Navigating UMass Lowell Undergraduate Admissions: A Comprehensive Guide

Are you considering UMass Lowell (UML) for your undergraduate studies? This guide provides a detailed overview of the admissions requirements, deadlines, and other essential information to help you prepare your application.

Is UMass Lowell a Good Fit for You?

Determining if a university aligns with your academic and personal goals is crucial. UMass Lowell encourages prospective students to explore the campus, meet faculty and students, and envision themselves as part of the UML community.

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions offers various virtual options, including student-led tours, information sessions, one-on-one chats, a Junior Preview Day in the spring, and Open Houses in the fall. Visiting as many schools as possible is highly recommended.

Application Deadlines

UMass Lowell has several application deadlines for first-year students:

November 5: First-Year Early Action I (Nursing program applicants must apply by this deadline or Early Action II)
January 15: First-Year Early Action II (Nursing program applicants must apply by this deadline or Early Action I)
February 15: First-Year Regular Decision Applicants
March 1: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Financial Aid Priority Deadline

Application Information

Daytime, On-Campus Application Process

UMass Lowell offers daytime, on-campus programs with a specific application process, including requirements, deadlines, and fees.

Read also: Applying to UMass Amherst

No-Test Option

UMass Lowell provides a No-Test Option for incoming students, allowing applicants to be considered without submitting SAT or ACT scores.

Residency Status for Tuition Classification

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions determines the initial residency status for tuition classification for first-year and transfer students in daytime, on-campus undergraduate programs. New applicants may be asked to provide additional information or documentation. A student’s residency is based on where they lived 12 months before entering any higher education institution in Massachusetts, or six months if they first attended a community college.

In-State Classification Under the 2007 Residency Status Policy

An applicant may be classified as a Massachusetts resident if:

They are a dependent student, and at least one parent/custodial parent/legal guardian has resided in Massachusetts for 12 months before the student's entry.
They are financially independent and have lived in Massachusetts as a "traditional resident" (not a student) for 12 months immediately preceding their entry as a student.

Determination of emancipation (for those 18+ and financially independent or without parents/legal guardians, or legally married) is based on the applicant's legal and financial situation and/or their spouse. For unemancipated persons (financially dependent on parents/custodial parents/legal guardians), in-state residency classification is based on the legal residency of the parents/custodial parents/legal guardians. Income tax returns are primary indicators of financial support, but exceptions may apply.

Lawful Immigrant

Students on certain immigrant, non-immigrant, and humanitarian classifications who meet other in-state residency requirements may be classified as in-state residents. This includes DACA holders, who typically have an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) with the classification code (c)(33). Such students must also meet duration and residency requirements. Residency documentation can be submitted on the UMass Lowell applicant portal.

Read also: UMass Amherst Success Stories

In-State Classification Under the 2023 Massachusetts High School Completer Status

Massachusetts has expanded access to in-state tuition rates and state financial aid for students who have attended high school in the Commonwealth for at least three years, obtained a high school diploma or its equivalent in Massachusetts, and met certain other documentation requirements. This includes students without lawful immigrant status or who may be considered undocumented.

Students may qualify for a residency reclassification if they meet the following criteria:

Not in an ineligible non-immigrant classification.
Attended a high school in Massachusetts for three or more years.
Graduated from a Massachusetts high school or attained the equivalent in Massachusetts (GED/HiSet).

Required Documentation:

Tuition Equity and Affidavit Form.
Final high school transcript from a Massachusetts high school.
Proof of graduation from a Massachusetts high school or certificate demonstrating the equivalent obtained in Massachusetts (GED/HiSet).
Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA).

In January , the Department of Higher Education launched the Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA). This form allows students who are not able to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) due to their immigration status a way to apply for need-based state financial aid.

Regional Tuition Program (Tuition Break) Classification

The New England Board of Higher Education's (NEBHE) Tuition Break program lowers the cost of out-of-state tuition for students who permanently reside in New England. Students with a permanent residence in Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont qualify for the regional tuition program residency classification. UMass Lowell extends this program to residents of New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. No additional application is required.

International Students

Citizens who do not have valid documentation from the illustrative list and do not meet a residency exception are considered international students. Students with J or F visas, or a visa category listed in Step 3 of the illustrative list, are not eligible for in-state residency for tuition purposes. Those in valid B-1 or B-2 status are not eligible to study in the United States, except for avocational or recreational study.

Military Personnel

Members of the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, National Guard, and Reserves stationed in Massachusetts on active duty, pursuant to military orders, as well as their spouses and dependent children, are eligible for in-state classification. Eligible participants in the Massachusetts National Guard 100% Tuition and Fee Waiver program and the Welcome Home Bonus are considered Massachusetts residents for tuition purposes, even if their home residence is in another state. There is no durational requirement to establish residency.

