University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. Nichols

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

University of Massachusetts Lowell
Nichols College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Nichols (80.8% admitted vs 83%). Typical SAT 1130 vs 1280.
  • Cheaper after aid: University of Massachusetts-Lowell. Average net price is $16,530 vs $32,337 at Nichols.
  • Graduation: University of Massachusetts-Lowell 50% vs Nichols 43%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: University of Massachusetts-Lowell $55,300 vs Nichols $51,800 (median).
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Key differences

University of Massachusetts Lowell Nichols College
Acceptance rate
Nichols more selective
University of Massachusetts-Lowell83%
Nichols80.8%
SAT range (middle 50%)
University of Massachusetts-Lowell higher
University of Massachusetts-Lowell1180-1370
Nichols1028-1236
Average net price
University of Massachusetts-Lowell $15,807 less
University of Massachusetts-Lowell$16,530
Nichols$32,337
In-state tuition
University of Massachusetts-Lowell $25,739 less
University of Massachusetts-Lowell$16,966
Nichols$42,705
Out-of-state tuition
University of Massachusetts-Lowell $6,441 less
University of Massachusetts-Lowell$36,264
Nichols$42,705
Graduation rate
University of Massachusetts-Lowell +7 pts
University of Massachusetts-Lowell50%
Nichols43%
Median earnings (10 years)
University of Massachusetts-Lowell +$3,500
University of Massachusetts-Lowell$55,300
Nichols$51,800

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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Check my chances at University of Massachusetts-Lowell Check my chances at Nichols
  • Applied
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 13,781
  • Nichols 2,296
  • Admitted
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 11,444
  • Nichols 1,856
  • Acceptance rate
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 83%
  • Nichols 80.8% Open
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 18.1%
  • Nichols 18.1% Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 1280
  • Nichols 1130
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 28
  • Nichols
  • Average high school GPA
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 3.67
  • Nichols 2.9
  • Typical high school grades
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell A-
  • Nichols B
  • Admissions standards
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Very High
  • Nichols Moderate
  • Applicant competition
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell
  • Nichols
  • SAT range
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 1180-1370
  • Nichols 1028-1236
  • ACT range
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 25-32
  • Nichols
  • Submit test scores
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Test optional
  • Nichols Open admission
  • Application deadline
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Feb 15, 2027
  • Nichols
  • Tuition (in state)
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $16,966
  • Nichols $42,705
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $36,264
  • Nichols $42,705
  • Room & board
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $16,148
  • Nichols $15,800
  • Average net price
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $16,530
  • Nichols $32,337
  • Average grant aid
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $15,098
  • Nichols $25,809
  • % receiving grant aid
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 82%
  • Nichols 99%
  • Graduation rate
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 50%
  • Nichols 43%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $55,300
  • Nichols $51,800
  • Making student loan payments
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 63%
  • Nichols 68%
  • Median student loan debt
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $25,000
  • Nichols $27,000
  • Median loan payment
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $258
  • Nichols $279
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 17:1
  • Nichols 15:1
  • Popular majors
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell
    • Business (18%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (13%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (12%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
  • Nichols
    • Business (75%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (12%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)
    • Education (2%)
  • Location
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Lowell, MA
  • Nichols Dudley, MA
  • Setting
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Large Suburban
  • Nichols Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 16,598
  • Nichols 1,392
  • Type
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Public 4 Year
  • Nichols Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell #371
  • Nichols #855

Comparable Facts

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

University of Massachusetts Lowell is larger than Nichols based on total student enrollment (16,598 students vs. 1,392 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Massachusetts Lowell is located in Lowell, MA (Large Suburban setting); Nichols College is in Dudley, MA (Rural Fringe setting).
  • University of Massachusetts Lowell is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Nichols College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Massachusetts Lowell 17:1; Nichols College 15:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Nichols College are 2.2% lower than at University of Massachusetts Lowell ($15,800 vs. $16,148).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 17.8% higher at Nichols than at University of Massachusetts Lowell (about $6,441 more per year; $42,705 vs. $36,264).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Nichols College than at University of Massachusetts Lowell (99% vs. 82%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Nichols College students is 70.9% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Lowell students ($25,809 vs. $15,098).

Admissions details

  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at University of Massachusetts-Lowell, open admission at Nichols.
  • Typical fall application deadline: University of Massachusetts-Lowell Feb 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at University of Massachusetts-Lowell average a 3.67 high school GPA, 0.77 higher than at Nichols (2.9).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.1% at University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. 18.1% at Nichols.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Massachusetts Lowell graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Nichols graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Nichols graduates ($258 vs. $279).
  • More Nichols graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Massachusetts-Lowell students, three years after graduation (68% 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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