programs & Activitiesumbcatholic.org/get-involved/activities · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Sundays @ 12:30pm Where? St. Christopher Catholic Church (265 Mt Vernon St, Dorchester, Boston, MA)”
      The ministry lists Sunday Mass at 12:30 PM at St. Christopher Catholic Church.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Scheduled confession at the campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Catholic student groups and missionary outreach (e.g., FOCUS, Saint Paul's Outreach, Knights of Columbus, Bible studies)One (The ministry's Bible studies are the only Catholic groups listed.)
    Sources (1)
    1. UMB Catholic | Programs & Activitiesumbcatholic.org/get-involved/activities · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Co-Ed Bible Study: Tuesdays @ 3:30pm - Led by Fr. Don and Seminarians!”
      A co-ed Bible study is led by Fr. Don and seminarians.
      “Women's Bible Study: Tuesdays @ 4pm, Wednesdays @ 1pm”
      The ministry lists women's Bible study times, plus men's and co-ed Bible studies.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Formation programs (retreats, OCIA/RCIA, service, small groups)Two or more kinds (Bible study and becoming-Catholic or sacramental formation are each offered.)
    Sources (2)
    1. UMB Catholic | Programs & Activitiesumbcatholic.org/get-involved/activities · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Co-Ed Bible Study: Tuesdays @ 3:30pm - Led by Fr. Don and Seminarians!”
      A co-ed Bible study is led by Fr. Don and seminarians.
      “Women's Bible Study: Tuesdays @ 4pm, Wednesdays @ 1pm”
      The ministry lists women's Bible study times, plus men's and co-ed Bible studies.
      “Becoming Catholic and Receiving Sacraments Are you interested in becoming Catholic?”
      The ministry offers help for students becoming Catholic or receiving sacraments.
    2. UMB Catholic | Growumbcatholic.org/grow · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Interested in becoming Catholic or receiving sacraments? Let us know!”
      The ministry invites students interested in becoming Catholic or receiving sacraments to contact it.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Catholic church within walking distance (computed from OpenStreetMap)Within 3 milesComputed from OpenStreetMap church locations.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Published weekly schedule of Mass, confession, and adoration1 to 5 times a week (4 weekly times documented: 4 Mass, 0 confession, 0 adoration.)Computed from the verified Mass, confession, and adoration times listed on this page (each day a time is offered counts once).

Grades come from the documented indicators under the published rubric. “Not enough information” does not mean the school lacks it.

Strengths

  • Mass is listed on campus on three weekdays, with a Sunday Mass for students at St. Christopher Catholic Church.
    Sources (2)
    1. UMB Catholic | Catholic Campus Ministryumbcatholic.org/home · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Tuesday Mass @ 5:15pm Interfaith Center Wednesday Mass @ 12pm Interfaith Center Thursday Mass @ 12pm Interfaith Center Sunday Mass @ 12:30pm St. Christopher's”
      The ministry lists Mass at the Interfaith Center on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and Sunday Mass at St. Christopher's.
    2. UMB Catholic | Programs & Activitiesumbcatholic.org/get-involved/activities · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Sundays @ 12:30pm Where? St. Christopher Catholic Church (265 Mt Vernon St, Dorchester, Boston, MA)”
      The ministry lists Sunday Mass at 12:30 PM at St. Christopher Catholic Church.
  • Men's, women's and co-ed Bible studies are listed, along with help for students becoming Catholic.
    Sources (1)
    1. UMB Catholic | Programs & Activitiesumbcatholic.org/get-involved/activities · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Co-Ed Bible Study: Tuesdays @ 3:30pm - Led by Fr. Don and Seminarians!”
      A co-ed Bible study is led by Fr. Don and seminarians.
      “Women's Bible Study: Tuesdays @ 4pm, Wednesdays @ 1pm”
      The ministry lists women's Bible study times, plus men's and co-ed Bible studies.
      “Becoming Catholic and Receiving Sacraments Are you interested in becoming Catholic?”
      The ministry offers help for students becoming Catholic or receiving sacraments.

Concerns

  • The priest namedis identified only as 'Fr. Don', with no chaplain title given.
    Sources (1)
    1. UMB Catholic | Programs & Activitiesumbcatholic.org/get-involved/activities · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Co-Ed Bible Study: Tuesdays @ 3:30pm - Led by Fr. Don and Seminarians!”
      A co-ed Bible study is led by Fr. Don and seminarians.
  • Weekday Masses are held in a shared interfaith center.
    Sources (2)
    1. Campus Ministry | UMass Bostonumb.edu/campus-life/inclusion-belonging/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “The Interfaith Center at UMass Boston is here to serve the community by offering spiritual care to students, faculty, and staff.”
      The Interfaith Center on campus provides spiritual care and space for worship.
    2. Events | Campus Ministry, UMass Bostonumb.edu/campus-life/inclusion-belonging/campus-ministry/events · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “All activities are held in the Interfaith Center unless otherwise noted.”
      Campus ministry activities are held at the Interfaith Center unless noted otherwise.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

