🎓 University of Massachusetts Lowell Scholarships & Financial Aid (2025–2026)
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- Tuition, housing, and what families actually pay on average
- Automatic merit and competitive scholarships
- Honors College perks and departmental awards
- State and regional tuition programs that can reduce costs
📊 Admissions Snapshot
- Acceptance Rate: 82.9% (Fall 2024)
- Average GPA: 3.72 (weighted)
- Middle 50% SAT: 1200–1360
- Middle 50% ACT: 26–30
Source: College Board, Niche, and PrepScholar (2024–25 data).
Comparing multiple schools? Try the Scholarship Tool to search by GPA, test scores, and state →
UMass Lowell at a Glance
The University of Massachusetts Lowell is one of New England’s most affordable R2 public research universities — offering strong programs in engineering, business, and health sciences. Merit scholarships are transparent, renewable, and often awarded automatically based on GPA and test scores.
Students from neighboring New England states can also benefit from the NEBHE Tuition Break, which can reduce out-of-state tuition by up to 40%. Combined with Chancellor’s or Dean’s Scholarships, this makes UMass Lowell a strong value for both in-state and regional students.
FAQ
Does UMass Lowell offer automatic merit aid? Yes — awards like the Chancellor’s, Dean’s, and Riverhawk scholarships are automatic for admitted students who meet GPA and test thresholds.
What’s the average net price? Around $18,281 per year after grants and scholarships (College Factual 2025).
Is there a full-tuition scholarship? Yes — top in-state students can qualify for the Chancellor’s Scholarship covering full tuition.
Does UMass Lowell participate in NEBHE? Yes — students from New England states may pay discounted tuition through the New England Tuition Break.
https://www.uml.edu/admissions/costs/nersp.aspx
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/colleges/university-of-massachusetts-lowell/admissions
https://www.collegefactual.com/colleges/university-of-massachusetts-lowell/
💰 Cost of Attendance at University of Massachusetts Lowell (2025–2026)
UMass Lowell is one of the more affordable public research universities in Massachusetts—especially for in-state families. Out-of-state students pay more but may qualify for a regional tuition discount through the New England Regional Student Program (NERSP).
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & Mandatory Fees | $17,664 | $37,460 |
| Housing & Meals (on-campus) | $16,922 | $16,922 |
| Estimated Total (table items only) | $34,586 | $54,382 |
Note: Totals above reflect tuition, fees, housing, and meals only. Books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses typically add $3,000–$4,000 per year and are included in the university’s full financial aid budget. Housing & meal totals use a midrange residence and dining plan estimate. Optional student health insurance is not shown here.
✅ Automatic Merit Scholarships
UMass Lowell does not publish a guaranteed, tiered merit scholarship matrix for 2025–26. While some named merit awards exist, most are competitive, limited in number, or tied to specific profiles such as residency or high school attended. The majority of new freshmen, even with strong GPAs, are not guaranteed a set merit award at admission.
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chancellor’s Scholarship | Up to $5,000 (in-state); $10,000 (OOS/Regional) |
Select top new admits—strongest GPA/rank/test scores; Massachusetts residents, special OOS regions | No (auto with admission; nominations from counselor accepted for special consideration) | Yes—renewable with GPA ≥3.0 and full-time enrollment | Top EA admits with 3.9–4.0 GPA, high test scores, or distinguished backgrounds; OOS scholars favor NY/NJ/PA | Nov 15 (EA best); rolling as funds allow |
| Tsongas Scholarship | Full tuition, fees, room & board | Lowell HS grads, high academic achievement (competitive interview & application) | Yes—school nomination, select applicants only; limited to 2 | Yes—renewal criteria apply | 2 per year; elite academic, service, and interview | Varies—by school nomination |
| General Merit/Immersive Scholars | Varies ($1,000–$5,000 typical) | Automatic review for EA first-years, holistic academic review, limited pool | No (auto admission review) | Usually renewable (see offer letter; minimum GPA and FT) | Primarily EA; weighted toward top applicant pool; varies by year/funding | EA — Nov 15; RD if funds remain |
No public automatic merit matrix. Most admitted students, even with 3.7+ GPA, should not assume an award absent early action, exceptional academic record, or special nomination.[web:1366][web:1367][web:1370][web:1377]
FAQ
Do I need a separate application for automatic merit? No, but some special scholarships require a nomination or supplemental materials.
Does UMass Lowell superscore SAT/ACT? Yes for admissions; but automatic merit is holistic, not grid-based.
Can merit stack with NE Regional rate? Confirm with aid office—some awards can stack, but policy varies.
Is automatic merit guaranteed? No—most scholarships are competitive, and a strong application/early action is recommended for best consideration.
✅ Competitive Scholarships
UMass Lowell awards several high-value merit scholarships to first-year students with no separate application. Awards are limited, highly competitive, and tied to Early Action timelines. Renewal almost always requires full-time enrollment and a minimum 3.000 GPA.
