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.
University of Massachusetts-Boston's published cost of attendance is $30,544, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $14,070 per year in net price, middle-income families pay around $15,663, and higher-income families pay approximately $25,571. Azimuth ranks University of Massachusetts-Boston #481 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. As a public university in Boston, University of Massachusetts-Boston draws on a mix of federal, state, and institutional aid to reduce costs for students who qualify. Need-based aid covers a meaningful share of costs for lower-income families, and the gap between sticker price and net price is most pronounced for students in the lowest income band. Families weighing the net price illusion — the difference between published costs and what families actually pay — will find that UMass Boston's public-tuition structure provides a more predictable pricing floor than many private alternatives. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,974, compared with a peer median of $19,976. Families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $17,163; 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 $69,532, median federal debt of $21,974 projects to a monthly payment of about $248 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — 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
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the University Of Massachusetts-Boston 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
University of Massachusetts-Boston's published cost of attendance is $30,544, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $14,070 per year in net price, middle-income families pay around $15,663, and higher-income families pay approximately $25,571.
Azimuth ranks University of Massachusetts-Boston #481 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
As a public university in Boston, University of Massachusetts-Boston draws on a mix of federal, state, and institutional aid to reduce costs for students who qualify. Need-based aid covers a meaningful share of costs for lower-income families, and the gap between sticker price and net price is most pronounced for students in the lowest income band.
Families weighing the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) — the difference between published costs and what families actually pay — will find that UMass Boston's public-tuition structure provides a more predictable pricing floor than many private alternatives. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,974, compared with a peer median of $19,976.
Families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $17,163; 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 $69,532, median federal debt of $21,974 projects to a monthly payment of about $248 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/).
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.
Graduates of University of Massachusetts-Boston earn median earnings of $69,532 four years after enrollment, placing University of Massachusetts-Boston in the 72.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure sits below the $65,228 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn about $17,576 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 94.3 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures still represent lifetime returns relative to MA's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $37,113, the state median earnings of working adults age 25–34 with only a high school credential.
Azimuth ranks University of Massachusetts-Boston #274 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The degree mix at University of Massachusetts-Boston is anchored in Health, which accounts for 15% of graduates, followed by Social Sciences at 10% and Education at 2%.
Nursing combines strong enrollment with solid earnings, making it a key contributor to the university's overall return profile. Azimuth ranks Nursing #67 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with 483 graduates earning median earnings of $95,648 four years after enrollment.
The Business Administration program graduates 433 students with median earnings of $72,746, and Azimuth ranks the program #89 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions. Among the highest-earning fields, Psychology, General posts median earnings of $52,200 four years after enrollment, while Biology, General and Kinesiology earn $65,815 and $64,665 respectively — reflecting pockets of stronger early-career pay within an institution where outcomes vary meaningfully by field of study.
