University of Massachusetts-Lowell is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Lowell, Massachusetts. It enrolls 11,434 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNew England Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
77/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes68
Value80
Affordability54
Selectivity59
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 83%, University of Massachusetts-Lowell is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
83%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1180 – 1370
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
25 – 32
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether University of Massachusetts-Lowell is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
11.9 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending University of Massachusetts-Lowell isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $17,163 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$17,163
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
30%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
53%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$16,966
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$36,264
Room & Board (on-campus)
$16,148
Room & Board (off-campus)
$6,900
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,366
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,366
Total Cost of Attendance
$30,786
Application fee: $70 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$9,943
$30,001 – $48,000
$10,199
$48,001 – $75,000
$12,141
$75,001 – $110,000
$16,460
Over $110,000
$26,139
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,65410%percentile
$7,50025%percentile
$23,704Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$35,40090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $19,500
↓ $4,204
No Pell $15,742
↓ $7,962
Dependent students $17,750
↓ $5,954
Independent students $18,750
↓ $4,954
Female students $18,548
↓ $5,156
Male students $17,859
↓ $5,845
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,750, less than completers ($23,704), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
63% of full-time students who enrolled at University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduate within six years, and 83% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
63%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
83%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered University of Massachusetts-Lowell earn a median of $64,874 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$64,874
Earning > $25K
83%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$51,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$61,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$53,700
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$58,200
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$58,600
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $10,900, about 18% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
14.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 85% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
University of Massachusetts-Lowell is home to 11,434 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 32% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
11,434
Part-Time
18%
First-Generation
32%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 49.4%5,648
Hispanic 17.2%1,964
Asian 13.9%1,594
Black 10.3%1,182
Other 3.6%406
International 2.6%298
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at University of Massachusetts-Lowell. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbLowell, Massachusetts
Housing
Partly residential4,135 beds available
Adult Learners
18%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
University of Massachusetts-Lowell offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
129 distinct programs across
23 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of Massachusetts-Lowell is 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$16,843
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$182M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$118,557
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
604 instructional faculty across 6 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
153
25%
$159,128
Associate Professors
176
29%
$123,203
Assistant Professors
114
19%
$99,526
Instructors
10
2%
$72,968
Lecturers
127
21%
$92,394
No Rank
24
4%
$75,476
Pros & Cons of University of Massachusetts-Lowell
A quick at-a-glance summary of how University of Massachusetts-Lowell tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Best for:
Based on the data, University of Massachusetts-Lowell is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about University of Massachusetts-Lowell.
Is University of Massachusetts-Lowell hard to get into?
University of Massachusetts-Lowell has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 83%.
What is the acceptance rate at University of Massachusetts-Lowell?
University of Massachusetts-Lowell has an acceptance rate of 83%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for University of Massachusetts-Lowell?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of Massachusetts-Lowell scored between 1180 and 1370 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for University of Massachusetts-Lowell?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of Massachusetts-Lowell scored between 25 and 32 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does University of Massachusetts-Lowell cost?
The average net price after aid at University of Massachusetts-Lowell is $17,163 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is University of Massachusetts-Lowell worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $64,874 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $17,163 per year. That's roughly 3.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is University of Massachusetts-Lowell known for?
University of Massachusetts-Lowell is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Business Administration, Computer Science. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering University of Massachusetts-Lowell are $64,874, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is University of Massachusetts-Lowell accredited?
Yes. University of Massachusetts-Lowell is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend University of Massachusetts-Lowell?
University of Massachusetts-Lowell enrolls 11,434 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at University of Massachusetts-Lowell?
University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates 63% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is University of Massachusetts-Lowell a public or private college?
University of Massachusetts-Lowell is a Public institution.
Where is University of Massachusetts-Lowell located?
University of Massachusetts-Lowell is located in Lowell, Massachusetts.
What programs does University of Massachusetts-Lowell offer?
University of Massachusetts-Lowell offers 129 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Business Administration, Computer Science.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at University of Massachusetts-Lowell?
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of Massachusetts-Lowell is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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