University of Massachusetts-Lowell
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.
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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
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, Health Professions
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
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 keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 83% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,285. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 67%.
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
When weighing the true cost of attending University of Massachusetts-Lowell, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $36,264 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $17,163 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,943 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $23,704.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
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 national averages for graduates.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
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.
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
On the global stage, 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.
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields University of Massachusetts-Lowell awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
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.
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 keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 83% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,285. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 67%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Massachusetts-Lowell? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending University of Massachusetts-Lowell, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $36,264 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $17,163 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,943 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $23,704.
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 national averages for 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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.52 (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 +
On the global stage, 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.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of Massachusetts-Lowell.
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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.52 (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