University of Massachusetts-Lowell
- Graduation Rate
- 67% B-
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $64,874 A-
- Top 10% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $17,163 C
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 83% C-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 20.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $20.0 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $20.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,306,546.
What The Data Says
-
A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
-
Graduates earn 59% more than the national college median.
-
Every $1 invested returns $20.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- World Rank
- #56
- Times Higher Education
- Research Score
- 73/100
- Times Higher Education
Why University of Massachusetts-Lowell Matters
University of Massachusetts-Lowell is a public research university in Lowell, MA ranked #56 in the world by Times Higher Education, and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 10% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R2 · High Research
- Enrollment
- 11,434
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Psychology
Why students choose University of Massachusetts-Lowell
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 83% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1180–1370. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $17,163 a year after grants and scholarships — 0% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $64,874 ten years after enrolling — 59% above the typical college, against $23,704 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.52 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of over 11,000 students, the University of Massachusetts-Lowell is a solid choice for those seeking a practical education with a wide array of programs. The acceptance rate of 83% suggests that we can find a diverse group of students here, which often creates a vibrant campus atmosphere. Students often dive into popular fields like Business and Marketing, Engineering, Computer Science, Health Professions, and Criminal Justice, making it a fitting option for those with clear career goals.
Looking at life after graduation, the numbers are encouraging. Alumni typically earn around $64,874 after ten years, which speaks to the value of the education they receive. This income level can help ease the financial burden many graduates face. The cost of attendance is manageable, with a net price of about $17,163 after financial aid, allowing many to focus on their careers rather than their student loans.
The financial picture here is quite reasonable, with a median debt of $23,704. Many students who thrive at UMass-Lowell are those who are proactive and practical in their approach to education, often balancing work and study. With 30% of students receiving Pell Grants, there’s a commitment to helping those from lower-income backgrounds succeed, which enriches the campus community as a whole.
Rankings
- #12 Best Engineering Colleges in Massachusetts
- #23 Best MBA Programs in Massachusetts
- #25 Most Affordable Colleges in Massachusetts
- #26 Best Globally-Ranked American Universities
- #27 Best Research Universities in America
- #28 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Massachusetts
- #35 Best Business Colleges in Massachusetts
- #37 Best Bachelor's Programs in Massachusetts
Can I Get In?
How selective University of Massachusetts-Lowell is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Massachusetts-Lowell? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Lowell, Massachusetts, University of Massachusetts-Lowell admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 83%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,285. The graduation rate is roughly 67%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 83%
- Retention Rate
- 84%
- SAT Average
- 1285
- ACT Midpoint
- 29
- SAT Range
- 1180–1370
- ACT Range
- 25–32
- Full-Time Faculty
- 60%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $14,275
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 17:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.69
- First-Gen Students
- 32%
- Applicants
- 12,253
- Admitted
- 10,532
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2023-24
The acceptance rate tells you how hard University of Massachusetts-Lowell is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 18% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 18%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 27%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 2%
- of enrolled freshmen
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 29% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Massachusetts-Lowell? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Massachusetts-Lowell is $36,264, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $17,163. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,943 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,704 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $16,966
- Out-of-State
- $36,264
- Avg Net Price
- $17,163
- Median Debt
- $23,704
- Pell Grant Rate
- 30%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 53%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $9,943
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $10,199
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $12,141
- Family Income $110K+
- $26,139
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at University of Massachusetts-Lowell — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is University of Massachusetts-Lowell Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Massachusetts-Lowell earn a median of $64,874, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $61,467
- 8 Years
- $64,695
- 10 Years
- $64,874
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.37x
- Earning > $25K
- 76%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (720)
- 44%
- 100% (720)
- 44%
- 100% (720)
- 44%
- 100% (720)
- 44%
How University Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is University of Massachusetts-Lowell Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of Massachusetts-Lowell delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $17,163/year ($68,652 total). Graduates earn $64,874 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,375,198 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,306,546 (20.0× your investment). The median debt is $23,704, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 67% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $68,652
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,375,198
- Net Return
- $1,306,546
- ROI Multiple
- 20.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $17,163
- Median Debt
- $23,704
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 67%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Research & Teaching
Data: Times Higher Education World University Rankings
How Research-Intensive Is University of Massachusetts-Lowell? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places University of Massachusetts-Lowell at #56 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 73/100, teaching at 61/100, and citation impact of 68/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
- World Rank
- #56
- Teaching
- 61.3
- Research
- 72.6
- Citations
- 67.9
- International
- 22.6
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
- Research Score
- 73/100
- Times Higher Ed
- Academic Influence
- 68/100
- Citation impact (THE)
- Industry Engagement
- 54/100
- Knowledge transfer (THE)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-8,321,000
Top Programs
The fields University of Massachusetts-Lowell awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 21% $51,196 early-career
- Engineering 18% $88,611 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 11% $85,045 early-career
- Psychology 9% $39,664 early-career
- Criminal Justice 7% $47,949 early-career
- Health Professions 7% $76,883 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 4% $45,495 early-career
- Social Sciences 3% $46,273 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for University of Massachusetts-Lowell's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Massachusetts-Lowell? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Lowell, Massachusetts, University of Massachusetts-Lowell admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 83%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,285. The graduation rate is roughly 67%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Massachusetts-Lowell? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Massachusetts-Lowell is $36,264, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $17,163. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,943 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,704 in federal student loans.
Is University of Massachusetts-Lowell Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Massachusetts-Lowell earn a median of $64,874, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is University of Massachusetts-Lowell? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Massachusetts-Lowell. Its economic connectedness score is 1.52, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.06). Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
How Research-Intensive Is University of Massachusetts-Lowell? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places University of Massachusetts-Lowell at #56 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 73/100, teaching at 61/100, and citation impact of 68/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
Is University of Massachusetts-Lowell really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 29% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at University of Massachusetts-Lowell (2023-24 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at University of Massachusetts-Lowell?
About 18% of admitted students choose to enroll at University of Massachusetts-Lowell — its yield rate (2023-24 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of Massachusetts-Lowell.
- University of Massachusetts-BostonBoston, MA · Close peer50% grad $65,865 earn 84% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Towson UniversityTowson, MD · Close peer69% grad $64,390 earn 82% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of North DakotaGrand Forks, ND · Close peer62% grad $63,552 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Maryland-Baltimore CountyBaltimore, MD · Close peer70% grad $69,960 earn 72% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of New Hampshire-Main CampusDurham, NH · Close peer76% grad $66,479 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University at AlbanyAlbany, NY · Close peer63% grad $67,979 earn 69% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of Massachusetts-Lowell? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Massachusetts-Lowell. Its economic connectedness score is 1.52, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.06). Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note