Western Connecticut State University (WCSU) vs UMass Lowell

Western Connecticut State University and University of Massachusetts-Lowell, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Western Connecticut State University, nestled in Danbury, Connecticut, boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for aspiring students. In contrast, University of Massachusetts-Lowell, situated in Lowell, Massachusetts, attracts a more diverse student body, fostering a vibrant and inclusive campus community. While Western Connecticut State University excels in nursing and education programs, University of Massachusetts-Lowell shines in engineering and business disciplines. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details and discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
University of Massachusetts-Lowell logo

University of Massachusetts-Lowell

Western Connecticut State University logo

Western Connecticut State University

Overview

Location Lowell, Massachusetts Danbury, Connecticut
Campus setting Suburb: Large City: Small
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 82.0% 69.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 84.6% 84.9%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $60

Graduate: $50
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $50
SAT range 1170 - 1340 N/A
ACT range 25 - 32 N/A
Students submitting SAT score 26.0%
Students submitting ACT score 2.0%
Total number of applicants 12,493 4,688
Total number of admissions given out 10,565 3,978
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,907 733
Yield rate 18.1% 18.4%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $24,672

Out of state: $42,598
In state: $28,783

Out of state: $42,187
Average net price $13,227 $15,660
Tuition
In state: $15,078

Out of state: $33,004
In state: $6,162

Out of state: $18,436
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $8,500

Meal plan: $5,070
Room/dormitory: $8,020

Meal plan: $5,856
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

78.0%
Average amount $10,449
78.0%
Average amount $6,312
Students receiving federal student loan 59.0%
Average amount $5,148
58.0%
Average amount $7,417
Students taking out private loans 5.0%
Average amount $10,989
5.0%
Average amount $12,388

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 12,884
Men 58.6% Women 41.4%
4,172
Men 47.6% Women 52.4%
Graduate students 4,713
Men 53.7% Women 46.3%
630
Men 25.4% Women 74.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A 28.6%
International students 5.8% 0.4%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large City: Small
Dormitory capacity 4,787 1,315
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Mississippi New Hampshire New York New Jersey Pennsylvania Connecticut New York New Jersey Mississippi Maine

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Health Professions
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
  • Business
  • Psychology
  • Health Professions
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
  • Visual & Performing Arts
Students to faculty ratio 18:1 11:1
Institutional accreditation New England Commission on Higher Education New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 69.0% 52.9%
Dropout rate 28.0% 12.0%
Transferred out N/A 31.0%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $73,995
  • Year 2: $71,575
  • Year 3: $92,580
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $71,575
  • Year 3: $90,960
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $81,072
  • Year 2: $74,576
  • Year 3: $89,338
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $81,208
  • Year 2: $71,854
  • Year 3: $88,920
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $97,889
  • Year 2: $78,612
  • Year 3: $88,135
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,760
  • Year 2: $63,501
  • Year 3: $77,826
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,707
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $77,121
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,655
  • Year 2: $66,989
  • Year 3: $74,462
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,655
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $73,578
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,402
  • Year 2: $60,623
  • Year 3: $73,430
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $75,081
  • Year 2: $75,104
  • Year 3: $76,468
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,332
  • Year 2: $57,995
  • Year 3: $70,455
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $44,994
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $65,192
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $56,867
  • Year 3: $58,464
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,944
  • Year 2: $46,321
  • Year 3: $51,949
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,260
  • Year 2: $41,464
  • Year 3: $50,288
Student Counseling and Personnel Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,672
  • Year 2: $46,087
  • Year 3: $49,639
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,963
  • Year 2: $45,340
  • Year 3: $47,607
Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,029
  • Year 2: $41,441
  • Year 3: $44,462
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $32,205
  • Year 2: $35,877
  • Year 3: $43,291

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