The requirements to receive the above benefits are that the student must begin classes within three years after the veteran has been discharged from active duty, with more than 90 days of service.

Application Components

Test Scores

Applicants can submit scores from the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or the American College Test (ACT), or they may choose the No Test option. Self-reporting of test scores is also permitted.

SAT: The 25th percentile SAT score is 1200, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1360.
ACT: The average ACT score is 29. The 25th percentile ACT score is 25, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 32.

If your SAT score is below 1200, consider prepping for the SAT and retaking it. To aim for the school's ACT requirement of 25 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can.

Essay

A personal essay of 250-650 words is required. Applicants may choose a Common Application essay option or respond to one of the following prompts:

What do you do in your spare time?
What is the greatest challenge your generation will face?

Recommendation

A letter of recommendation from someone familiar with your abilities (teacher, college counselor, coach, employer, etc.) is required.

Art and Design Portfolio

Applicants to Art and Design programs must submit a portfolio.

No Test Option Details

UMass Lowell was the first public school in New England to go test optional. The No Test Option is available to students applying now. Applicants with a 3.0 GPA or better, with SAT or ACT scores below our suggested minimum scores are strongly encouraged to consider applying as a No Test applicant.

Additional Essay (Optional):The admissions committee may offer an opportunity to support your No Test Option application by submitting an additional 250-550 word essay that offers insights into your personal experience and background.

Home-school applicants with a minimum of 12 transferrable college credits are eligible to participate in No Test. Home-school applicants applying for admission with less than 12 transferrable college credits may appeal the test score requirement.

International first-year applicants may use the No Test option and waive the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or American College Testing (ACT) and English proficiency exams (Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Duolingo, International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Pearson Versant) if your secondary school provides written verification that the means of instruction is in English, you are enrolled in an International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum, attend an international American School, or are enrolled in a curriculum that leads to Cambridge International Examinations: International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) / O-Level and General Certificate of Education Advanced (GCE /A) level exam.

Nursing Program Considerations for No Test Applicants

Given the competitive nature of nursing admissions, UMass Lowell manages the application pool for nursing differently. The criteria for admission are elevated based on the strength of the application pool and enrollment goals, which vary from year to year. While a 3.000 GPA is the suggested minimum, the actual GPA considered for nursing is likely to be significantly higher. In prior years, a 3.500-3.750 has been a realistic range for minimum consideration as a No Test applicant.

General Admission Standards

All first-year applicants are evaluated using standards determined by both the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education and the university. Admissions counselors and policy makers are sensitive to factors that may result in accomplished students having a lower-than-expected GPA or SAT score. The applications of students who don’t meet the standards, but for whom UMass Lowell otherwise seems like a good match, are reviewed individually.

Holistic Review Process

The University of Massachusetts Lowell practices a holistic review process for its applicants. This means that admissions decisions are based on a variety of factors, not just GPA and test scores. Other factors that are considered include:

Coursework difficulty
Extracurricular activities
Letters of recommendation
Personal statements

Acceptance Rate

The acceptance rate at the University of Massachusetts Lowell is 83%, making it a lightly selective school.

Additional Requirements and Policies

General Policies

Admission to all baccalaureate day programs is made through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions according to established undergraduate policies. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions upholds UMass Lowell’s Equal and Fair Treatment policy in its practices. Accordingly, applicants are required to submit truthful and complete records, including accounts of their educational and disciplinary history. Further, all items submitted, such as application essays, must be entirely the applicant’s original work products. The University reserves the right to rescind the application or admission of any student who fails to abide fully by these requirements.

Admission to programs of professional studies or to winter intersession and summer school, is made through the Division of Graduate, Online and Professional Studies, and does not constitute admission to baccalaureate day programs and implies no commitment, per se, for subsequent application of professional studies or summer school courses to baccalaureate day programs.

Policies for Non-Traditional Students

Students applying for admission more than three years after high school graduation, or who have completed the GED or HiSET and would have graduated from high school three or more years prior to applying to college, must show their ability to succeed in college based upon their official high school record, for as long as they attended, and other application materials.

Applicants who have been out of high school for at least three years are considered Non-traditional and therefore exempt from taking the SAT/ACT. Non-traditional students must meet the 3.000 GPA minimum to be considered for admission. Applicants must complete the following steps:

File an official application form, including a non-refundable application fee or fee waiver, by all stated deadlines.
Submit official high schools transcripts for as long as they attended.
Submit one letter of recommendation.
GRE or HiSET results.

