University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. Barnard

Deciding between University of Massachusetts Lowell and Barnard College? 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 Massachusetts Lowell
Barnard College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Lowell, MA
  • Barnard New York, NY
  • Setting
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Large Suburban
  • Barnard Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 16,598
  • Barnard 3,487
  • Type
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Public 4 Year
  • Barnard Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell #371
  • Barnard #35
  • Religious Affiliation
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell -
  • Barnard -
  • Status
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Non-profit
  • Barnard Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell
  • Barnard
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $16,966
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $36,264
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Room & Board
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $16,148
  • Barnard $21,714
  • Average Net Price
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $16,530
  • Barnard $26,407
  • Average Grant Aid
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $15,098
  • Barnard $63,131
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 82%
  • Barnard 33%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 13,781
  • Barnard 11,836
  • Admitted
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 11,444
  • Barnard 1,046
  • Acceptance Rate
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 83%
  • Barnard 8.8%
  • Enrolled
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 18.1%
  • Barnard 68.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 1280
  • Barnard 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 28
  • Barnard 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 3.67
  • Barnard 3.85
  • Typical High School Grades
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell A-
  • Barnard A
  • Admissions Standards
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Very High
  • Barnard Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell
  • Barnard Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 25/32
  • Barnard 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 1180/1370
  • Barnard 1470/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Test optional
  • Barnard Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Feb 15, 2027
  • Barnard Jan 4, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 17:1
  • Barnard 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell
    • Business (18%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (13%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (12%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
  • Barnard
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 50%
  • Barnard 92%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $55,300
  • Barnard $66,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 63%
  • Barnard 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $25,000
  • Barnard $17,847
  • Median Loan Payment
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $258
  • Barnard $184
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 56%
  • Barnard 2%
  • % Women
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 44%
  • Barnard 98%
  • Racial Diversity
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Medium
  • Barnard High
  • HBCU
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell No
  • Barnard No
  • % White
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 64%
  • Barnard 53%
  • % Asian
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 9%
  • Barnard 14%
  • % Black
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 6%
  • Barnard 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 10%
  • Barnard 12%
  • % Native American
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 0%
  • Barnard 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 0%
  • Barnard 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 3%
  • Barnard 6%
  • % International
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 4%
  • Barnard 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 5%
  • Barnard 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 88%
  • Barnard 20%
  • % Out-of-State
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 12%
  • Barnard 62%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Massachusetts Lowell in Lowell, MA with Barnard College in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Massachusetts Lowell is larger than Barnard based on total student enrollment (16,598 students vs. 3,487 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Massachusetts Lowell is located in Lowell, MA (Large Suburban setting); Barnard College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • University of Massachusetts Lowell is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Barnard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Massachusetts Lowell 17:1; Barnard College 10:1.

University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. Barnard Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Massachusetts-Lowell or Barnard? 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 Barnard ($16,530 vs. $26,407).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Lowell are 25.6% lower than at Barnard College ($16,148 vs. $21,714).
  • Barnard College is 311.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of Massachusetts-Lowell (about $52,922 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $16,966.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 92.7% higher at Barnard than at University of Massachusetts Lowell (about $33,624 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $36,264.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Massachusetts Lowell than at Barnard College (82% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Barnard College students is 318.1% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Lowell students ($63,131 vs. $15,098).

University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. Barnard Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of Massachusetts-Lowell or Barnard? 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 Barnard and University of Massachusetts-Lowell.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Barnard College (1520) is 240 points higher than at University of Massachusetts-Lowell (1280).
  • Incoming Barnard students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 28 at University of Massachusetts-Lowell).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Lowell 1180/1370; Barnard College 1470/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Lowell 25/32; Barnard College 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University of Massachusetts-Lowell - Test optional; Barnard - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: University of Massachusetts-Lowell Feb 15, 2027; Barnard Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Barnard students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.85) than students at University of Massachusetts-Lowell (3.67).
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell has a higher acceptance rate (83%) than Barnard (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.1% at University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. 68.6% at Barnard.

University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. Barnard Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for University of Massachusetts-Lowell and Barnard? 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).

  • Barnard College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than University of Massachusetts Lowell's (50%).
  • Graduates from Barnard College earn a median of about $11,600 more per year than University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,900 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Barnard College graduates have a $7,153 lower median loan debt than University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates ($17,847 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, Barnard graduates have an estimated $74 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates ($184 vs. $258).
  • More Barnard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Massachusetts-Lowell students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.