The University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst) is a public land-grant research university located in Amherst, Massachusetts. It is the flagship campus of the University of Massachusetts system and is nationally ranked as a top teaching and research institution with an enrollment of about 28,500 students. Founded in 1863 as the Massachusetts Agricultural College, it offers a wide range of higher education programs and is recognized for its research and public service.