Match #1
University of Massachusetts-Boston
Boston, MA
Profile closeness81/100
Admit rate84%
- 11,512 students
- Public
- City: Large
- Enrollment 11,512 students, close to 11,434
- Acceptance rate 84%, close to 83%
The colleges most similar to University of Massachusetts-Lowell are University of Massachusetts-Boston, Bridgewater State University, and Worcester State University. University of Massachusetts-Lowell admits 83% of applicants and has an average net price of $17,362 a year; 6 of its 10 alternatives cost less and 8 admit a larger share of applicants, in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.
Profile closeness (0–100) compares graduation rate, size, admit rate, net price, Carnegie class, and control with University of Massachusetts-Lowell. The order also uses CollegesRef matching tiers, so a later match can score higher. Admit-rate bars use a 0–100% scale.
Top 10 alternatives to University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Row-wise results ranked by similarity. No curated AI list exists for this school.
Match #2
Bridgewater State University
Bridgewater, MA
Profile closeness76/100
Admit rate88%
- 7,829 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Enrollment 7,829 students, close to 11,434
- Average net price $18,061, close to $17,362
Match #3
Worcester State University
Worcester, MA
Profile closeness68/100
Admit rate88%
- 3,930 students
- Public
- City: Midsize
- Acceptance rate 88%, close to 83%
- Same control type (public)
Match #4
University of Massachusetts-Amherst UMASS Main Campus
Amherst, MA
Profile closeness67/100
Admit rate60%
- 23,671 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Same control type (public)
Match #5
Westfield State University
Westfield, MA
Profile closeness65/100
Admit rate81%
- 3,615 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Acceptance rate 81%, close to 83%
- Average net price $16,484, close to $17,362
Match #6
Fitchburg State University
Fitchburg, MA
Profile closeness61/100
Admit rate87%
- 2,752 students
- Public
- Suburb: Midsize
- Acceptance rate 87%, close to 83%
- Same control type (public)
Match #7
Salem State University-Massachusetts
Salem, MA
Profile closeness60/100
Admit rate96%
- 4,291 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Same control type (public)
Match #8
Framingham State University
Framingham, MA
Profile closeness58/100
Admit rate84%
- 2,566 students
- Public
- City: Small
- Acceptance rate 84%, close to 83%
- Average net price $15,951, close to $17,362
Match #9
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Buzzards Bay, MA
Profile closeness52/100
Admit rate95%
- 1,395 students
- Public
- Suburb: Midsize
- Graduation rate 73%, close to 69%
- Same control type (public)
Match #10
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
North Adams, MA
Profile closeness40/100
Admit rate90%
- 713 students
- Public
- Town: Fringe
- Acceptance rate 90%, close to 83%
- Same control type (public)
Questions about University of Massachusetts-Lowell alternatives
What colleges are similar to University of Massachusetts-Lowell?
The closest matches to University of Massachusetts-Lowell are University of Massachusetts-Boston, Bridgewater State University, Worcester State University, University of Massachusetts-Amherst UMASS Main Campus, and Westfield State University. CollegesRef ranks them on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile using IPEDS and College Scorecard data.
Is University of Massachusetts-Lowell hard to get into?
University of Massachusetts-Lowell admitted 83% of its 12,493 applicants in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition, so it is not very selective: it admits most applicants. 8 of its 10 closest alternatives admit a larger share of applicants.
Which University of Massachusetts-Lowell alternatives cost less?
6 of the 10 closest alternatives have a lower average net price than University of Massachusetts-Lowell ($17,362 a year), including Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts ($11,402), Salem State University-Massachusetts ($12,921), and Fitchburg State University ($13,803). Net price is what first-time, full-time students paid after grants; your own price depends on family income.