Application Procedures for Transfer Students

Transfer students who wish to be admitted to the university as matriculating students must complete the following steps:

File an official application form, including non-refundable application fee or fee waiver.
Submit official transcripts from all secondary education institutions attended.
If necessary, submit College Transfer Reports, official high school transcripts, art portfolios or English Proficiency Tests.

If a student completed college coursework during high school, they should apply as a first-year applicant. Official college transcripts should be sent to the university, after admission, to be evaluated for transferable credit.

It is the responsibility of students seeking transfer to arrange for all official transcripts and notations on courses in progress to be forwarded to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions directly from all previous institution(s).

Additionally, official final transcripts of all completed courses must be forwarded to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions following the completion of previously designated courses in progress. The university reserves the right to deny credit for course work taken by the student prior to admission if it is identified and presented after transfer.

A preliminary evaluation of course credits to be transferred to the university is made by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at the time of acceptance. Students seeking transfer should be aware that this evaluation by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions is preliminary in nature and that acceptance of transfer credit and assignment of a year of graduation or other status is subject to final review by the student’s major department when the student is formally accepted for matriculation by one of the colleges of the university. Credit which is acceptable according to general university standards is not necessarily acceptable for specific programs. This is especially true when program transfer quotas have been imposed.

In general, the University of Massachusetts Lowell will accept on an hour-for-hour basis semester credits with grades of C- (1.70 on a 4.00 scale) or better as shown on official transcripts of record which are received directly from other regionally accredited collegiate institutions and which are applied to an initial baccalaureate degree. No credit will be recognized for the grade of P unless the catalog of the transferring institution specifically states that P is equivalent to a final course grade of C-. Quarter credits are recognized on a prorated basis of three quarter credits to two semester credits. (Students who are interested in transferring credits for an additional baccalaureate degree should consult the appropriate section).

UML accepts credits only from accredited institutions. Individual colleges may also apply more restrictive requirements.

UML does not award credit for:

Non credit CEU
Adult enrichment courses
Secondary school correspondence
Home study courses
Departmental exam credit issued by another college or university
Challenge exam credit issued by another college or university
Competency based credit
Professional certifications or trainings

International Applicants

A completed application for a daytime, on-campus program. Fall applicants can use the following: UMass Lowell (UML) Application, Common App or Coalition for College Application by Scoir. A non-refundable application fee or fee waiver.

You are considered a first-year student if you have not taken any post-secondary/college coursework. Your application should include your high school or secondary school records, including results from culminating or leaving examinations. Scores from the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) of the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) or the American College Test (ACT) will be required, along with an essay and a letter of recommendation. The CEEB code number for UMass Lowell is 3911. There is also a no-test option for available to freshmen applicants.

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions only accepts official high school records, leaving certificates, and or graduation examination results or their notarized copies. All documents in foreign languages must be professionally translated and notarized. We only accept official transcripts sent directly from the school or a Ministry of Education.

International first-year applicants may use the no-test option and waive the SAT or ACT and Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Duolingo or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exams if your secondary institution provides written verification that the means of instruction is in English, you are enrolled in an IB curriculum, attend an American School or are enrolled in a curriculum that leads to Cambridge International Examinations: International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) / O-Level and General Certificate of Education (GCE) / A level exam.

You will be considered a transfer if you have taken any college/post-secondary coursework. All transcripts from international institutions must be evaluated course-by-course by World Education Services (WES) before university academic departments review courses for transfer credit. In addition to the WES evaluation, official transcripts from all prior institutions must be submitted to UMass Lowell.

In order for appropriate transfer of credits to take place, course descriptions are required for all undergraduate coursework. Once course descriptions are received, these will be forwarded to the appropriate academic department for evaluation. Please note that approval of transfer credits is determined by each individual department, and there are no guarantees that transfer credits will be granted.

English Language Proficiency

All international applicants are required to submit results of the Duolingo, IELTS, TOEFL, ASC English or Pearson exams, except citizens of Australia, Canada (except Quebec), United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Guyana and English-speaking countries of Africa and the West Indies. You are responsible for making arrangements to take the test. UMass Lowell requires the following minimum exam scores:

Duolingo: First-year applicant: 110; Transfer applicant: 110
IELTS: First-year applicant: 6.50. Transfer applicant: 6.50
TOEFL: All applicants: 79.00
ASC English: All applicants: Minimum score 6 - High Advanced
Pearson Test of English: First-year applicant: 61.00. Transfer applicant: 56.00

The UMass Lowell school code for the TOEFL is: 3911.

First-year applicants may waive the TOEFL, IELTS exam or Duolingo if their secondary institution provides written verification that the means of instruction is in English, they are enrolled in an IB curriculum, attend an American School or enrolled in a curriculum that leads to Cambridge International Examinations: IGCSE/O-Level and GCE/A level exam.

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