University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. City College of New York

Deciding between University of Massachusetts Lowell and CUNY City 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
CUNY City College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Lowell, MA
  • City College of New York New York, NY
  • Setting
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Large Suburban
  • City College of New York Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 16,598
  • City College of New York 15,544
  • Type
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Public 4 Year
  • City College of New York Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell #371
  • City College of New York #313
  • Religious Affiliation
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell -
  • City College of New York -
  • Status
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Non-profit
  • City College of New York Non-profit
  • Website
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell uml.edu
  • City College of New York cuny.edu
  • Team Colors
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell
  • City College of New York

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $16,966
  • City College of New York $7,340
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $36,264
  • City College of New York $15,290
  • Room & Board
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $16,148
  • City College of New York $18,840
  • Average Net Price
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $16,530
  • City College of New York $4,664
  • Average Grant Aid
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $15,098
  • City College of New York $9,763
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 82%
  • City College of New York 88%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Calculate
  • City College of New York Calculate
  • Applied
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 13,781
  • City College of New York 34,322
  • Admitted
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 11,444
  • City College of New York 20,600
  • Acceptance Rate
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 83%
  • City College of New York 60%
  • Enrolled
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 18.1%
  • City College of New York 12.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 1280
  • City College of New York 1250
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 28
  • City College of New York
  • Average High School GPA
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 3.67
  • City College of New York 3.2
  • Typical High School Grades
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell A-
  • City College of New York B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Very High
  • City College of New York Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell
  • City College of New York Low
  • ACT Range
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 25/32
  • City College of New York
  • SAT Range
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 1180/1370
  • City College of New York 1070/1430
  • Submit Test Scores
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Test optional
  • City College of New York Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Feb 15, 2027
  • City College of New York Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 17:1
  • City College of New York 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell
    • Business (18%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (13%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (12%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
  • City College of New York
    • Psychology (15%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 50%
  • City College of New York 40%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $55,300
  • City College of New York $49,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 63%
  • City College of New York 52%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $25,000
  • City College of New York $11,400
  • Median Loan Payment
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $258
  • City College of New York $117

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 56%
  • City College of New York 47%
  • % Women
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 44%
  • City College of New York 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Medium
  • City College of New York Very High
  • HBCU
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell No
  • City College of New York No
  • % White
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 64%
  • City College of New York 15%
  • % Asian
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 9%
  • City College of New York 25%
  • % Black
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 6%
  • City College of New York 16%
  • % Hispanic
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 10%
  • City College of New York 35%
  • % Native American
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 0%
  • City College of New York 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 0%
  • City College of New York 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 3%
  • City College of New York 2%
  • % International
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 4%
  • City College of New York 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 5%
  • City College of New York 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 88%
  • City College of New York 83%
  • % Out-of-State
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 12%
  • City College of New York 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Massachusetts Lowell in Lowell, MA with CUNY City 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 City College of New York based on total student enrollment (16,598 students vs. 15,544 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Massachusetts Lowell is located in Lowell, MA (Large Suburban setting); CUNY City College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • University of Massachusetts Lowell is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. CUNY City College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Massachusetts Lowell 17:1; CUNY City College 15:1.

University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. City College of New York Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Massachusetts-Lowell or City College of New York? 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 CUNY City College than University of Massachusetts-Lowell ($4,664 vs. $16,530).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Lowell are 14.3% lower than at CUNY City College ($16,148 vs. $18,840).
  • University of Massachusetts Lowell is 131.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than City College of New York (about $9,626 more per year; $16,966.00 vs. $7,340.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 137.2% higher at University of Massachusetts-Lowell than at CUNY City College (about $20,974 more per year; $36,264.00 vs. $15,290.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY City College than at University of Massachusetts Lowell (88% vs. 82%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Massachusetts Lowell students is 54.6% larger than aid received by CUNY City College students ($15,098 vs. $9,763).

University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. City College of New York Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of Massachusetts-Lowell or City College of New York? 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 City College of New York and University of Massachusetts-Lowell.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Massachusetts Lowell (1280) is 30 points higher than at City College of New York (1250).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Lowell 1180/1370; CUNY City College 1070/1430.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Lowell 25/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University of Massachusetts-Lowell - Test optional; City College of New York - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: University of Massachusetts-Lowell Feb 15, 2027; City College of New York Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman University of Massachusetts-Lowell students have a 0.47 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at City College of New York (3.2).
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell has a higher acceptance rate (83%) than City College of New York (60%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.1% at University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. 12.3% at City College of New York.

University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. City College of New York Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for University of Massachusetts-Lowell and City College of New York? 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 CUNY City College's (40%).
  • Graduates from University of Massachusetts Lowell earn a median of about $5,500 more per year than City College of New York graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $49,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY City College graduates have a $13,600 lower median loan debt than University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates ($11,400 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, City College of New York graduates have an estimated $141 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates ($117 vs. $258).
  • More University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of New York students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 52%)

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.