University of Massachusetts-Lowell (UML) Academics and Admissions

Academics

In 1985 the Lowell Textile School was founded, which would later become the Lowell Technological Institute. In 1894 the Lowell Normal School was founded, which itself would later become Lowell State College. In 1975 these two schools merged to form the University of Lowell. In 1991 the University was to become the University of Massachusetts Lowell, one of five University of Massachusetts campuses, located in Lowell, Massachusetts. Today the University of Massachusetts Lowell and its nearly 12,000 students work towards professional certificates, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in areas of study across over 80 majors, 72 minors, and 32 five-year bachelor’s/master’s programs.

Among the most well-known programs at the University of Massachusetts Lowell are the science and engineering programs. Other University highlights include its bachelor’s degree in plastics engineering, the degree-granting program in meteorology, the master’s program in energy engineering, the nanotechnology program, the criminal justice master’s program, it VLSI graduate program, and the Work Environment Department in the School of Health and Environment. A unique feature offered to area high school students is the TEAMS Academy, where various career paths can be explored. Courses are designed to challenge academically advanced students in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math.

In the historic city of Lowell, Massachusetts, students studying on the rolling 125 acre campus are a mere 25 miles from Boston. Set alongside the Merrimack River, Lowell is the birthplace of Bette Davis, and Jack Kerouac (and his burial place for that matter). The Lowell National Historical Park celebrates the City’s early manufacturing and immigrant roots, and the Vandenberg Esplanade gives locals a place to exercise and enjoy the Merrimack. Anything but a sleepy town, Lowell is home to the Bay State Marathon, the Lowell Folk Festival, the Lowell Southeast Asian Water Festival, Winterfest and the Massachusetts Poetry Festival.

Most Popular Fields of Study

Information Summary

Ranks 22nd in Massachusetts and 320th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	89.9
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$30,552
Admission Success rate	N/A
ACT / SAT 75%ile scores	29 / 1320
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	19 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	85% / 56%
Enrollment Total (all students)	18,242

Admissions

All students at the University of Massachusetts Lowell follow the same basic steps while applying, however freshmen, transfers, readmits, and international students will all have slightly different application requirements to complete. Prospective students should take care to follow the instruction as spelled out on the website.

Applications can be downloaded, or requested in writing from the University. All subsequent communications after submitting an application will be in writing. Admissions are accepted on a rolling basis.

In order to be a successful applicant at the University, the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education has mandated that the candidate enter with a minimum grade point average of 3.0. Applicants must also have completed the SAT exams with a combined score of 960 as the minimum, although the average accepted student will have higher scores on both counts, the GPA and SAT. Some cases will, however, be reviewed on an individual basis.

If applying for majors like nursing, exercise physiology, community health education, engineering and sound recording technology, be prepared for a more competitive admissions process.

Incoming freshmen will take Department of Higher Education mandated assessment tests in the areas of math and reading in order to best place students in first-year courses. Exceptions are made in some cases, including student who have scored at least a “three” on AP English and/or Calculus exams.

For students who may benefit from a non-traditional admissions program with the possibility of reduced costs, there are several special entrance programs, including the New England Regional Program, the Connections Program, the Joint Admissions Program, the Patricia A Goler Fellows Program and the Proximity Regional Rate Program for residents of Southern New Hampshire.

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Financial Aid

The University of Massachusetts Lowell recommends students begin the process of seeking financial aid by reviewing the information available on the Office of Financial Aid website. All students seeking financial aid must file the FAFSA upon application to the University, keeping in mind the University’s official priority deadline is the 1st of March. A list of scholarships is also available, and can be accessed via the University of Massachusetts Lowell Office of Financial Aid website.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 2587th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Massachusetts.

Students

The majority of students at the University of Massachusetts Lowell are undergraduate students, although there are well over 2,000 graduate students at the University for any given year. Over 90% of undergraduate students and over 70% of graduate students are in-state residents. The campus has a relatively low international student population, but strives to provide culturally, socially and academically diverse opportunities through the Council on Diversity and Pluralism, the Center for Family, Work and Community, the Center for Women and Work and the Roots Project.

The University of Massachusetts Lowell campus is split into four, the North, South, East and West campuses. On-call escort buses, complete with DVD players, are now being utilized on campus to help transport students from one area of campus to another. Bicycles, helmets and locks are also available for borrow through the campus Rec-Cycle program. With over 100 clubs and student organizations students are sure to find exactly the group they’re looking for on campus. If not, students are encouraged to start up their own. Students can join up with the Alternative Spring Break Service Club, the American Nuclear Society, Conscious Alliance, Global Medical Brigades, the Student Veteran’s Association, and many more. For those seeking spirituality the University’s Campus Ministry Association maintains a website with info on campus worship, or can help students find a place of worship in the surrounding area.

The University of Massachusetts Lowell offers on-campus housing in 10 separate residence halls, with nearly 3,000 residents. Living-Learning residential Communities are an offered campus housing option where students with common interests are able to live, work and play in a single setting. Living on campus is a great way for students to take advantage of campus facilities like the Campus Recreation Center, O’Leary and Lydon Libraries, various campus computer labs, the University Art Gallery, and the many campus dining halls. For convenience, shuttle buses are available to and from residence halls to and from the various other parts of campus during the week. For off-campus University housing students can choose from the East Meadow Lane (21+ and graduate students), or the UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center (once the Doubletree Hotel).

Student Enrollment Demographics

Student Graduation Demographics

Athletics

The University of Massachusetts Lowell River Hawks teams compete in Division II sports including men’s baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, ice hockey, track and field and soccer. Women’s sports include basketball, cross country, track and field, field hockey, soccer, rowing, softball and volleyball. An exception is the men’s hockey team, which competes in Division I. Champion athletic UMass Lowell teams are the 1988 men’s basketball, 1991 men’s cross country, and the 2005 field hockey teams. The men’s ice hockey team has also won the national championship three times.

A fun University of Massachusetts sports fact? The UMass Lowell Baseball Research Center doubles as the official certification center for Major League Baseball, National Collegiate Athletic Association and National Federation of High Schools equipment.

University of Massachusetts-Lowell