How UMass Lowell is becoming America’s Most Affordable University

What Is UMass Lowell?

As the name suggests, UMass Lowell is a public university in Lowell, Massachusetts that belongs to the University of Massachusetts system. It has risen from humble beginnings to become one of the most respected institutions in the state, and in recent times, it has been rising higher still by making its programs more and more accessible to its students. So much so that UMass Lowell can be considered one of the most affordable universities not just in Massachusetts but also throughout the rest of the United States.

Humble Beginnings

Before it became the University of Massachusetts Lowell by entering the University of Massachusetts system in 1991, UMass Lowell was the University of Lowell, which had come about as the result of a merger between two institutions, Lowell State College, and Lowell Technological Institute, in 1975.

The first had been founded as a teacher training institution for women, but as time passed, its curriculum became broader and broader to produce teachers with a wider skill set than ever before.

In contrast, the second had been founded as the Lowell Textile School, which trained both managers and technicians for local textile factories.  As the New England textile industry declined after World War II, the school had to shift its focus to remain viable.

Based on these facts, it is clear that their merger was a natural consequence of the changing times, which saw the two institutions combining to form a single whole that was more than the sum of its parts.

What Would You Like to Study?

UMass Lowell offers its diverse students a wide range of programs.  Here are some stand-out examples:

• Given its roots, it should come as no surprise to learn that UMass Lowell retains an excellent business program for undergraduates, which encompass a general coverage of relevant topics as well as more specialized sub-streams that focus on particular topics such as accounting, management, and marketing.
• Likewise, UMass Lowell has plenty for those who are interested in more technical fields. For example, it boasts biological engineering and chemical engineering programs for those with a passion for the practical applications of the sciences, as well as even more specialized programs such as computer engineering, nuclear engineering, and biomedical engineering for those who have already figured out their life paths.
• Of course, UMass Lowell also has an excellent selection of arts and humanities for undergraduates who want to pursue careers in that direction. This can be seen in examples that range from a philosophy program that encourages its students to improve their communication as well as their critical thinking to a comprehensive examination of the factors that contribute to war and peace.
• Naturally, graduate-level counterparts to these programs can be found throughout UMass Lowell’s curriculum. However, the most interesting examples are the profusion of Masters programs focused on the various aspects of education, whether that means teaching mathematics and science to students or teaching a diverse set of students with a diverse set of learning needs and challenges. With these, UMass Lowell shows that it has remained true to the rest of its roots as well.
• Finally, it is worth mentioning that UMass Lowell has online courses for those who are interested in education but cannot make it onto the actual campus. Although they are more limited in selection, they are nonetheless a reliable way for interested individuals to get an education with the least amount of inconvenience possible.

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