Colby College vs. University of Massachusetts-Lowell

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

Hamilton College Colgate Middlebury UMass Tufts Vassar UMass Dartmouth BC Bowdoin College Bates Williams Northeastern
Colby College vs. University of Massachusetts Lowell comparison
Colby College University of Massachusetts Lowell College 3 College 4
Colby College University of Massachusetts Lowell
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Colby College University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Location Waterville, ME Lowell, MA
Setting Remote Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 2,299 17,153
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #44 #406
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colby.edu uml.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Colby College University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Tuition (In State) $60,840 $15,462
Tuition (Out of State) $60,840 $33,830
Room & Board $16,330 $13,930
Avg Net Price $16,951 $17,240
Avg Grant Aid $61,714 $11,983
% Receiving Grant Aid 41% 82%

Admission

Colby College University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,890 12,253
Admitted 1,286 10,532
Acceptance Rate 7.6% 86%
Enrolled % 52.3% 18.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.86 3.67
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Elite Difficult
Applicant Competition Extreme
ACT Range 32/34 25/31
SAT Range 1430/1540 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 1, 2025 Feb 15, 2025

Academics

Colby College University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • General Studies (13%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Physical Sciences (7%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (13%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (12%)
  • Health Professions (10%)

Outcomes

Colby College University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Graduation Rate 91% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $73,400 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 88% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,345 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $200 $258

Diversity

Colby College University of Massachusetts-Lowell
% Men 48% 57%
% Women 52% 43%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 62% 64%
% Black 3% 6%
% Hispanic 6% 10%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 11% 4%
% Unknown Race 7% 5%

Students

Colby College University of Massachusetts-Lowell
% In-State 7% 87%
% Out-of-State 79% 10%

Campus

Colby College University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No 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 Colby College based on total student enrollment (17,153 students vs. 2,299 students)

Colby College vs. University of Massachusetts-Lowell Cost Comparison

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

  • Colby College is 293.5% more expensive to attend than University of Massachusetts-Lowell for in-state tuition ($60,840.00 vs. $15,462.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 79.8% higher at Colby College than University of Massachusetts Lowell ($60,840.00 vs. $33,830.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colby College than University of Massachusetts-Lowell ($16,951 vs. $17,240)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Lowell are 17.2% lower than costs at Colby College ($13,930 vs. $16,330)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Massachusetts Lowell than Colby College (82% vs. 41%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colby College students is 415% larger than aid received University of Massachusetts Lowell ($61,714 vs. $11,983)

Colby College vs. University of Massachusetts-Lowell Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colby College 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 Colby College .

  • The average SAT score at Colby College (1363) is 166 points higher than at University of Massachusetts-Lowell (1197)
  • Incoming Colby College students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at University of Massachusetts-Lowell (26)
  • Accepted freshman Colby College students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at University of Massachusetts-Lowell (3.67)
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than Colby College (7.6%)

Colby College vs. University of Massachusetts-Lowell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Colby College 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 Colby College.

  • The graduation rate at Colby College is higher than University of Massachusetts Lowell (91% vs. 50%)
  • Graduates from Colby College earn on average $18,100 more per year than University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates after ten years. ($73,400 vs. $55,300)
  • Colby College students graduate with a $5,655 lower median federal student loan debt than University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates. ($19,345 vs. $25,000)
  • Colby College graduates are paying $58 less per month on federal student loans than University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates. ($200 vs. $258)
  • More Colby College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Massachusetts-Lowell students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 63%)

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