University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. TCNJ

Deciding between University of Massachusetts Lowell and The College of New Jersey? 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
The College of New Jersey

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Lowell, MA
  • TCNJ Ewing, NJ
  • Setting
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Large Suburban
  • TCNJ Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 16,598
  • TCNJ 8,141
  • Type
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Public 4 Year
  • TCNJ Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell #371
  • TCNJ #177
  • Religious Affiliation
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell -
  • TCNJ -
  • Status
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Non-profit
  • TCNJ Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell
  • TCNJ
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $16,966
  • TCNJ $19,632
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $36,264
  • TCNJ $25,752
  • Room & Board
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $16,148
  • TCNJ $14,976
  • Average Net Price
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $16,530
  • TCNJ $25,580
  • Average Grant Aid
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $15,098
  • TCNJ $13,360
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 82%
  • TCNJ 59%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 13,781
  • TCNJ 12,766
  • Admitted
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 11,444
  • TCNJ 7,952
  • Acceptance Rate
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 83%
  • TCNJ 62.3%
  • Enrolled
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 18.1%
  • TCNJ 19.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 1280
  • TCNJ 1240
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 28
  • TCNJ 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 3.67
  • TCNJ 3.29
  • Typical High School Grades
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell A-
  • TCNJ B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Very High
  • TCNJ Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell
  • TCNJ Low
  • ACT Range
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 25/32
  • TCNJ 26/31
  • SAT Range
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 1180/1370
  • TCNJ 1140/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Test optional
  • TCNJ Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Feb 15, 2027
  • TCNJ Feb 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 17:1
  • TCNJ 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%)
  • TCNJ
    • Education (22%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 50%
  • TCNJ 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $55,300
  • TCNJ $62,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 63%
  • TCNJ 85%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $25,000
  • TCNJ $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $258
  • TCNJ $240
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 56%
  • TCNJ 43%
  • % Women
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 44%
  • TCNJ 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Medium
  • TCNJ Medium
  • HBCU
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell No
  • TCNJ No
  • % White
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 64%
  • TCNJ 66%
  • % Asian
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 9%
  • TCNJ 10%
  • % Black
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 6%
  • TCNJ 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 10%
  • TCNJ 12%
  • % Native American
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 0%
  • TCNJ 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 0%
  • TCNJ 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 3%
  • TCNJ 0%
  • % International
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 4%
  • TCNJ 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 5%
  • TCNJ 5%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 88%
  • TCNJ 95%
  • % Out-of-State
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 12%
  • TCNJ 5%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Massachusetts Lowell in Lowell, MA with The College of New Jersey in Ewing, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Massachusetts Lowell is larger than TCNJ based on total student enrollment (16,598 students vs. 8,141 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. TCNJ Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Massachusetts-Lowell or TCNJ? 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 TCNJ ($16,530 vs. $25,580).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The College of New Jersey are 7.3% lower than at University of Massachusetts Lowell ($14,976 vs. $16,148).
  • The College of New Jersey is 15.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of Massachusetts-Lowell (about $2,666 more per year; $19,632.00 vs. $16,966.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 40.8% higher at University of Massachusetts-Lowell than at The College of New Jersey (about $10,512 more per year; $36,264.00 vs. $25,752.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Massachusetts Lowell than at The College of New Jersey (82% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Massachusetts Lowell students is 13% larger than aid received by The College of New Jersey students ($15,098 vs. $13,360).

University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. TCNJ Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Massachusetts Lowell (1280) is 40 points higher than at TCNJ (1240).
  • Incoming University of Massachusetts-Lowell students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 28) as students at TCNJ (28).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Lowell 1180/1370; The College of New Jersey 1140/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Lowell 25/32; The College of New Jersey 26/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University of Massachusetts-Lowell - Test optional; TCNJ - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: University of Massachusetts-Lowell Feb 15, 2027; TCNJ Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman University of Massachusetts-Lowell students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at TCNJ (3.29).
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell has a higher acceptance rate (83%) than TCNJ (62.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.1% at University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. 19.7% at TCNJ.

University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. TCNJ Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The College of New Jersey's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than University of Massachusetts Lowell's (50%).
  • Graduates from The College of New Jersey earn a median of about $6,800 more per year than University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,100 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, The College of New Jersey graduates have a $1,750 lower median loan debt than University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates ($23,250 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, TCNJ graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates ($240 vs. $258).
  • More TCNJ graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Massachusetts-Lowell students, three years after graduation. (85% 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.