University Of Massachusetts-Lowell

University of Massachusetts-Lowell admits 85.2% of applicants, meaning roughly 5 in 6 applicants receive an offer of admission. This places UMass Lowell in the Open Access category, making it significantly more accessible than many institutions with similar academic outcomes.

The peer median admission rate of 78.1% shows that UMass Lowell is somewhat more accessible than comparable public universities, with a 7.2 percentage point higher acceptance rate. This level of accessibility means that most students with solid academic preparation have a realistic chance of admission, though the university maintains meaningful academic standards as evidenced by strong test score ranges.

Students should view UMass Lowell as an accessible option that doesn't sacrifice post-graduation outcomes for admission ease. The combination of open access admission with top-tier test score performance creates an unusual profile where academic quality coexists with broad accessibility.

For students building college lists, UMass Lowell represents a strong safety school option that delivers outcomes comparable to more selective institutions. This accessibility becomes particularly valuable for students seeking strong engineering and business programs without the admission uncertainty of highly selective alternatives.

UMass Lowell offers 20 bachelor's degree programs with federal earnings data for comprehensive outcome analysis. Computer Science ranks #49 nationally and #8 in Massachusetts, graduating 154 students with median earnings of $109,547 and a value score of 73.8.

Chemical Engineering ranks #12 nationally and #1 in Massachusetts, producing 83 graduates earning $94,160 with an outstanding value score of 91.1. Mechanical Engineering ranks #18 nationally and #3 in Massachusetts, graduating 199 students with median earnings of $88,173 and a value score of 92.4.

Business Administration serves as the institution's largest program, graduating 612 students annually with median earnings of $60,494 and ranking #63 nationally. Biology ranks #10 nationally and #2 in Massachusetts with strong outcomes for its 129 graduates earning $66,988.

Corrections Administration demonstrates exceptional performance, ranking #14 nationally and #1 in Massachusetts with graduates earning $56,155.

University of Massachusetts-Lowell's published cost of attendance reaches $29,521 per year, including $16,570 in-state tuition, $15,424 for room and board, and $1,200 for books and supplies. Out-of-state students face significantly higher tuition of $35,396, bringing their total cost to $52,020.

However, the average student pays just $18,627 after financial aid, representing savings of $10,894 from the sticker price. This net price stands $3,037 below the peer median of $15,590, making UMass Lowell more expensive than comparable public institutions.

The financial aid system demonstrates progressive pricing, with net costs ranging from $10,460 for families earning under $30,000 to $26,648 for those earning over $110,000. Federal data shows 27.4% of students receive Pell grants, indicating substantial enrollment of lower-income students who benefit from the institution's aid programs.

The combination of reasonable published prices for a public university with meaningful financial aid creates manageable costs for most Massachusetts families, though out-of-state students face considerably higher expenses that may limit accessibility.

UMass Lowell graduates demonstrate modest but consistent earnings growth over time. Median earnings increase from $61,467 six years after enrollment to $64,695 at eight years and $64,874 at ten years, representing 5.5% growth from the six-year mark.

These outcomes reflect a ten-year cohort of 611 graduates, providing solid confidence in reported figures. Graduates earn $2,299 beyond expectations compared to similar students nationally, placing UMass Lowell in the above average tier for value-added performance.

Low-income graduates earn $53,700, ranking in the top 25% nationally and demonstrating the institution's effectiveness in supporting economic mobility for Pell-eligible students. Earnings distribution ranges from $40,834 at the 25th percentile to $100,222 at the 75th percentile, a 2.5:1 ratio reflecting meaningful variation across programs and career paths.

Approximately 26.2% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating balanced preparation for both workforce entry and advanced education pursuits.