The University of Massachusetts Lowell (UMass Lowell) is a public research university located in Lowell, Massachusetts. It was established in 1975 through the merger of the Lowell Normal School (founded in 1894) and the Lowell Polytechnic Institute (founded in 1895). It was renamed the University of Lowell in 1975 and joined the University of Massachusetts system in 1991. Today, the university has 18,000 students and offers 120 bachelor’s degrees and 77 master’s degrees.
The Best Value in the Nation: Massachusetts’ Top Value Choice
UMass Lowell is a university worth investing in and worth the effort. It is one of the universities with the highest return on investment. In the 2026 Best Colleges rankings (U.S. News & World Report), it ranked 151st nationally (79th among public universities); in the Best Value (2026) rankings (Best Value Colleges in the U.S.), it ranked first in Massachusetts and 92nd nationally; and it was named the top public university in Massachusetts by The Wall Street Journal.
The university’s graduates have the highest average annual salary among public universities in New England, and the highest starting salary among all public universities in Massachusetts. The average salary for graduates six years after graduation is $61,467, with a mid-career average salary of $116,200; it also ranks first in New England for return on investment; the average total out-of-state tuition and fees for graduates is $37,460; 55% of first-year students receive need-based financial aid, and the average net cost for federal loan recipients is $18,281, making high-quality, affordable education possible.
World-Leading Plastics Engineering: An Unrivaled Flagship Program in Engineering
The Plastics and Polymer Materials Engineering program is a flagship program—the first plastics engineering program in the U.S., the first accredited plastics engineering program in the U.S., and a global leader since 1954. In 2023, the program graduated over 70 students, making it the top school for Plastics and Polymer Engineering in New England and the number one program in the United States. With over 3,000 alumni in the field, many have gone on to become corporate leaders or entrepreneurs.
In addition to Plastics Engineering, the College of Engineering’s flagship programs include Aerospace Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Computer Science. The college features state-of-the-art RF/microwave learning labs and has established practical training platforms in collaboration with industry giants such as Analog Devices. The high employment rate in engineering fields is attributed to the university’s extensive corporate partnership network; over 360 employers have hired UMass Lowell Co-op students, and numerous graduates have gone on to work at top companies and research institutions such as MIT, Boston Consulting Group, and General Electric. Alter information on a US university diploma
R1 Research University: An Engine of Innovation for Nuclear Reactors and Space Exploration
In 2024, the University of Massachusetts Lowell was designated as an R1 institution by the Carnegie Foundation—the highest classification for research activity—a distinction held by only 7% of four-year universities in the United States. The university operates 24 research centers and institutes, with an annual research budget of $120 million. Energy research has secured over $16 million in funding over the past two years.
UMass Lowell houses the world’s only operational high-level radioactive fuel analyzer capable of irradiating nuclear fuel rods; this facility is located within the university’s 1-megawatt research reactor. The reactor has been in continuous operation since its commissioning in 1975. It is the only state-owned nuclear reactor in Massachusetts and one of only three university research reactors in the United States equipped with a containment structure. In addition, the nuclear reactor facility features specialized equipment such as gamma irradiation facilities, a Van de Graaff generator, a hot cell, and equipment for soil analysis, radiological diagnosis and therapy, and testing of radiation-hardened aerospace electronics. Students can use this equipment for experiments and can also obtain a federal nuclear reactor operator’s license, which enhances their employment prospects after graduation.
Furthermore, UMass Lowell’s aerospace and satellite research is equally outstanding. Leveraging its expertise in spacecraft design, the university secured $5.5 million in state funding to establish the Aerospace Research Center, dedicated to the research and development of micro- and nanosatellite technologies and spaceflight-related technologies.
Paid Internships for All: The Secret Behind a 95% Employment Rate
As a unique institution in the United States, students at UMass Lowell gain access to courses involving paid internships, employment partnerships, and clinical practice from the moment they enroll, ensuring they participate in at least one such program before graduation.
The average salary for the Co-op program is $20,075 for a six-month term. Each year, over 360 companies hire students for cooperative engineering and computer science programs. A corporate recruitment manager noted: “Students have the equivalent of one year of full-time work experience, which is why our employment rate is so high.”
This model directly translates into outstanding employment outcomes. 95% of graduates are employed, pursuing graduate studies, or engaged in volunteer work after graduation, far exceeding the national average. Graduates are highly sought after by global companies such as Deloitte, Boston Consulting Group, General Electric, and Apple. Rich Miner, co-founder of Google Ventures (B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Computer Science), and Steven DiNoto, Manager of Apple’s Global Security Operations Center, are both UMass Lowell alumni.
