Reserved Placement Program FAQ

More students apply for fall entry than we can accommodate. We wanted to create a seamless pathway for more students to choose UMass Lowell. If you see yourself at UMass Lowell, this program is perfect for you.

No. This is an offer of admission, contingent on students completing a minimum of 12 transferable credits with a minimum GPA of 2.500. Students on our waitlist have not received an offer of admission. There is no guarantee they will receive one.

You can, and plenty of students do. Enrolling through the Reserved Placement Program has several advantages:

• You will not have to reapply for admission to UMass Lowell. Students who meet the requirements of the RPP will be guaranteed entry after a minimum of one semester.
• UMass Lowell will provide academic advising at no cost to you. A dedicated UMass Lowell transfer counselor will work with you to be sure you are taking the correct courses.
• We will regard you as our student from day one. You will have the ability to obtain a UMass Lowell ID card, attend our January orientation, have a UMass Lowell transfer counselor advise you throughout the program, and be welcome to attend UMass Lowell sports games and events.

RPP will lower your costs. When you are enrolled at the community college, you will pay the tuition rates for that community college. When you transfer to UMass Lowell, you will pay UMass Lowell tuition rates.

Students who live on campus will pay UMass Lowell’s Housing and Food Plan Costs.

RPP lasts for up to one academic year; however, RPP students can remain at their community college to take advantage of Mass Transfer benefits. They will need to re-apply as a transfer student when they decide to enroll at UMass Lowell.

For continued enrollment in RPP (and housing), students must have a GPA of at least 2.000 after one year. Students who do not maintain the minimum academic requirements will be removed from RPP and housing (as applicable) and will be advised by a transfer counselor on next steps.

Middlesex Community College is our primary partner for the Reserved Placement Program. They offer a specific orientation for the Reserved Placement Program, a program coordinator and students are able to live at UMass Lowell while completing their courses at Middlesex Community College.

RPP Students can also enroll at any community college and transition to UMass Lowell (after meeting the requirements of the program). Students will need to complete the application for the community college of their choice and follow the same enrollment process as any new community college student.

The RPP Coordinator at UMass Lowell can provide students with a list of courses that need to be completed at their community college of choice to be eligible to transition to UMass Lowell.

RPP students have enrolled at:

• Bunker Hill Community College
• Mass Bay Community College
• Middlesex Community College
• North Shore Community College
• Northern Essex Community College
• Quinsigamond Community College
• Roxbury Community College

Maybe. Some community colleges in Massachusetts require placement tests and some do not. You will be notified directly by your selected community college of any needed placement tests.

For 2024-2025, this program is offered for students who will enroll in majors within the Manning School of Business; the College of Fine Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (excluding Education majors); the Francis College of Engineering; and the Kennedy College of Sciences.

Students in the program are admitted into one of the majors they applied to. If a student is interested in pursuing a different major at UMass Lowell, please speak with our RPP Coordinator who can help you plan your pathway to one of those majors.

Please note that that students interested in selecting a major within the Francis College of Engineering and the Kennedy College of Sciences will need to demonstrate appropriate math and science preparation.

RPP is designed to support the transition of students to any of our majors in the College of Fine Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences; the Manning School of Business; the Francis College of Engineering; and the Kennedy College of Sciences. If you are interested in pursuing a major in another college at UMass Lowell, please speak with our RPP Coordinator who can help you plan your pathway to one of those majors.

Please send official college transcripts and official AP score reports to both UMass Lowell and your selected community college. We want to make sure to give you credit for the work you’ve already completed.

Students accepted into RPP can apply to live at UMass Lowell as part of the MCC cohort. Students can review deadlines and information on the housing contract.

Joining the Middlesex Community College Reserved Placement Program (MCC2UML) Living-Learning Community is a great way to live in a residence hall alongside other UMass Lowell students and participate in community-building programs that work to help balance an academic and social life. MCC2UML students can select to live in any UMass Lowell residence hall and will register for a course instructed by a member of the UMass Lowell Residence Life staff.

UMass Lowell does not provide transportation to Middlesex Community College. Students living at UMass Lowell can take advantage of the Lowell Regional Transit Authority (LRTA) buses to travel to Middlesex Community College at no cost – just present your student ID.

MCC2UML also has a dedicated faculty/staff member who provides mentorship beyond the classroom, runs programs and day trips dedicated to career development and assists with the transition to college.

As an RPP student living on campus and attending Middlesex Community College, you are entitled to many of the benefits that our UMass Lowell students have. You can use the libraries, the Wellness Center and the Campus Recreation Center. You can eat in the university dining halls, can get involved with many UMass Lowell student organizations and enjoy any of our athletic events for free.

RPP students can’t participate in any varsity or club athletic programs.

Most on-campus work at UMass Lowell or at any community college is through federal work-study, which will be awarded in your financial aid package. When you are a student at your selected community college, you may be able to secure work-study on that campus. When you transfer to UMass Lowell, you may be able to secure a work-study job on our campus.

Please contact Transfer Admissions by email: Transfer@uml.edu or phone: 978-934-3931.

To register, please fill out the Reserved Placement Program Registration form. Please note that you will need to complete a separate application for the community college of your choice. If you have any questions, please contact Transfer admissions by email at Transfer@uml.edu or phone at 978-934-3931.