University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
North Dartmouth, Massachusetts · Public · 90.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 70/100 · Fair Value
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth earns a CampusROI score of 70 (Fair Value tier), strong for a regional state university. In-state tuition is $15,612, out-of-state $32,567, and net price is $20,927 -- somewhat elevated for an in-state public, reflecting Massachusetts's higher cost structure. The standout numbers are on the wage side: median earnings reach $41,100 at six years and $68,804 at ten years, with a healthy 6.6-year payback period (subscore 86) and a strong 0.404 earnings premium (subscore 82). Debt-to-earnings sits at 0.608 (subscore 49) -- middling -- with $25,000 in median debt. The biggest score drag is completion at 52.1% (subscore 43), reflecting the school's regional-public mission of admitting a wide academic band. Three-year repayment is 80.8% (subscore 73), suggesting most borrowers stay current. UMass Dartmouth enrolls 5,221 students with a 37% Pell rate, serving a meaningful share of lower-income Massachusetts students. The school's engineering and nursing pipelines are the value-driving programs.
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $15,612/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $32,567/yr |
| Average net price | $20,927/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $83,708 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $68,804 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $41,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 52.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 5,221 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth is $15,612/year ($32,567/year out-of-state). But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $20,927/year, or roughly $83,708 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $15,976/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $28,147/year.
The median graduate leaves with $25,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $265 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $68,804 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.61 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $15,976 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $16,042 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $17,530 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $22,273 |
| $110,001+ | $28,147 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning $0-30,000 pay $15,976 per year, totaling about $63,904 over four years. The 30-48K bracket pays only marginally more ($16,042), suggesting limited Pell-cushioning differentiation. With $41,100 in early-career earnings, low-income students who complete see solid ROI especially in engineering or nursing tracks. The half-the-class completion rate is the key risk.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-75,000) pay $17,530 per year, about $70,120 over four years. With $68,804 in ten-year median earnings, middle-bracket students see strong ROI especially when targeting STEM majors. The engineering tracks produce year-one earnings of $63K-$80K, making the four-year math comfortably workable.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $28,147 per year -- $112,588 over four years -- nearly at out-of-state sticker. At this price point, full-pay families should compare against private nonprofits in the region and other UMass campuses. Engineering and nursing tracks still produce strong ROI math; non-STEM majors at this price point face tighter justification.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $86,150 | B |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $62,430 | C |
| Accounting | $70,053 | C+ |
| Political Science and Government | $54,174 | D |
| Psychology | $53,561 | D |
| Design and Applied Arts | $51,857 | D |
| Finance and Financial Management | $64,107 | C+ |
| Marketing | $64,760 | C |
| Mechanical Engineering | $89,310 | B |
| Biology | $60,170 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering produces 25 graduates per year with year-one earnings of $79,857 climbing to $94,683 at year four. Median debt of $27,500 yields an excellent 0.344 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B+ ROI grade. The program feeds into Boston-area defense contractors (Raytheon, BAE) and New England engineering firms. This is one of UMass Dartmouth's strongest financial bets.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is UMass Dartmouth's largest health program with 152 graduates per year. Year-one earnings of $75,659 climbing to $86,150 at year four. Median debt of $27,000 yields a 0.357 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B ROI grade. Southeastern Massachusetts hospital networks absorb most graduates with strong starting wages. The combination of scale and high wage outcomes makes nursing the school's highest-volume strong-ROI program.
Computer and Information Sciences
CS produces 37 graduates per year with year-one earnings of $77,970 and four-year earnings of $96,727. Median debt of $27,000 yields a 0.346 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B+ ROI grade. The program feeds into Boston's tech corridor (Hubspot, Wayfair, financial-services tech) and Providence-area firms. Strong fundamentals make this one of the most reliable major bets at UMass Dartmouth.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering produces 44 graduates per year with year-one earnings of $71,559 and four-year earnings of $89,310. Median debt of $27,000 produces a 0.377 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B ROI grade. New England's defense and aerospace ecosystem absorbs most graduates. The 25% wage growth from year one to four is healthy for engineering career trajectories.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business is UMass Dartmouth's largest non-STEM program with 84 graduates per year. Year-one earnings of $46,382 climb to $62,430 at year four. Median debt of $26,000 yields a 0.561 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C ROI grade. The program produces solid mid-range outcomes -- not the engineering wage premium, but defensible against the state-public price point.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 75.1% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 80.8% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 70.3% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 74.4% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 90.6% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 520-630 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 530-640 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 26-30 |
| Enrollment | 5,221 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 37.0% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $12,795 |
UMass Dartmouth admits 90.6% of applicants, putting it in near-open-access territory for the Massachusetts state system. SAT 25-75 mid-ranges are 520-630 math and 530-640 reading, with ACT 25-75 of 26-30 -- mid-range scores reflecting a broad academic profile. The high admit rate combined with 52.1% completion shows the typical regional-public pattern: easy admission, but completion is the binding constraint. Prepared students who finish do see strong wage outcomes, particularly in the engineering tracks.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
UMass Dartmouth's peer set includes Bridgewater State University, Fitchburg State University, Rhode Island College, University of Houston-Clear Lake, and Eastern Washington University -- a reasonable cohort of regional comprehensives. Within Massachusetts, Bridgewater State and Fitchburg State are direct peers; UMass Dartmouth's engineering programs give it stronger wage outcomes than either. Rhode Island College sits in a similar tier. UMass Dartmouth's ROI of 70 is solidly mid-pack for this peer group, with engineering placements driving its edge.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth (this school) | 70 | $20,927 | $68,804 |
| Rhode Island College | 69 | $9,478 | $56,318 |
| University of Houston-Clear Lake | 69 | $15,563 | $59,004 |
| Eastern Washington University | 66 | $13,886 | $57,897 |
| Bridgewater State University | 59 | $16,383 | $57,466 |
| Fitchburg State University | 58 | $14,262 | $53,874 |
Who Thrives Here
UMass Dartmouth fits Massachusetts and southern-New-England students seeking a mid-sized public university with strong engineering, nursing, and business programs at coastal-campus scale (5,221 students). The 37% Pell rate confirms a meaningfully lower-income population. Strong-fit students target the engineering pipelines (electrical, mechanical, computer, biomedical -- all in the B/B+ ROI range) or nursing, where year-one earnings clear $75K. For students set on the arts or humanities, the wage outcomes weaken substantially, and the school's value proposition narrows.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth offers fair financial value, though the ROI depends heavily on individual circumstances. The net cost of $20,927 per year leads to $83,708 over four years, while graduates earn a median of $68,804 a decade out. The payback period of 6.6 years is about average - not bad, but not a standout either.
Key strengths include strong earnings premium over high school graduates. However, the data also shows a 52.1% graduation rate.
Median debt of $25,000 against $68,804 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.