The Boston campus of the University of Massachusetts brings the resources of a major university to people from all walks of life, offering undergraduate and graduate programs in approximately 90 fields of study, as well as advanced certificate programs through its Division of Corporate, Continuing and Distance Education. The University is one of five institutions in the Greater Boston Urban Education Collaborative, a group that collectively works to expand services, enrich programming, develop greater flexibility, and contribute more fully to the future development of the community.

In 1982 Boston State College joined UMass Boston to create an even better institution, and its alumni and former staff are considered part of the UMass Boston family.

UMass Boston has enrollment of approximately 13,300 students and boasts an internationally distinguished faculty of 818 members including Lloyd Schwartz who was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in Criticism in 1994 and Monet expert Paul Tucker.