Harvard vs. University of Massachusetts-Lowell

Deciding between Harvard University and University of Massachusetts Lowell? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Harvard University
University of Massachusetts Lowell

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Lowell, MA
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 16,598
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell #371
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $16,966
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $36,264
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $16,148
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $16,530
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $15,098
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 82%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 13,781
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 11,444
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 83%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 18.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 1280
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 25/32
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 1180/1370
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Feb 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell
    • Business (18%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (13%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (12%)
    • Health Professions (10%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 50%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 56%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 44%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Medium
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 64%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 9%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 10%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 3%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 12%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Harvard University in Cambridge, MA with University of Massachusetts Lowell in Lowell, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Harvard University is larger than University of Massachusetts-Lowell based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 16,598 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); University of Massachusetts Lowell is in Lowell, MA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Massachusetts Lowell is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; University of Massachusetts Lowell 17:1.

Harvard vs. University of Massachusetts-Lowell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard 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 Harvard ($16,530 vs. $17,525).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Lowell are 23.8% lower than at Harvard University ($16,148 vs. $21,190).
  • Harvard University is 263.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of Massachusetts-Lowell (about $44,710 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $16,966.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 70.1% higher at Harvard than at University of Massachusetts Lowell (about $25,412 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $36,264.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Massachusetts Lowell than at Harvard University (82% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 350.5% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Lowell students ($68,015 vs. $15,098).

Harvard vs. University of Massachusetts-Lowell Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard 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 Harvard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 270 points higher than at University of Massachusetts-Lowell (1280).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 28 at University of Massachusetts-Lowell).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; University of Massachusetts Lowell 1180/1370.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; University of Massachusetts Lowell 25/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; University of Massachusetts-Lowell - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; University of Massachusetts-Lowell Feb 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at University of Massachusetts-Lowell (3.67).
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell has a higher acceptance rate (83%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 18.1% at University of Massachusetts-Lowell.

Harvard vs. University of Massachusetts-Lowell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard 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).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than University of Massachusetts Lowell's (50%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $81,400 more per year than University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $18,500 lower median loan debt than University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates ($6,500 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $191 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates ($67 vs. $258).
  • More Harvard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Massachusetts-Lowell students, three years after graduation. (70% 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.