BU vs. University of Massachusetts-Lowell

Should I go to Boston University or University of Massachusetts Lowell? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if BU 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

Northeastern BC NYU Babson Tufts UMass Brandeis University Lehigh Colgate George Washington Binghamton University Villanova
Boston University vs. University of Massachusetts Lowell comparison
Boston University University of Massachusetts Lowell College 3 College 4
Boston University University of Massachusetts Lowell
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

BU University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Location Boston, MA Lowell, MA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 36,714 17,153
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #79 #406
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bu.edu uml.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

BU University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Tuition (In State) $61,050 $15,462
Tuition (Out of State) $61,050 $33,830
Room & Board $17,400 $13,930
Avg Net Price $27,829 $17,240
Avg Grant Aid $51,565 $11,983
% Receiving Grant Aid 48% 82%

Admission

BU University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 80,796 12,253
Admitted 11,607 10,532
Acceptance Rate 14.4% 86%
Enrolled % 31.3% 18.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.79 3.67
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Difficult
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range 31/34 25/31
SAT Range 1350/1500 1170/1348
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, 2025 Feb 15, 2025

Academics

BU University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Communication (15%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (13%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (12%)
  • Health Professions (10%)

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
% Men 43% 57%
% Women 57% 43%
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
% 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 (36,714 students vs. 17,153 students)

BU vs. University of Massachusetts-Lowell Cost Comparison

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

  • Boston University is 294.8% more expensive to attend than University of Massachusetts-Lowell for in-state tuition ($61,050.00 vs. $15,462.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 80.5% higher at BU than University of Massachusetts Lowell ($61,050.00 vs. $33,830.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Massachusetts Lowell than BU ($17,240 vs. $27,829)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Lowell are 24.9% lower than costs at Boston University ($13,930 vs. $17,400)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Massachusetts Lowell than Boston University (82% vs. 48%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 330.3% larger than aid received University of Massachusetts Lowell ($51,565 vs. $11,983)

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 (86%) than BU (14.4%)

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/