The Catholic center

Interfaith Center, UMass Boston (UMB Catholic Campus Ministry Mass location)

  • Address: McCormack Hall, 3rd Floor, 100 Morrissey Blvd., Boston, MA 02125
  • Location: On campus
  • Facilities: Interfaith Center Sanctuary, Sacred Prayer Space near the Ryan Lounge

Source: umb.edu, verified Oct. 12, 2026, umb.edu, verified Oct. 12, 2026, umb.edu, verified Oct. 12, 2026

Catholic clubs and student life

5 groups and regular activities · 3 on campus, 1 off campus, 1 location not published

Liturgy and prayer 2

  • Sunday Mass and FellowshipOff campus
    Sundays at 12:30 PM
    Sunday Mass for UMass Boston students, followed by a free meal and fellowship.
    umbcatholic.org
  • Weekday Mass and mealOn campus
    Tuesday 5:15 PM; Wednesday and Thursday 12:00 PM
    Weekday Mass at the Interfaith Center, followed by a free meal, fellowship and other activities.
    umbcatholic.org, umb.edu

Faith formation 3

  • Co-Ed Bible StudyOn campus
    Tuesdays 3:30 PM
    Co-ed Bible study led by Fr. Don and seminarians.
    umbcatholic.org, umb.edu
  • Women's and Men's Bible StudiesOn campus
    Women's: Tuesdays 4 PM and Wednesdays 1 PM; Men's: Mondays 4 PM and Wednesdays 3 PM
    Single-gender Bible study groups run by the campus ministry.
    umbcatholic.org
  • Becoming Catholic and Receiving Sacraments
    Support for students who are interested in becoming Catholic or receiving First Communion or Confirmation.
    umbcatholic.org, umbcatholic.org

Everything listed is published by the school, its campus ministry, or the parish. Ask the campus minister what’s happening this semester.

Catholic campus ministry

Sources (4)
  1. UMB Catholic | Catholic Campus Ministryumbcatholic.org/home · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Serving the students, staff, and faculty of UMass Boston, UMB Catholic Campus Ministry seeks to proclaim Jesus Christ”
    UMB Catholic Campus Ministry serves UMass Boston students, staff and faculty.
  2. Staff | Campus Ministry, UMass Bostonumb.edu/campus-life/inclusion-belonging/campus-ministry/staff · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Catholic Campus Ministry E-mail: umbcatholic@gmail.com Website: www.umbcatholic.org Phone: 617-287-5434”
    UMass Boston's campus ministry directory lists the Catholic Campus Ministry email and phone.
  3. Campus Ministry | UMass Bostonumb.edu/campus-life/inclusion-belonging/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “The Interfaith Center at UMass Boston is here to serve the community by offering spiritual care to students, faculty, and staff.”
    The Interfaith Center on campus provides spiritual care and space for worship.
    “McCormack Hall 3rd Floor”
    The campus ministry office is on the third floor of McCormack Hall.
  4. Contact Us | UMass Bostonumb.edu/contact · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “100 Morrissey Blvd. Boston, MA 02125”
    UMass Boston's address is 100 Morrissey Blvd., Boston, MA 02125.

Reach out

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Academic Excellence

CAcademic Excellence: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
63 of 100
From federal data, on fixed published scales.

Each measure counts for the share shown.

  • Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.49%
  • First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.70%
  • Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,194 · ACT 25.5
  • Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.15 to 1
  • Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$19,582

Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.

Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))

Cost and value

Federal data, shown separately. Cost, debt, and earnings are never part of any grade.

Undergraduate students
Fall enrollment (IPEDS)
12,373
Total students15,810
Average net price (per year)
After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid
$17,707
Cost of attendance (per year)$30,544
Median federal debt at graduation$21,974
Graduation rate
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
49%
First-year retention70%
Median earnings 10 years after entry$65,865
Admission rate84%
Students receiving Pell grants42%
Admission test scores (middle 50% of admitted students who submitted scores)
Average SAT1194
SAT reading & writing540–650
SAT math530–640
ACT composite22–29
Test policyConsidered but not required

Value index: 59 / 100 (how it’s computed)

Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.

Local Church

Archdiocese of Boston

The Most Reverend Richard G. Henning, Archbishop of Boston

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

Source: usccb.org, verified Oct. 7, 2026.

Diocese determined from the county, using the diocese’s county list (Wikipedia). Confirm with the diocese.

About this school’s data

Questions families ask

Is University of Massachusetts-Boston a Catholic college?
No. University of Massachusetts-Boston is not a Catholic college. Catholic School Compass rates the Catholic life on its campus instead. Catholic students are served by UMB Catholic Campus Ministry.
What is University of Massachusetts-Boston’s Catholic Life Score?
62 out of 100 (grade C). It measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes, together with academics.
Where is Mass celebrated at University of Massachusetts-Boston?
Mass is listed at Interfaith Center, McCormack Hall 3rd Floor, St. Christopher Catholic Church, 265 Mt Vernon St and Dorchester. Days and times are on this page; please confirm with the parish or campus ministry before you go.

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