Head-to-head comparison
University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs Worcester State University: which has better ROI?
Option A Lowell, MA
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
- Net price / year
- $17,163
- Earnings, 10 years
- $64,874
- Payback
- 4.2 yrs
Option B Worcester, MA
Worcester State University
- Net price / year
- $13,381
- Earnings, 10 years
- $60,624
- Payback
- 4.4 yrs
University of Massachusetts-Lowell has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $68,652 in 4.2 years versus 4.4 years at Worcester State University, on median earnings of $64,874 vs $60,624 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Massachusetts-Lowell | Worcester State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,163 | $13,381 |
| Total net cost | $68,652 | $53,524 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $64,874 | $60,624 |
| Median debt | $23,704 | $19,500 |
| Payback | 4.2 yrs | 4.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $261,628 | $191,756 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Massachusetts-Lowell or Worcester State University?
Worcester State University, at $13,381 a year after aid versus $17,163 — a gap of $3,782 a year, or $15,128 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do University of Massachusetts-Lowell or Worcester State University graduates earn more?
University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates report a median $64,874 ten years after entry, $4,250 more than the $60,624 at Worcester State University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, University of Massachusetts-Lowell or Worcester State University?
Worcester State University: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $23,704 at University of Massachusetts-Lowell, a difference of $4,204. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
65% of students finish at University of Massachusetts-Lowell, against 61% at Worcester State University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.