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chancellor’s Scholarship (MA Residents) | Full tuition & mandatory fees (annual) | Top new admits, MA residents; Early Action required | No | Yes—min 3.0, full-time, max 8 terms | *Est: 3.9–4.0 unweighted; top 5%; AP/IB rigor; early action submit | Nov 5 (EA I); Jan 15 (EA II) |
| Dean’s Scholarship Program | Up to half of tuition & mandatory fees | High academic achievement, all first-years; Early Action required | No | Yes—min 3.0, full-time, max 8 terms | *Est: 3.7–3.95 unweighted, top 10–15%, strong rigor | Nov 5 (EA I); Jan 15 (EA II) |
| Out-of-State/National/Int’l Merit | $5,000–$20,000/year | FT, OOS and international first-years; high academic rigor; holistically reviewed | No | Yes—min 3.0, full-time, max 8 terms | *Est: 3.6–3.95 unweighted, advanced courses/achievements | Nov 5 (EA I); Jan 15 (EA II); as funds allow |
| New England Regional Merit (NEBHE) | Up to half of NEBHE tuition (annual) | RI, CT, NH, ME, VT residents; exceptional academic merit | No | Yes—min 3.0, full-time, max 8 terms | *Est: 3.6–3.9 unweighted, NEBHE majors, solid rigor | Nov 5/Jan 15 (EA I/II) |
| Mid-Atlantic Regional Awards (NY, NJ, PA) | $6,400–$20,400/year | NY, NJ, PA first-years, GPA ≥3.0; all majors | No | Yes—min 3.0, full-time, max 8 terms | *Est: 3.4–3.9 unweighted; leadership/service, strong application | Nov 5/Jan 15 (EA I/II) |
Note: Award levels vary by year. Estimates are based on publicly available criteria, reporting, and official UML policy for the 2025–26 cycle.
FAQ
Need a separate scholarship app? No—scholarships shown above are all awarded via admission review. EA deadlines boost odds for biggest awards.
Does UML superscore SAT/ACT? Yes—highest scores from all sittings are used for admission and merit, and can boost award level.
If test-optional? Still eligible for all merit, but a strong superscore provided can raise a student’s scholarship tier if their GPA is borderline.
Can these awards stack with NEBHE? Confirm with aid office. Most NE Regional/Mid-Atlantic awards are intended as “in addition to” the NEBHE Tuition Break. Rules may shift each year.
🎖️ UMass Lowell Honors College
The UMass Lowell Honors College provides high achievers access to priority registration, small seminars, exclusive housing, faculty mentorship, and funding for research, travel, and creative work. Admission is selective—top admits may be invited automatically, but all students with strong records can apply after admission or as transfers.
GPA: 3.8–4.0 unweighted
Test Scores (if submitted): SAT 1340–1450, ACT 29–34*
AP/IB/dual credit courses, especially in intended major
Leadership/service/strong essays/creative work
Many are first-gen or from diverse backgrounds; exceptional applicants below the GPA range can still be admitted for outstanding achievements.
*Test ranges are estimates based on profiles; UML does not publish exact Honors cutoffs.
- Priority course registration, dedicated Honors housing
- Faculty mentoring and thesis/project support
- Funding for research, travel, or community/creative projects
- Small, seminar-style classes
How to Join the Honors College
- First-year applicants: Top students often get an automatic invite. Others can apply after admission—requires a brief essay and latest transcript.
- Current students: After first semester, apply with ≥3.5 GPA and 12–24 earned credits.
- Transfers: Same criteria as current students; apply before or after transferring to UML.
Key Deadlines: Early Action I: Nov 5 (best shot for Honors + Tsongas); Early Action II: Jan 15; Regular Decision: Feb 15 (space-dependent for Honors College and top scholarships).
| Honors-Specific Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tsongas Scholarship | Full tuition & mandatory fees + $4,000 housing | MA residents admitted to Honors; Early Action I; top 5% academics/service | Yes—Honors/Tsongas app + interview | Yes—3.25 GPA, full-time, Honors | GPA 3.9–4.0, SAT 1420–1500/ACT 31–34, strong leadership/service | Nov 5 (EA I, best); Space-limited |
| Honors College Student Fellowships | $1,500–$3,000 (one/two semesters) | Enrolled Honors students with research, creative, or service project proposal and mentor | Yes—Honors Fellowship app | No—one fellowship per student/team | 2nd/3rd/4th-year Honors students with viable project, ≥30 credits, faculty endorsement | Nov (spring); April (fall) |
Note: Published ranges above are based on recent recipient scores. Precise cutoffs are not published, and selection varies with funding/applicant pool.
FAQ
Is Honors admission automatic? No—some are invited, all others must apply after admission.
Not invited? You can apply with a short essay and transcript via the Honors portal.
Will it delay my degree? No—Honors credits go toward graduation, and the thesis fits into your existing major requirements.
Any extra fees? None for Honors; housing in Honors halls may differ slightly in cost.
⭐ College Specialty
Source: College Factual ranks, “Polymer & Plastics Engineering” (#2 national, #1 in MA) and UMass Lowell Plastics Engineering site (first/largest ABET-accredited program)
In addition to plastics engineering, UMass Lowell is also well-known for several other high-impact programs and areas that matter in the job market and student opportunities:
- Engineering (General): The Francis College of Engineering is ranked among the top 100 in the U.S. News & World Report Best Engineering Schools (No. 97 tied). It powers high-impact R&D and hands-on training. (Source: U.S. News ranking: #97 for Best Engineering Schools)
- Online Bachelor’s Programs: Ranked #28 nationwide, and the best among Greater Boston institutions—particularly strong in Psychology and Business concentrations online. (Source: UMass Lowell blog summarizing U.S. News)}})
- Scientific Research & Innovation: As an R1 university, UML leads with real-world research impact—programs like the Lowell Center for Space Science & Technology (CubeSat initiatives with NASA) drive its reputation for applied innovation. (Source: Wikipedia: Lowell Center for Space Science & Technology NASA CubeSat partnership)
- Athletics (Ice Hockey): The River Hawks are a three-time Hockey East champion and made UMass Lowell’s first Frozen Four appearance in 2013, with repeat success in 2014 and 2017—putting UML on the NCAA Division I hockey map. (Source: Wikipedia: River Hawks hockey achievements)
- Public Value & ROI: UMass Lowell ranks as the #1 public university in New England for starting/mid-career salaries and graduates see one of the highest returns on their college investment. (Source: Massachusetts.edu campus profile ROI rank)