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UMass UMass Dartmouth BU Wentworth Institute of Technology Penn State University of Massachusetts-Boston Northeastern UConn Bridgewater State UB URI Suffolk University| University of Massachusetts Lowell | Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
University of Massachusetts-Lowell | MCLA | ||
| Location | Lowell, MA | North Adams, MA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 16,770 | 933 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #428 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | uml.edu | mcla.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
University of Massachusetts-Lowell | MCLA | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $15,850 | $1,030 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $34,676 | $9,975 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,424 | $14,634 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $17,624 | $17,705 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $12,647 | $9,606 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 79% | 99% |
Admission |
University of Massachusetts-Lowell | MCLA | ||
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| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 12,628 | 1,543 | ||
| Admitted | 10,764 | 1,425 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 85.2% | 92.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 19.4% | 13.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.67 | 3.2 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 26/30 | 17/21 | ||
| SAT Range | 1180/1350 | 960/1180 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Feb 15, 2026 |
Academics |
University of Massachusetts-Lowell | MCLA | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 8:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
University of Massachusetts-Lowell | MCLA | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 53% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $55,300 | $37,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 63% | 63% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $24,659 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $254 |
Diversity |
University of Massachusetts-Lowell | MCLA | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 15% | 3% | ||
| % Women | 13% | 7% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 64% | 74% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 9% | ||
| % Hispanic | 10% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 4% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 4% |
Students |
University of Massachusetts-Lowell | MCLA | ||
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| % In-State | 87% | 55% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 10% | 41% | ||
Campus |
University of Massachusetts-Lowell | MCLA | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Massachusetts Lowell is larger than than MCLA based on total student enrollment (16,770 students vs. 933 students)
University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. MCLA Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, University of Massachusetts-Lowell or MCLA?
- University of Massachusetts Lowell is 1,438.8% more expensive to attend than MCLA for in-state tuition ($15,850.00 vs. $1,030.00)
- Out of state tuition is 247.6% higher at University of Massachusetts-Lowell than Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts ($34,676.00 vs. $9,975.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Massachusetts Lowell than MCLA ($17,624 vs. $17,705)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts are 5.4% lower than costs at University of Massachusetts Lowell ($14,634 vs. $15,424)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts than University of Massachusetts Lowell (99% vs. 79%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Massachusetts Lowell students is 31.7% larger than aid received Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts ($12,647 vs. $9,606)
University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. MCLA Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, University of Massachusetts-Lowell or MCLA? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between MCLA or University of Massachusetts-Lowell .
- The average SAT score at University of Massachusetts Lowell (1197) is 181 points higher than at MCLA (1016)
- Incoming University of Massachusetts-Lowell students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at MCLA (23)
- Accepted freshman University of Massachusetts-Lowell students have a 0.47 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at MCLA (3.2)
- MCLA has a higher acceptance rate (92.4%) than University of Massachusetts-Lowell (85.2%)
University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. MCLA Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, University of Massachusetts-Lowell or MCLA? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between MCLA and University of Massachusetts-Lowell.
- The graduation rate at MCLA is higher than University of Massachusetts Lowell (53% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from University of Massachusetts Lowell earn on average $18,200 more per year than MCLA graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $37,100)
- Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students graduate with a $341 lower median federal student loan debt than University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates. ($24,659 vs. $25,000)
- MCLA graduates are paying $4 less per month on federal student loans than University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates. ($254 vs. $258)
- More MCLA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Massachusetts-Lowell students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 63%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/