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Lowell, MassachusettsPhoto: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0
Colleges in and near Lowell

Lowell is home to University of Massachusetts-Lowell

The University of Massachusetts-Lowell (11,742 students on campus) is inside the city. About 10% of Lowell’s residents are enrolled in college, above Massachusetts (8%).

University of Massachusetts-Lowell

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Lowell. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
6
26,216 students on campus
Nearest college
1 mi
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Residents in college
10%
Above MA (8%)
Nearest community college
8.3 mi
Middlesex · $6,048 tuition
Nearest public university
1 mi
University of Massachusetts-Lowell · $16,966 in-state
Median household income
$79K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Lowell

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A university in LowellThe University of Massachusetts-Lowell has 11,742 students on campus in Lowell, 65% of whom graduate within six years.In-state price at University of Massachusetts-LowellLiving in Massachusetts, the University of Massachusetts-Lowell charges $16,966 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $36,264. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 8.3 miles awayMiddlesex Community College in Bedford: tuition and fees $6,048 a year for Massachusetts residents.Students are 10% of residentsAbove Massachusetts (8%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Lowell

Three private colleges within 10.2 miles, one public college within 1 mile, and two community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of Massachusetts-LowellMiddlesexMerrimack CollegeLowell
University or collegeCommunity college
University of Massachusetts-LowellUniversity or college · Public · 11,742 on campus · In Lowell83%admitted$17knet price65%graduate$65kearningsMassachusetts School of LawUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 284 on campus · 6.9 mi · AndoverGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Middlesex Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,225 on campus · 8.3 mi · Bedford$3knet price23%graduate$51kearningsTuition and fees: $6,048 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Rivier UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,230 on campus · 9.7 mi · Nashua, NH83%admitted$28knet price52%graduate$52kearningsMerrimack CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 4,664 on campus · 10.2 mi · North Andover70%admitted$38knet price70%graduate$76kearningsNashua Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 1,071 on campus · 14.9 mi · Nashua, NH$23knet price38%graduate$46kearningsTuition and fees: $7,140 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $75–110k, where Lowell’s median household income ($78,658) falls.

Middlesex Community College8.3 mi · Bedford · sticker $10,342 · tuition $6,048$4,356a year
University of Massachusetts-LowellIn Lowell · sticker $30,786$16,460a year
Rivier University9.7 mi · Nashua, NH · sticker $53,499$27,352a year
Nashua Community College14.9 mi · Nashua, NH · sticker $29,014 · tuition $7,140$29,014a year
Merrimack College10.2 mi · North Andover · sticker $70,038$36,045a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Lowell: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →University of Massachusetts-LowellMiddlesexRivier UniversityMerrimack CollegeNashua
University of Massachusetts-Lowell65% graduate$65k earnings$24k typical debt
Middlesex Community College23% graduate$51k earnings$7k typical debt
Merrimack College70% graduate$76k earnings$27k typical debt
Rivier University52% graduate$52k earnings$27k typical debt
Nashua Community College38% graduate$46k earnings$11k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in Lowell

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at University of Massachusetts-Lowell, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 21%Engineering 18%Computer science 11%Psychology 9%Public safety 7%Health professions 7%Everything else 27%

Biggest programs

Business Administration, Management and Operations615 graduates a year
$76k4 yrs out
Computer Science218 graduates a year
$112k4 yrs out
Psychology, General210 graduates a year
$57k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections210 graduates a year
$66k4 yrs out
Mechanical Engineering156 graduates a year
$95k4 yrs out
Information Science/Studies144 graduates a year
$90k4 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering123 graduates a year
$101k4 yrs out
Biology, General114 graduates a year
$76k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Lowell

Is Lowell a college town?

No. About 10 of every 100 Lowell residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Massachusetts (8). The largest campus in the city, the University of Massachusetts-Lowell, has 11,742 students on campus.

What colleges are in Lowell?

The University of Massachusetts-Lowell is inside the city. Middlesex Community College is 8.3 miles away in Bedford.

What is the closest community college to Lowell, and what does it cost?

Middlesex Community College in Bedford, 8.3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $6,048 a year for Massachusetts residents; the federal net price, $2,624, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does the University of Massachusetts-Lowell cost if we live in Massachusetts?

Tuition and fees are $16,966 a year in-state and $36,264 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $9,943 (under $30,000 income) to $26,139 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Lowell. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →