Amherst vs. University of Massachusetts-Lowell

Amherst College and University of Massachusetts Lowell side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Amherst College
University of Massachusetts Lowell

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Amherst (9% admitted vs 83%). Typical SAT 1540 vs 1280.
  • Cheaper after aid: University of Massachusetts-Lowell. Average net price is $16,530 vs $19,049 at Amherst.
  • Graduation: Amherst 96% vs University of Massachusetts-Lowell 50%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Amherst $82,000 vs University of Massachusetts-Lowell $55,300 (median).
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Key differences

Amherst College University of Massachusetts Lowell
Acceptance rate
Amherst more selective
Amherst9%
University of Massachusetts-Lowell83%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Amherst higher
Amherst1490-1580
University of Massachusetts-Lowell1180-1370
Average net price
University of Massachusetts-Lowell $2,519 less
Amherst$19,049
University of Massachusetts-Lowell$16,530
In-state tuition
University of Massachusetts-Lowell $53,514 less
Amherst$70,480
University of Massachusetts-Lowell$16,966
Out-of-state tuition
University of Massachusetts-Lowell $34,216 less
Amherst$70,480
University of Massachusetts-Lowell$36,264
Graduation rate
Amherst +46 pts
Amherst96%
University of Massachusetts-Lowell50%
Median earnings (10 years)
Amherst +$26,700
Amherst$82,000
University of Massachusetts-Lowell$55,300

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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Check my chances at Amherst Check my chances at University of Massachusetts-Lowell
  • Applied
  • Amherst 13,743
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 13,781
  • Admitted
  • Amherst 1,238
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 11,444
  • Acceptance rate
  • Amherst 9%
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 83%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Amherst 38.8%
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 18.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Amherst 1540
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 1280
  • Typical ACT score
  • Amherst 34
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 28
  • Average high school GPA
  • Amherst 3.91
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 3.67
  • Typical high school grades
  • Amherst A
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell A-
  • Admissions standards
  • Amherst Elite
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Very High
  • Applicant competition
  • Amherst Extreme
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell
  • SAT range
  • Amherst 1490-1580
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 1180-1370
  • ACT range
  • Amherst 33-35
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 25-32
  • Submit test scores
  • Amherst Test optional
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Amherst Jan 2, 2027
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Feb 15, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $16,966
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $36,264
  • Room & board
  • Amherst $18,390
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $16,148
  • Average net price
  • Amherst $19,049
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $16,530
  • Average grant aid
  • Amherst $68,591
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $15,098
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Amherst 59%
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 82%
  • Graduation rate
  • Amherst 96%
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 50%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Amherst $82,000
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $55,300
  • Making student loan payments
  • Amherst 83%
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 63%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Amherst $12,975
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $25,000
  • Median loan payment
  • Amherst $134
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $258
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Amherst 6:1
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 17:1
  • Popular majors
  • Amherst
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell
    • Business (18%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (13%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (12%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
  • Location
  • Amherst Amherst, MA
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Lowell, MA
  • Setting
  • Amherst Town Fringe
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Amherst 1,914
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 16,598
  • Type
  • Amherst Private 4 Year
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Amherst #13
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell #371

Comparable Facts

Compare Amherst College in Amherst, MA with University of Massachusetts Lowell in Lowell, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of Massachusetts Lowell is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (16,598 students vs. 1,914 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); University of Massachusetts Lowell is in Lowell, MA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Massachusetts Lowell is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Amherst College 6:1; University of Massachusetts Lowell 17:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Lowell are 12.2% lower than at Amherst College ($16,148 vs. $18,390).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 94.4% higher at Amherst than at University of Massachusetts Lowell (about $34,216 more per year; $70,480 vs. $36,264).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Massachusetts Lowell than at Amherst College (82% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 354.3% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Lowell students ($68,591 vs. $15,098).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 6 points higher at Amherst than at University of Massachusetts-Lowell (34 vs. 28, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Amherst and University of Massachusetts-Lowell.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027; University of Massachusetts-Lowell Feb 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Amherst average a 3.91 high school GPA, 0.24 higher than at University of Massachusetts-Lowell (3.67).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 18.1% at University of Massachusetts-Lowell.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $12,025 lower median loan debt than University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates ($12,975 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $124 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates ($134 vs. $258).
  • More Amherst graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Massachusetts-Lowell students, three years after graduation (83% vs. 63%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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