University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. Rider University

Deciding between University of Massachusetts Lowell and Rider University? 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
Rider University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Lowell, MA
  • Rider University Lawrenceville, NJ
  • Setting
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Large Suburban
  • Rider University Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 16,598
  • Rider University 4,003
  • Type
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Public 4 Year
  • Rider University Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell #371
  • Rider University #307
  • Religious Affiliation
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell -
  • Rider University -
  • Status
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Non-profit
  • Rider University Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell
  • Rider University
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $16,966
  • Rider University $41,120
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $36,264
  • Rider University $41,120
  • Room & Board
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $16,148
  • Rider University $17,230
  • Average Net Price
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $16,530
  • Rider University $26,506
  • Average Grant Aid
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $15,098
  • Rider University $29,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 82%
  • Rider University 100%
  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Calculate
  • Rider University Calculate
  • Applied
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 13,781
  • Rider University 10,071
  • Admitted
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 11,444
  • Rider University 7,920
  • Acceptance Rate
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 83%
  • Rider University 78.6%
  • Enrolled
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 18.1%
  • Rider University 9.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 1280
  • Rider University 1210
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 28
  • Rider University 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 3.67
  • Rider University 3.41
  • Typical High School Grades
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell A-
  • Rider University B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Very High
  • Rider University Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell
  • Rider University
  • ACT Range
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 25/32
  • Rider University 27/31
  • SAT Range
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 1180/1370
  • Rider University 1100/1320
  • Submit Test Scores
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Test optional
  • Rider University Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Feb 15, 2027
  • Rider University
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 17:1
  • Rider University 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell
    • Business (18%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (13%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (12%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
  • Rider University
    • Business (34%)
    • Education (15%)
    • English and Literature (13%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 50%
  • Rider University 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $55,300
  • Rider University $53,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 63%
  • Rider University 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $25,000
  • Rider University $25,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $258
  • Rider University $266
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 56%
  • Rider University 41%
  • % Women
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 44%
  • Rider University 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Medium
  • Rider University Medium
  • HBCU
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell No
  • Rider University No
  • % White
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 64%
  • Rider University 62%
  • % Asian
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 9%
  • Rider University 5%
  • % Black
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 6%
  • Rider University 12%
  • % Hispanic
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 10%
  • Rider University 12%
  • % Native American
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 0%
  • Rider University 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 0%
  • Rider University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 3%
  • Rider University 3%
  • % International
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 4%
  • Rider University 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 5%
  • Rider University 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 88%
  • Rider University 73%
  • % Out-of-State
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 12%
  • Rider University 23%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Massachusetts Lowell in Lowell, MA with Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Massachusetts Lowell is larger than Rider University based on total student enrollment (16,598 students vs. 4,003 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Massachusetts Lowell is located in Lowell, MA (Large Suburban setting); Rider University is in Lawrenceville, NJ (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Massachusetts Lowell is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Rider University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Massachusetts Lowell 17:1; Rider University 14:1.

University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. Rider University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Massachusetts-Lowell or Rider University? 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 Rider University ($16,530 vs. $26,506).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Lowell are 6.3% lower than at Rider University ($16,148 vs. $17,230).
  • Rider University is 142.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of Massachusetts-Lowell (about $24,154 more per year; $41,120.00 vs. $16,966.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 13.4% higher at Rider University than at University of Massachusetts Lowell (about $4,856 more per year; $41,120.00 vs. $36,264.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rider University than at University of Massachusetts Lowell (100% vs. 82%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rider University students is 94% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Lowell students ($29,294 vs. $15,098).

University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. Rider University Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Massachusetts Lowell (1280) is 70 points higher than at Rider University (1210).
  • Incoming Rider University 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; Rider University 1100/1320.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Lowell 25/32; Rider University 27/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University of Massachusetts-Lowell - Test optional; Rider University - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: University of Massachusetts-Lowell Feb 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman University of Massachusetts-Lowell students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at Rider University (3.41).
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell has a higher acceptance rate (83%) than Rider University (78.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.1% at University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. 9.1% at Rider University.

University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. Rider University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Rider University's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than University of Massachusetts Lowell's (50%).
  • Graduates from University of Massachusetts Lowell earn a median of about $2,300 more per year than Rider University graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $53,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Massachusetts Lowell graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than Rider University graduates ($25,000 vs. $25,750).
  • Among borrowers, University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rider University graduates ($258 vs. $266).
  • More Rider University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Massachusetts-Lowell students, three years after graduation. (73% 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.