Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks University of Massachusetts-Boston #122 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. University of Massachusetts-Boston sits in the 94.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting graduates who earn about $17,576 more than similar students at comparable institutions. Azimuth ranks University of Massachusetts-Boston #136 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- University of Massachusetts-Boston's composite ranking reflects a consistent pattern of graduates earning more than similar students at comparable institutions, a signal that holds across the university's health-focused and professionally oriented programs. The mobility ranking reinforces that story — University of Massachusetts-Boston converts broad access into durable financial outcomes, placing it among the stronger-performing institutions in the Azimuth coverage set for turning enrollment into upward economic progress.
Azimuth ranks University of Massachusetts-Boston #122 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Boston, MA, University of Massachusetts-Boston enrolls roughly 11,512 undergraduates. Retention stands at 70.4% and the six-year graduation rate is 49.4%, reflecting solid degree completion for an urban public research university with a broad-access admissions posture. What anchors University of Massachusetts-Boston in the composite is mobility. The university sits in the 90.8 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, driven by a student body where 41.5% receive Pell Grants and 43.1% are first-generation college students — one of the higher concentrations among research universities in MA. Graduates earn about $17,576 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Massachusetts-Boston in the 94.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The dominant program family is Health, which channels graduates into stable, in-demand career paths across the region's healthcare and social-service sectors. Return on investment sits lower in the composite — Azimuth ranks University of Massachusetts-Boston #274 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 81.5 percentile. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $69,532, which sits below the $65,228 median at comparable institutions. Affordability sits in the 66.3 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, and access in the 88.2 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions — the latter reflecting the university's open admissions stance, with an admission rate of 83.8%, and its commitment to enrolling students from a wide range of economic backgrounds.
Published cost of attendance is $30,544. After need-based aid, low-income families pay approximately $14,070, middle-income families pay around $15,663, higher-income families pay approximately $25,571. Azimuth ranks University of Massachusetts-Boston #481 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 66.3 percentile. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,974; families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $17,163. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $69,532, median federal debt projects to a monthly payment of about $248 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios, use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
University of Massachusetts-Boston is a strong fit for students drawn to health, public service, and applied professional fields who want an urban public university experience in Boston, MA, with meaningful long-term earnings and broad access for first-generation and Pell-eligible students. Graduates earn in the 72.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and University of Massachusetts-Boston sits in the 94.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $17,576 more than similar students at comparable institutions, a meaningful signal for students weighing long-term return on investment. The access profile is broad. 41.5% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 43.1% are first-generation college students, and the institution's net price structure and aid reach make it a realistic option for families who need affordability alongside strong post-graduation outcomes. Median student debt at graduation is $21,974, which is manageable relative to the earnings trajectory graduates typically see. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is concentrated in Health and related applied fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, while those seeking a broad liberal arts or engineering-heavy curriculum may find a better match elsewhere. The admit rate of 83.8% means University of Massachusetts-Boston is broadly accessible to most qualified applicants.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the University Of Massachusetts-Boston hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Published cost of attendance is $30,544. After need-based aid, low-income families pay approximately $14,070, middle-income families pay around $15,663, higher-income families pay approximately $25,571.
Azimuth ranks University of Massachusetts-Boston #481 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 66.3 percentile. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,974; families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $17,163.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $69,532, median federal debt projects to a monthly payment of about $248 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios, use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Graduates of University of Massachusetts-Boston earn median 4-year earnings of $69,532, placing University of Massachusetts-Boston in the 72.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $17,576 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 94.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks University of Massachusetts-Boston #274 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Program outcomes vary by major.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing reports 483 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $95,648, ranked #72 nationally in its major. Business Administration, Management and Operations reports 433 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $72,746, ranked #93 nationally in its major.
Psychology, General reports 274 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $52,200, ranked #134 nationally in its major. Biology, General reports 222 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $65,815, ranked #67 nationally in its major.
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
30 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
483 graduates
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
23 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
137 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
433 graduates
University of Massachusetts-Boston's program mix is anchored in Health, with meaningful concentrations in Business at 15%, Social Sciences at 10%, and Education at 2%. The largest program by graduates is Nursing with 483 completers, followed by Business Administration (433 graduates), Psychology, General (274 graduates), Biology, General (222 graduates), and Kinesiology (170 graduates).
Across 34 programs serving roughly 2,834 students annually, 22 meet Azimuth's [ranking threshold](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in health and applied fields.
Nursing leads with median earnings of $95,648 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #67 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Artificial Intelligence follows at $83,405 with 137 graduates, and Azimuth ranks it #96 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The Business Administration program graduates 433 students and earns $72,746, while Economics earns $70,552 with 94 graduates. Nursing combines strong enrollment scale with solid pay, making it a key contributor to the institution's overall earnings profile.
Several of University of Massachusetts-Boston's health-oriented programs — particularly Nursing and Artificial Intelligence — feed directly into Boston's deep healthcare labor market, where employer demand remains strong. Programs like Psychology, General and Kinesiology are more likely grad-school-dependent pathways where four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory.
The [supply-demand map](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these fields align with national wage trends.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Northern Illinois University Similar quality tier (#4249 ranked) | IL | 70% | $57,808 | #4249 | Compare |
Oregon State University Similar quality tier (#4251 ranked) | OR | 77% | $64,010 | #4251 | Compare |
Towson University Similar quality tier (#4248 ranked) | MD | 82% | $64,390 | #4248 | Compare |
Temple University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#4247 ranked) | PA | 80% | $63,727 | #4247 | Compare |
Sam Houston State University Similar quality tier (#4245 ranked) | TX | 90% | $54,211 | #4245 | Compare |
