Lowell, Massachusetts Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Lowell, Massachusetts: median public in-state tuition $16,966 (+207.8% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $64,874 (+19.3% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 14.8% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $15,849 (+19.4% vs U.S.) 11,500 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 2 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 11,500 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $16,966 (+207.8% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $64,874 (+19.3% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 14.8% (-73.2 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $16,001 (+60.5% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $15,849 (+19.4% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $18,927
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 64.8%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 84.0%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Lowell serve students across Massachusetts with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 2 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 11,500 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $16,966. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Lowell, Massachusetts and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Lowell vs Massachusetts & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowell, Massachusetts | $16,966 | $16,001 | $15,849 | 64.8% | 11,500 |
| Massachusetts (state median) | $6,732 | $12,244 | $21,882 | 67.0% | 310,977 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Lowell, Massachusetts vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowell, Massachusetts | $64,874 | 14.8% | 84.0% | 6.8% | — | 75.3% | 0.37 |
| Massachusetts (state median) | $63,760 | 21.4% | 83.9% | 3.6% | — | 82.4% | 0.39 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Massachusetts (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowell, Massachusetts | $16,966 | $16,001 | $15,849 | 64.8% | 11,500 | $64,874 | 14.8% |
| Boston | $38,110 | $26,678 | $24,900 | 67.4% | 89,548 | $65,865 | 21.8% |
| Amherst | $58,896 | $23,367 | $22,763 | 83.3% | 26,421 | $71,631 | 43.9% |
| Worcester | $51,356 | $27,048 | $19,500 | 76.9% | 23,114 | $74,895 | 23.3% |
| Cambridge | $57,160 | $31,152 | $17,884 | 77.8% | 13,886 | $101,817 | 64.4% |
| Springfield | $44,702 | $25,282 | $26,250 | 64.0% | 10,306 | $53,124 | 20.3% |
| Springfield | $44,702 | $25,282 | $26,250 | 64.0% | 10,306 | $53,124 | 20.3% |
| Springfield | $44,702 | $25,282 | $26,250 | 64.0% | 10,306 | $53,124 | 20.3% |
| Springfield | $44,702 | $25,282 | $26,250 | 64.0% | 10,306 | $53,124 | 20.3% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top college in Lowell, Massachusetts by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 64.8%, University of Massachusetts-Lowell
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Top college in Lowell, Massachusetts by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 14.8%, University of Massachusetts-Lowell
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Most selective college in Lowell, Massachusetts (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 83.0%, University of Massachusetts-Lowell
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Top college in Lowell, Massachusetts by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $86,167, University of Massachusetts-Lowell
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Top college in Lowell, Massachusetts by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $120,219, University of Massachusetts-Lowell
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Top college in Lowell, Massachusetts by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $61,467, University of Massachusetts-Lowell
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Top college in Lowell, Massachusetts by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $64,695, University of Massachusetts-Lowell
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Top college in Lowell, Massachusetts by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $64,874, University of Massachusetts-Lowell
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Top college in Lowell, Massachusetts by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $233,086, University of Massachusetts-Lowell
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Most affordable college in Lowell, Massachusetts (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $17,163, University of Massachusetts-Lowell
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Top college in Lowell, Massachusetts by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 84.0%, University of Massachusetts-Lowell
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
In-state tuition: Lowell, Massachusetts vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Lowell, Massachusetts median in-state tuition is $16,966, +207.8% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Lowell, Massachusetts vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Lowell, Massachusetts is $15,849 (+19.4% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $18,927.
Median earnings (10 years out): Lowell, Massachusetts vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Lowell, Massachusetts center around $64,874 (+19.3% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Lowell, Massachusetts vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 14.8% at the median Lowell, Massachusetts campus (-73.2 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Lowell, Massachusetts median public in-state tuition is $16,966, about +207.8% vs the national median. Versus the New England region, tuition is +80.5%.
Median graduate debt is $15,849 (+19.4% above the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Lowell, Massachusetts are $64,874, about +19.3% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 14.8% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (-73.2 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 84.0% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 6.8% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 75.3% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include University of Massachusetts-Lowell (14.8%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Lowell, Massachusetts is 64.8% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Lowell?
This city profile covers 2 campuses in Lowell, Massachusetts with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Lowell?
Median in-state tuition in Lowell is $16,966 and median net price is $16,001. For Massachusetts overall, medians are $6,732 and $12,244; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Lowell?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Lowell is $64,874 vs $63,760 for Massachusetts and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Lowell colleges?
Median completer debt in Lowell is $15,849 vs $21,882 for Massachusetts and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Lowell?
Top campuses on this page include University of Massachusetts-Lowell (graduation) and University of Massachusetts-Lowell (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Lowell?
Among 2 College Scorecard campuses in Lowell, Massachusetts, none are flagged as HBCUs or tribal colleges in IPEDS, and none meet our 25% Hispanic-enrollment HSI proxy or report a religious affiliation in IPEDS.
Sources & related
- Massachusetts college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON