University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Lowell, Massachusetts · Public · 83.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 76/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
UMass Lowell scores 76 - Strong Value - but the internal story is mixed. Strong STEM earnings in computer science, engineering, and nursing anchor the school's case, but a 64.8% completion rate and $23,704 median debt create drag. Computer Science graduates earn $86,167 at year one and $111,612 at year four. Nursing graduates start near $78,000. The problem is the completion rate: about one in three students does not finish. That's a real risk students must consider before enrolling, especially in programs with high attrition like Liberal Arts and Sciences.
University of Massachusetts-Lowell scores in the top 17% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $16,966/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $36,264/yr |
| Average net price | $17,163/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $68,652 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $64,874 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $45,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,704 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $251 |
| Estimated payback period | 7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 64.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 11,434 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $16,966/year ($36,264/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $17,163/year, or roughly $68,652 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $9,943/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $26,139/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $23,704, which works out to about $251 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($45,700) and comes to 0.52, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
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 | $9,943 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $10,199 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $12,141 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $16,460 |
| $110,001+ | $26,139 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay a net price of $9,943 per year. Over four years, total cost is about $39,800. Given that Massachusetts has robust state financial aid programs that supplement federal aid, low-income students in engineering or nursing can achieve strong ROI from this school. The challenge is completion: students who drop out leave with debt but no degree.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Families in the $30,001-$48,000 bracket pay $10,199 per year; those earning $48,001-$75,000 pay $12,141. Costs rise gradually through the middle range. The $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $16,460.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning over $110,000 pay $26,139 per year - about $104,000 over four years. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.519 is the school's weakest metric, meaning graduates carry significant debt relative to typical earnings.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Massachusetts-Lowell with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $75,859 | C+ |
| Computer Science | $111,612 | B+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $66,258 | C |
| Psychology | $57,489 | C |
| Mechanical Engineering | $94,841 | B |
| Information Science | $89,715 | B |
| Electrical Engineering | $101,054 | B+ |
| Biology | $76,149 | C |
| Registered Nursing | $93,650 | B+ |
| English Language and Literature | $54,039 | D |
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.
Computer Science
218 graduates with 1-year earnings of $86,167 and 4-year earnings of $111,612. Debt-to-earnings 0.313 (grade: B+). Startups, established tech firms, and defense contractors all recruit from Lowell. Students who stay enrolled and complete the degree land in a very competitive position.
Electrical Engineering
123 graduates with 1-year earnings of $82,798 and 4-year earnings of $101,054. Debt-to-earnings 0.326 (grade: B+). The school's proximity to Route 128 technology firms creates strong placement opportunities. At $27,000 median debt, the payback math is straightforward for defense and industrial electronics roles.
Registered Nursing
99 graduates with 1-year earnings of $78,247 and 4-year earnings of $93,650. Debt-to-earnings 0.345 (grade: B+). Nursing is in persistent high demand across Massachusetts's large hospital system. UMass Lowell's nursing program graduates into a market where starting salaries approach $80,000 and experienced nurses earn well above $100,000. The Greater Boston healthcare ecosystem - Partners HealthCare, Mass General, Beth Israel Deaconess - recruits from Lowell. The $27,000 debt load is manageable against these earnings.
Chemical Engineering
67 graduates with 1-year earnings of $77,380 and 4-year earnings of $94,972. Debt-to-earnings 0.349 (grade: B+). Chemical engineering graduates from Lowell enter Massachusetts's large pharmaceutical and bioprocessing sector. Biomanufacturing, polymer science, and materials engineering roles are common destinations. The school has historical ties to the textile and plastics industries, which have evolved into advanced materials research - a regional specialty.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
615 graduates - the largest program at UMass Lowell - with 1-year earnings of $52,657 and 4-year earnings of $75,859. Debt-to-earnings 0.475 (grade: C+). Business is the most popular major by graduation volume. Starting salaries in the low $50s are typical for entry-level business roles in Boston's financial services, logistics, and retail sectors. At $25,000 median debt, the investment pays back, but it takes longer than technical programs.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 71.2% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 75.3% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 67.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 74.6% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Massachusetts-Lowell’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 83.0% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 590-690 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 590-680 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 25-32 |
| Enrollment | 11,434 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 30.0% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $14,275 |
UMass Lowell admitted 83% of applicants - admission is not a significant barrier. SAT math 590-690, reading 590-680; ACT 25-32. The school is accessible to a wide range of students, which is part of why completion rates struggle.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Massachusetts-Lowell (this school) | 76 | $17,163 | $64,874 |
| University of North Dakota | 77 | $18,551 | $63,552 |
| University of New Hampshire-Main Campus | 74 | $23,805 | $66,479 |
| University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire | 72 | $16,550 | $58,561 |
| Bridgewater State University | 59 | $16,383 | $57,466 |
| Fitchburg State University | 58 | $14,262 | $53,874 |
Who Thrives Here
UMass Lowell admits 83% of applicants with SAT math 590-690 and reading 590-680; ACT 25-32. The 30% Pell rate indicates meaningful economic diversity. Students thrive here if they target the engineering or nursing programs and stay on track. The completion challenge is real - students who arrive underprepared or switch majors multiple times are at elevated dropout risk. Career-focused students in STEM have strong outcomes; students drifting through general studies face a harder road.
Transfer Pathways
UMass Lowell accepts transfer students from Massachusetts community colleges through the MassTransfer program. This path is particularly efficient for nursing and engineering students.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, University of Massachusetts-Lowell pays off. You'd pay about $17,163 a year after aid ($68,652 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $64,874 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 7 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates.
Median debt of $23,704 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $45,700 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
University of Massachusetts-Lowell: Common Questions
Is University of Massachusetts-Lowell worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students University of Massachusetts-Lowell pays off. It scores 76/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $17,163 a year after aid ($68,652 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $64,874 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 7 years to earn back.
How much does University of Massachusetts-Lowell cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $17,163 a year, or roughly $68,652 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $64,874 ten years after enrolling, roughly $23,074 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off University of Massachusetts-Lowell?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 7 years for University of Massachusetts-Lowell. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $23,704, against average earnings of $45,700 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at University of Massachusetts-Lowell?
The six-year graduation rate is 64.8%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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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.