University of Massachusetts - Lowell

UMass is a popular online college, thanks to the wide variety of programs it offers 100% remotely. All of these programs are available entirely online — although some can be taken on campus or in a hybrid format. Eighteen percent of undergraduate students are enrolled exclusively online, as well as 56% of graduate students, according to data from the College Navigator. 

UMass Lowell uses Blackboard to offer online courses in both asynchronous and synchronous formats. Here, remote learners can attend classes, connect with instructors, and submit assignments. They also have access to a variety of resources and support services. These include tech support, tutoring, an online knowledge database, library services, and more.

With so many program options and affordable tuition for online learners, UMass Lowell can be a great choice for remote students. 

Additionally, the University of Massachusetts Lowell is an accredited member of the New England Commission of Higher Education. Accreditation is a critical factor in choosing a university as it demonstrates that the school meets certain quality standards and its course credits are transferable to other accredited institutions. When considering online programs, students should make sure that the school and the specific program they’re interested in are accredited.

OnlineU only includes accredited institutions on its site.

UMass Lowell is recognized for its affordable and high quality online programs at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. 

Namely, OnlineU has featured the school in close to a dozen best-of lists and rankings. For example, UMass Lowell occupies the top spot on our list of best online master's degrees in criminal justice. It has also earned high rankings for its affordable master’s programs in homeland security and budget-friendly engineering management master's degrees. 

As for bachelor’s degree programs, Online U has included UMass Lowell in our lists of the best political science degrees and most affordable online bachelor’s degrees in philosophy, to name a few.

According to College Scorecard data, the top three bachelor’s degrees at UMass Lowell that provide the highest earnings are computer science ($109,547 in median earnings), chemical engineering ($94,160), and mechanical engineering ($88,173).

OnlineU has also found that the school has high Salary Scores for some of its bachelor’s and master’s degrees. For example, the undergraduate has a salary score of 84. And a master’s program in criminal justice boasts a top Salary Score of 100 — its graduates have a median salary of $93,394 one year after graduation. Both of these degrees are online programs. Salary Score is a proprietary metric (from one to 100) based on median alumni earnings in the year after graduating. This overall score is calculated based on the median alumni salary for each program at this school compared to the median alumni salary for the same program at other schools. 

It’s not hard to get into UMass Lowel as the school has a high acceptance rate of 85%, meaning most applicants are accepted. It also has a 62% graduation rate, which is slightly above the average.

UMass Lowell doesn’t list a required GPA in its admission requirements. However, according to the school, first-year students who enrolled in fall 2022 had an average GPA of 3.681.

To apply at UMass Lowell, applicants need to submit the following materials:

• A completed application online or by mail
• A non-refundable application fee ($70) or a fee waiver
• SAT or ACT scores
• An official school transcript (grades 9-11)
• A personal essay (250-650 words) responding to a Common Application essay option. Alternatively, an essay on one of the following topics: “What do you do in your spare time?” or “What is the greatest challenge your generation will face? What ideas do you have for dealing with this issue?”
• A letter of recommendation
• TOEFL or IELTS results (when applicable)
• A portfolio (for art and design applicants)
• An entrance audition (for music majors)