University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. Penn State

Deciding between University of Massachusetts Lowell and Penn State Main Campus? 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
Penn State Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Lowell, MA
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Large Suburban
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 16,598
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell #371
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Website
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell uml.edu
  • Penn State psu.edu
  • Team Colors
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $16,966
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $36,264
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $16,148
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $16,530
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $15,098
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 82%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 13,781
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 11,444
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 83%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 18.1%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 1280
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 28
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 3.67
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Very High
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 25/32
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 1180/1370
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Feb 15, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 17:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell
    • Business (18%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (13%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (12%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 50%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $55,300
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 63%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $25,000
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $258
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 56%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 44%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Medium
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 64%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 9%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 6%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 10%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 3%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 4%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 5%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 88%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 12%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Massachusetts Lowell in Lowell, MA with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than University of Massachusetts-Lowell based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 16,598 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Massachusetts Lowell is located in Lowell, MA (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • University of Massachusetts Lowell is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Massachusetts Lowell 17:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Massachusetts-Lowell or Penn State? 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 Penn State ($16,530 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 10.4% lower than at University of Massachusetts Lowell ($14,474 vs. $16,148).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 21.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of Massachusetts-Lowell (about $3,678 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $16,966.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 15.2% higher at Penn State than at University of Massachusetts Lowell (about $5,526 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $36,264.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Massachusetts Lowell than at Penn State Main Campus (82% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Massachusetts Lowell students is 33.2% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($15,098 vs. $11,336).

University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 50 points higher than at University of Massachusetts-Lowell (1280).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 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; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Lowell 25/32; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University of Massachusetts-Lowell - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: University of Massachusetts-Lowell Feb 15, 2027.
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell has a higher acceptance rate (83%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.1% at University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than University of Massachusetts Lowell's (50%).
  • Graduates of University of Massachusetts Lowell and Penn State have equivalent median earnings about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $55,300), per the federal College Scorecard cohort (typically among students working and not enrolled).
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Massachusetts Lowell graduates have a $1,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($258 vs. $277).
  • More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Massachusetts-Lowell students, three years after graduation. (69% 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.