University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. Syracuse

Deciding between University of Massachusetts Lowell and Syracuse 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
Syracuse University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Lowell, MA
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Setting
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Large Suburban
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 16,598
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Type
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Public 4 Year
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell #371
  • Syracuse #158
  • Religious Affiliation
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell -
  • Syracuse -
  • Status
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Non-profit
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell
  • Syracuse
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $16,966
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $36,264
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Room & Board
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $16,148
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Average Net Price
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $16,530
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Average Grant Aid
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $15,098
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 82%
  • Syracuse 76%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 13,781
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Admitted
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 11,444
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Acceptance Rate
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 83%
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Enrolled
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 18.1%
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 1280
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 28
  • Syracuse 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 3.67
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell A-
  • Syracuse A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Very High
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell
  • Syracuse Low
  • ACT Range
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 25/32
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 1180/1370
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Test optional
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Feb 15, 2027
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 17:1
  • Syracuse 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%)
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 50%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $55,300
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 63%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $25,000
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $258
  • Syracuse $279
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 56%
  • Syracuse 44%
  • % Women
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 44%
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Medium
  • Syracuse High
  • HBCU
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell No
  • Syracuse No
  • % White
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 64%
  • Syracuse 55%
  • % Asian
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 9%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Black
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 6%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 10%
  • Syracuse 11%
  • % Native American
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 0%
  • Syracuse 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 0%
  • Syracuse 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 3%
  • Syracuse 3%
  • % International
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 4%
  • Syracuse 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 5%
  • Syracuse 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 88%
  • Syracuse 31%
  • % Out-of-State
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 12%
  • Syracuse 63%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Syracuse University is larger than University of Massachusetts-Lowell based on total student enrollment (22,589 students vs. 16,598 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. Syracuse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Massachusetts-Lowell or Syracuse? 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 Syracuse ($16,530 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Lowell are 15.8% lower than at Syracuse University ($16,148 vs. $19,188).
  • Syracuse University is 286.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of Massachusetts-Lowell (about $48,562 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $16,966.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 80.7% higher at Syracuse than at University of Massachusetts Lowell (about $29,264 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $36,264.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Massachusetts Lowell than at Syracuse University (82% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Syracuse University students is 141.2% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Lowell students ($36,417 vs. $15,098).

University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. Syracuse Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Syracuse University (1360) is 80 points higher than at University of Massachusetts-Lowell (1280).
  • Incoming Syracuse students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 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; Syracuse University 1270/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Lowell 25/32; Syracuse University 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University of Massachusetts-Lowell - Test optional; Syracuse - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: University of Massachusetts-Lowell Feb 15, 2027; Syracuse Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Syracuse students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at University of Massachusetts-Lowell (3.67).
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell has a higher acceptance rate (83%) than Syracuse (45.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.1% at University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. 18.8% at Syracuse.

University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. Syracuse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Syracuse University's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than University of Massachusetts Lowell's (50%).
  • Graduates from Syracuse University earn a median of about $10,600 more per year than University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,900 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Massachusetts Lowell graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Syracuse graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Syracuse graduates ($258 vs. $279).
  • More Syracuse graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Massachusetts-Lowell students, three years after graduation. (80% 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.