University of Alaska Fairbanks vs. University of Massachusetts-Lowell

Deciding between University of Alaska Fairbanks 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.

University of Alaska Fairbanks
University of Massachusetts Lowell

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks, AK
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Lowell, MA
  • Setting
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Small Suburban
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 6,893
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 16,598
  • Type
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Public 4 Year
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks #1023
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell #371
  • Religious Affiliation
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks -
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell -
  • Status
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Non-profit
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Non-profit
  • Website
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks uaf.edu
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell uml.edu
  • Team Colors
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $8,736
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $16,966
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $22,320
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $36,264
  • Room & Board
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $10,590
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $16,148
  • Average Net Price
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $11,278
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $16,530
  • Average Grant Aid
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $10,424
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $15,098
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 87%
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 82%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Calculate
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Calculate
  • Applied
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks -
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 13,781
  • Admitted
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks -
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 11,444
  • Acceptance Rate
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Open
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 83%
  • Enrolled
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Open
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 18.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 1240
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 1280
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 22
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 3.4
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks B+
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Challenging
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell
  • ACT Range
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 17/27
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 25/32
  • SAT Range
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 1110/1360
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 1180/1370
  • Submit Test Scores
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Open admission
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Jun 15, 2027
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Feb 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 11:1
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks
    • Business (12%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • 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
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 31%
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 50%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $42,200
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 53%
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $16,975
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $175
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 39%
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 56%
  • % Women
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 61%
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 44%
  • Racial Diversity
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks High
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Medium
  • HBCU
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks No
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell No
  • % White
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 42%
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 64%
  • % Asian
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 1%
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 9%
  • % Black
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 2%
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 6%
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 10%
  • % Native American
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 14%
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 0%
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 4%
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 3%
  • % International
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 1%
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 29%
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 78%
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 20%
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 12%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Alaska Fairbanks in Fairbanks, AK 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 University of Alaska Fairbanks based on total student enrollment (16,598 students vs. 6,893 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Alaska Fairbanks is located in Fairbanks, AK (Small Suburban setting); University of Massachusetts Lowell is in Lowell, MA (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Massachusetts Lowell is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Alaska Fairbanks 11:1; University of Massachusetts Lowell 17:1.

University of Alaska Fairbanks vs. University of Massachusetts-Lowell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Alaska Fairbanks 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 Alaska Fairbanks than University of Massachusetts-Lowell ($11,278 vs. $16,530).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Alaska Fairbanks are 34.4% lower than at University of Massachusetts Lowell ($10,590 vs. $16,148).
  • University of Massachusetts Lowell is 94.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of Alaska Fairbanks (about $8,230 more per year; $16,966.00 vs. $8,736.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 62.5% higher at University of Massachusetts-Lowell than at University of Alaska Fairbanks (about $13,944 more per year; $36,264.00 vs. $22,320.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Alaska Fairbanks than at University of Massachusetts Lowell (87% vs. 82%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Massachusetts Lowell students is 44.8% larger than aid received by University of Alaska Fairbanks students ($15,098 vs. $10,424).

University of Alaska Fairbanks vs. University of Massachusetts-Lowell Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of Alaska Fairbanks 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 University of Alaska Fairbanks.

  • University of Alaska Fairbanks reports an open admissions policy.
  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Massachusetts Lowell (1280) is 40 points higher than at University of Alaska Fairbanks (1240).
  • Incoming University of Massachusetts-Lowell students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 22 at University of Alaska Fairbanks).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Alaska Fairbanks 1110/1360; University of Massachusetts Lowell 1180/1370.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Alaska Fairbanks 17/27; University of Massachusetts Lowell 25/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University of Alaska Fairbanks - Open admission; University of Massachusetts-Lowell - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: University of Alaska Fairbanks Jun 15, 2027; University of Massachusetts-Lowell Feb 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman University of Massachusetts-Lowell students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at University of Alaska Fairbanks (3.4).

University of Alaska Fairbanks vs. University of Massachusetts-Lowell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for University of Alaska Fairbanks 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).

  • University of Massachusetts Lowell's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than University of Alaska Fairbanks's (31%).
  • Graduates from University of Massachusetts Lowell earn a median of about $13,100 more per year than University of Alaska Fairbanks graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $42,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Alaska Fairbanks graduates have a $8,025 lower median loan debt than University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates ($16,975 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, University of Alaska Fairbanks graduates have an estimated $83 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates ($175 vs. $258).
  • More University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Alaska Fairbanks students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 53%)

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.