College of the Atlantic vs. University of Massachusetts-Lowell

Comparable Facts

Compare College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, ME with University of Massachusetts Lowell in Lowell, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Massachusetts Lowell is larger than College of the Atlantic based on total student enrollment (16,598 students vs. 358 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Atlantic is located in Bar Harbor, ME (Rural Fringe setting); University of Massachusetts Lowell is in Lowell, MA (Large Suburban setting).
• College of the Atlantic is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Massachusetts Lowell is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Atlantic 9:1; University of Massachusetts Lowell 17:1.

College of the Atlantic vs. University of Massachusetts-Lowell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Atlantic or University of Massachusetts-Lowell? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Massachusetts Lowell than College of the Atlantic ($16,530 vs. $21,829).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Atlantic are 35.6% lower than at University of Massachusetts Lowell ($10,404 vs. $16,148).
• College of the Atlantic is 182.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of Massachusetts-Lowell (about $31,031 more per year; $47,997.00 vs. $16,966.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 32.4% higher at College of the Atlantic than at University of Massachusetts Lowell (about $11,733 more per year; $47,997.00 vs. $36,264.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Atlantic than at University of Massachusetts Lowell (100% vs. 82%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Atlantic students is 141.3% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Lowell students ($36,437 vs. $15,098).

College of the Atlantic vs. University of Massachusetts-Lowell Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Atlantic or University of Massachusetts-Lowell? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between University of Massachusetts-Lowell and College of the Atlantic.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at College of the Atlantic (1340) is 60 points higher than at University of Massachusetts-Lowell (1280).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: College of the Atlantic 1240/1430; University of Massachusetts Lowell 1180/1370.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Massachusetts Lowell 25/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: College of the Atlantic - Test optional; University of Massachusetts-Lowell - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: College of the Atlantic Feb 1, 2027; University of Massachusetts-Lowell Feb 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman College of the Atlantic students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at University of Massachusetts-Lowell (3.67).
• University of Massachusetts-Lowell has a higher acceptance rate (83%) than College of the Atlantic (70.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.4% at College of the Atlantic vs. 18.1% at University of Massachusetts-Lowell.

College of the Atlantic vs. University of Massachusetts-Lowell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Atlantic and University of Massachusetts-Lowell? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• College of the Atlantic's six-year graduation rate (71%) is higher than University of Massachusetts Lowell's (50%).
• Graduates from University of Massachusetts Lowell earn a median of about $27,100 more per year than College of the Atlantic graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $28,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Atlantic graduates have a $5,250 lower median loan debt than University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates ($19,750 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, College of the Atlantic graduates have an estimated $54 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates ($204 vs. $258).
• More College of the Atlantic graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Massachusetts-Lowell students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 63%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.