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Northeastern BC NYU Babson Tufts UMass Brandeis University Lehigh Colgate George Washington Binghamton University Villanova| Boston University | University of Massachusetts Lowell | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
BU | University of Massachusetts-Lowell | ||
| Location | Boston, MA | Lowell, MA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 36,624 | 16,770 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #77 | #428 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | bu.edu | uml.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
BU | University of Massachusetts-Lowell | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $63,798 | $15,850 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $63,798 | $34,676 | ||
| Room & Board | $18,110 | $15,424 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $27,551 | $17,624 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $55,080 | $12,647 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 50% | 79% |
Admission |
BU | University of Massachusetts-Lowell | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 80,495 | 12,628 | ||
| Admitted | 8,733 | 10,764 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 10.8% | 85.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 36% | 19.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.79 | 3.67 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | |||
| ACT Range | 32/34 | 26/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1400/1520 | 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 4, 2026 | Feb 15, 2026 |
Academics |
BU | University of Massachusetts-Lowell | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
BU | University of Massachusetts-Lowell | ||
| Graduation Rate | 85% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $72,000 | $55,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 82% | 63% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $258 |
Diversity |
BU | University of Massachusetts-Lowell | ||
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| % Men | 21% | 15% | ||
| % Women | 28% | 13% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 43% | 64% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 10% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 3% | ||
| % International | 20% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 5% |
Students |
BU | University of Massachusetts-Lowell | ||
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| % In-State | 14% | 87% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 61% | 10% | ||
Campus |
BU | University of Massachusetts-Lowell | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Boston University is larger than than University of Massachusetts-Lowell based on total student enrollment (36,624 students vs. 16,770 students)
BU vs. University of Massachusetts-Lowell Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, BU or University of Massachusetts-Lowell?
- Boston University is 302.5% more expensive to attend than University of Massachusetts-Lowell for in-state tuition ($63,798.00 vs. $15,850.00)
- Out of state tuition is 84% higher at BU than University of Massachusetts Lowell ($63,798.00 vs. $34,676.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Massachusetts Lowell than BU ($17,624 vs. $27,551)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Lowell are 17.4% lower than costs at Boston University ($15,424 vs. $18,110)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Massachusetts Lowell than Boston University (79% vs. 50%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 335.5% larger than aid received University of Massachusetts Lowell ($55,080 vs. $12,647)
BU vs. University of Massachusetts-Lowell Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, BU 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 BU .
- The average SAT score at Boston University (1303) is 106 points higher than at University of Massachusetts-Lowell (1197)
- Incoming BU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at University of Massachusetts-Lowell (26)
- Accepted freshman BU students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at University of Massachusetts-Lowell (3.67)
- University of Massachusetts-Lowell has a higher acceptance rate (85.2%) than BU (10.8%)
BU vs. University of Massachusetts-Lowell Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, BU 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 BU.
- The graduation rate at BU is higher than University of Massachusetts Lowell (85% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from Boston University earn on average $16,700 more per year than University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates after ten years. ($72,000 vs. $55,300)
- University of Massachusetts Lowell students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than BU graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
- University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than BU graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
- More BU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Massachusetts-Lowell students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 63%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/