Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks University of Massachusetts Lowell among nonprofit four-year institutions for overall value on Azimuth's composite — in the percentile for overall value among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of Massachusetts Lowell for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. University of Massachusetts Lowell delivers earnings that consistently exceed what similar students earn at comparable institutions, a pattern that anchors the university's strong composite standing among nonprofit four-year institutions. The return on investment ranking reflects both the university's median earnings outcomes and the degree to which graduates outperform expectations relative to their incoming profile.
Azimuth ranks University of Massachusetts-Lowell #140 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Lowell, MA, University of Massachusetts-Lowell enrolls roughly 11,434 undergraduates. Retention stands at 84.0% and the six-year graduation rate is 64.8%, reflecting solid degree completion relative to peer institutions in the region. Where University of Massachusetts-Lowell performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks University of Massachusetts-Lowell #158 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $81,163, and earn about $16,591 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Massachusetts-Lowell in the 93.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Business is the dominant program family, but strength in engineering and sciences contributes meaningfully to the institution's overall earnings profile. Mobility and access round out the composite. University of Massachusetts-Lowell sits in the 88.4 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions and the 74.6 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 30.0% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and 31.8% identifying as first-generation. The admission rate of 83.0% reflects a broad-access posture consistent with the university's public mission. Affordability sits in the 64.0 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, a position shaped by moderate public-tuition pricing and need-based aid availability.
University of Massachusetts-Lowell prices its degrees across income levels in a way that reflects its public-university mission. Low-income families pay approximately $9,943 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $12,141, and higher-income families pay correspondingly more at roughly $26,139. Azimuth ranks University of Massachusetts-Lowell #513 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The gap between published cost of attendance and what students actually pay reflects the reach of need-based aid across income groups, and the net price illusion is real here: sticker price and net price diverge meaningfully for lower-income families. Need-based aid covers a meaningful share of costs for qualifying students. UMass Lowell participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and the income-band net prices above reflect median aid packages within each group — individual outcomes vary depending on household circumstances, assets, and the specific aid year. Families comparing sticker price to net price should use the income-band figures as the more relevant planning anchor. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,704, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $18,400; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $81,163, median federal debt of $23,704 projects to a monthly payment of about $268 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
University of Massachusetts-Lowell is a strong fit for students drawn to business, engineering, and applied technical fields who want a public research university in MA with a track record of delivering earnings that outpace what similar students earn elsewhere. Graduates earn in the 86.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and University of Massachusetts-Lowell sits in the 93.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $16,591 more than similar students at comparable institutions, a meaningful signal for students prioritizing long-term financial outcomes. The access profile is broad. 30.0% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 31.8% are first-generation students, and University of Massachusetts-Lowell sits in the 79.1 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon — making it a compelling option for cost-sensitive and first-generation applicants who still want strong post-graduation returns. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is concentrated in Business and adjacent applied fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, and median student debt of $23,704 means borrowers should model repayment against their expected earnings path before enrolling.
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
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This is the University Of Massachusetts-Lowell hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portland State University Similar quality tier (#4272 ranked) | OR | 91% | $57,906 | #4272 | Compare |
Illinois State University Similar quality tier (#4275 ranked) | IL | 88% | $62,117 | #4275 | Compare |
University Of Massachusetts-Amherst Similar quality tier in Northeast (#4277 ranked) | MA | 60% | $71,631 | #4277 | Compare |
Farmingdale State College Similar quality tier in Northeast (#4278 ranked) | NY | 63% | $69,781 | #4278 | Compare |
University Of California-Merced Similar quality tier (#4279 ranked) | CA | 91% | $64,368 | #4279 | Compare |
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
13 graduates
Computer Science
173 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
106 graduates
Polymer/Plastics Engineering
42 graduates
Computer Engineering
66 graduates
University of Massachusetts-Lowell's program mix is anchored in Business, with significant depth in engineering, health, and criminal justice — a portfolio shaped by the university's applied-research identity in the Merrimack Valley. Business accounts for 21% of graduates, Engineering represents 19%, and Arts adds 3%.
Across 41 programs serving roughly 2,884 students annually, 28 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold — a broad base that reflects the university's comprehensive scope. The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in engineering and applied-science fields.
Azimuth ranks Computer Science #81 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 173 graduates earning $111,612. Azimuth ranks Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering #53 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning $101,054.
Mechanical Engineering adds further depth, with Azimuth ranking it #39 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions and graduates earning $94,841. The largest program by cohort, Business Administration, program graduates 603 students annually with median earnings of $75,859 four years after enrollment — combining scale with solid applied-business outcomes.
Criminal Justice (207 graduates, $66,258) and Psychology, General (192 graduates, $57,489) round out the high-enrollment programs, each feeding directly into regional employer demand. University of Massachusetts-Lowell's engineering and computing programs are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the national labor market directly, and four-year earnings reflect actual workforce outcomes.
Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering serve different career trajectories — Computer Science graduates (173 annually, earning $111,612) often move into roles where credentials and fieldwork shape longer-term advancement, while Mechanical Engineering graduates (166 annually, earning $94,841) may pursue graduate study before full earnings materialize. The [supply-demand map for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how the university's dominant program families align with national labor-market demand, and the [program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) explains how Azimuth evaluates programs across cohort scale, earnings, and benchmark performance. ```
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
University of Massachusetts-Lowell prices its degrees across income levels in a way that reflects its public-university mission. Low-income families pay approximately $9,943 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $12,141, and higher-income families pay correspondingly more at roughly $26,139.
Azimuth ranks University of Massachusetts-Lowell #513 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The gap between published cost of attendance and what students actually pay reflects the reach of need-based aid across income groups, and the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) is real here: sticker price and net price diverge meaningfully for lower-income families.
Need-based aid covers a meaningful share of costs for qualifying students. UMass Lowell participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and the income-band net prices above reflect median aid packages within each group — individual outcomes vary depending on household circumstances, assets, and the specific aid year.
Families comparing sticker price to net price should use the income-band figures as the more relevant planning anchor. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,704, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $18,400; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $81,163, median federal debt of $23,704 projects to a monthly payment of about $268 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of University of Massachusetts-Lowell earn median earnings of $81,163 four years after enrollment, placing University of Massachusetts-Lowell in the 86.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs above the $65,228 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn about $16,591 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the university in the 93.7 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of Massachusetts-Lowell #158 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings pattern reflects a program mix anchored in applied and professional fields. Business is the dominant program family, accounting for 21% of degrees, followed by Engineering at 19% and Arts at 3%.
Business Administration combines high enrollment with strong pay, making it a key contributor to the university's overall return profile. Azimuth ranks Business Administration #34 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with 603 graduates earning median earnings of $75,859 four years after enrollment.
Criminal Justice ranks #8 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions with 207 graduates earning $66,258, and Psychology, General ranks #58 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions with graduates earning $57,489. Further down the lineup, Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering round out the top programs, with Azimuth ranking them #81 and #39 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions respectively.
