Boston College (BC) vs. University of Massachusetts-Lowell Overview
You’re wrestling with a tough question: “Should I go to BC or University of Massachusetts-Lowell?“
Boston College (BC)
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Can you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesCan you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesThis complete guide analyzes both the quantitative and qualitative differences between Boston College (BC) and University of Massachusetts-Lowell. This comparison is particularly valuable at understanding the cultural nuances between the colleges since it uses student videos to capture the “vibes” of campus - these videos are exclusively available on CampusReel :)
Differences between Boston College (BC) and University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s go through a general overview of the high-level differences between Boston College (BC) and University of Massachusetts-Lowell. The table below summarizes some of the most important statistics around competitiveness, costs, etc.
| Boston College (BC) | University of Massachusetts-Lowell | |
|---|---|---|
| In-state Tuition | $49,324 | $13,427 |
| Net Price | $33,661 | $18,005 |
| Average Financial Aid | $38,307 | $7,506 |
| Total Undergraduates | 9491 | 13092 |
| Average SAT Scores | 1260 - 1470 | 1100 - 1300 |
| Acceptance Rate | 29 | 57 |
| Location | 140 Commonwealth Avenue | 1 University Ave |
| City Name | Chestnut Hill | Lowell |
WARNINGS: Based on net price alone, University of Massachusetts-Lowell is the cheaper option. However, this sticker price may not adequately represent the difference in living costs between Chestnut Hill and Lowell. BC is in a New England and University of Massachusetts-Lowell is in a New England - sometimes off campus meals and housing costs can dramatically vary between schools
Is Boston College (BC) or University of Massachusetts-Lowell Harder to get into? Which school is easier to get into?
If you’re looking at acceptance rate alone, then Boston College (BC) is more difficult to get into. However, each college is looking to fill its incoming class with a variety of students with different strengths, backgrounds, etc.
Therefore, the acceptance rate alone is not a good indicator that Boston College (BC) is a better school or will be more difficult for you specifically to get into. On the flipside, University of Massachusetts-Lowell is easier to get into based on acceptance rate alone.
You can use the below college admissions predictor to determine your likelihood of acceptance at either school.
How Do BC Dorms Compare to housing Options at University of Massachusetts-Lowell?
Both colleges provide on-campus living options. BC charges for on-campus living, while University of Massachusetts-Lowell charges N/A for on-campus living. Most importantly, though, check out the video below for a sample of dorm tours at each school.
BC and University of Massachusetts-Lowell student body differences
The table below helps demonstrate the student body differences as well.
| Boston College (BC), % | University of Massachusetts-Lowell,% | |
|---|---|---|
| White | 61.71 | 63.51 |
| Hispanic | 9.68 | 9.75 |
| Black | 4.04 | 5.970000000000001 |
| Foreign | 5.96 | 3.6700000000000004 |
| Others | 18.6 | 17.1 |
How different is the Boston College (BC) campus compared to University of Massachusetts-Lowell campus?
The BC campus is located in Chestnut Hill, MA and is characterized as City: Small (population less than 100,000). The University of Massachusetts-Lowell campus is located in Lowell, MA and is characterized as Suburb: Large (outside principal city, in urbanized area with population of 250,000 or more).
Which school gives more financial aid?
BC provides $38,307 whereas University of Massachusetts-Lowell provides an average of $7,506.
How does BC academics compare to University of Massachusetts-Lowell?
When analyzing academics between Boston College (BC) and University of Massachusetts-Lowell we’ll look at both what current students are studying and also where they end up after graduation. After all, college should prepare you for a career! Analyzing each school’s outcomes is super valuable to understand the value of the degree.
| Majors | BC | University of Massachusetts-Lowell |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture agriculture operations and related sciences | N/A | N/A |
| Natural resources and conservation | 27 | 20 |
| Architecture and related services | N/A | N/A |
| Area ethnic cultural gender and group studies | N/A | N/A |
| Communication journalism and related programs | 202 | N/A |
| Computer and information sciences and support services | 68 | 273 |
| Communications technologies technicians and support services | N/A | N/A |
| Personal and culinary services | N/A | N/A |
| Engineering | N/A | 462 |
| Education | 66 | N/A |
| Engineering technologies and engineering related fields | N/A | 18 |
Which is better: Boston College (BC) or University of Massachusetts-Lowell?
We’ve compared dorm life, costs, outcomes and more to provide the most complete comparison between BC and University of Massachusetts-Lowell. But, you’re smart enough to know that numbers paint a terrible picture for truly understanding what each college and community is like. And, the real answer to which school is better is: the school that’s right for you. No matter who you ask, if they know what they’re talking about, the answer is the same: the “better” school is whatever is the best fit for you personally. That’s why it’s extremely important to check out all the videos on CampusReel for each school.
How does BC social life compare to University of Massachusetts-Lowell?
It’s tough to understand the nuances of social life with data alone. That’s why we’ve brought in real student videos to show how BC social life differs from University of Massachusetts-Lowell.
Check here.
Check here.