Bates vs. University of Massachusetts-Lowell

Should I go to Bates College or University of Massachusetts Lowell? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bates or University of Massachusetts-Lowell is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Bates College vs. University of Massachusetts Lowell comparison
Bates College University of Massachusetts Lowell College 3 College 4
Bates College University of Massachusetts Lowell
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Overview

Bates University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Location Lewiston, ME Lowell, MA
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,753 16,770
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #45 #428
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bates.edu uml.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bates University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Tuition (In State) $63,478 $15,850
Tuition (Out of State) $63,478 $34,676
Room & Board $17,904 $15,424
Avg Net Price $26,658 $17,624
Avg Grant Aid $53,782 $12,647
% Receiving Grant Aid 44% 79%

Admission

Bates University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,937 12,628
Admitted 1,164 10,764
Acceptance Rate 13% 85.2%
Enrolled % 43.4% 19.4%
Avg High School GPA - 3.67
Typical High School Grades - B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Difficult
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range 31/33 26/30
SAT Range 1400/1510 1180/1350
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2026 Feb 15, 2026

Academics

Bates University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (13%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (12%)
  • Health Professions (10%)

Outcomes

Bates University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Graduation Rate 92% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $75,700 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 90% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $14,450 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $149 $258

Diversity

Bates University of Massachusetts-Lowell
% Men 35% 15%
% Women 36% 13%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 71% 64%
% Black 5% 6%
% Hispanic 8% 10%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 7% 4%
% Unknown Race 0% 5%

Students

Bates University of Massachusetts-Lowell
% In-State 8% 87%
% Out-of-State 80% 10%

Campus

Bates University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Massachusetts Lowell is larger than than Bates based on total student enrollment (16,770 students vs. 1,753 students)

Bates vs. University of Massachusetts-Lowell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bates or University of Massachusetts-Lowell?

  • Bates College is 300.5% more expensive to attend than University of Massachusetts-Lowell for in-state tuition ($63,478.00 vs. $15,850.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 83.1% higher at Bates than University of Massachusetts Lowell ($63,478.00 vs. $34,676.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Massachusetts Lowell than Bates ($17,624 vs. $26,658)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Lowell are 16.1% lower than costs at Bates College ($15,424 vs. $17,904)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Massachusetts Lowell than Bates College (79% vs. 44%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bates College students is 325.3% larger than aid received University of Massachusetts Lowell ($53,782 vs. $12,647)

Bates vs. University of Massachusetts-Lowell Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bates or University of Massachusetts-Lowell? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between University of Massachusetts-Lowell or Bates .

  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell has a higher acceptance rate (85.2%) than Bates (13%)

Bates vs. University of Massachusetts-Lowell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bates or University of Massachusetts-Lowell? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between University of Massachusetts-Lowell and Bates.

  • The graduation rate at Bates is higher than University of Massachusetts Lowell (92% vs. 50%)
  • Graduates from Bates College earn on average $20,400 more per year than University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates after ten years. ($75,700 vs. $55,300)
  • Bates College students graduate with a $10,550 lower median federal student loan debt than University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates. ($14,450 vs. $25,000)
  • Bates graduates are paying $109 less per month on federal student loans than University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates. ($149 vs. $258)
  • More Bates graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Massachusetts-Lowell students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 63%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/