Revamped Wall Street Journal Higher Education Rankings Measure Student Outcomes
UMass Lowell ranks prominently among the nation's top universities, according to a new survey by the Wall Street Journal.
09/07/2023
Media Contacts: Emily Gowdey-Backus, director of media relations, Nancy Cicco, assistant director of media relations
UMass Lowell has been named the No. 1 public school in Massachusetts in the 2024 Wall Street Journal Best Colleges in the United States ranking and No. 10 among all Massachusetts schools.
At No. 10 among those ranked in the Bay State, UMass Lowell sits among the Commonwealth’s top-tier universities according to the findings. Out of 400 universities the Wall Street Journal ranked across the United States based on student outcomes, learning environment and diversity, UMass Lowell is listed at No. 53 among national public universities and No. 137 overall.
“The Wall Street Journal’s metrics – student outcomes, learning environments and diversity – directly measure student success during and after they earn their degree,” said UMass Lowell Provost Joe Hartman. “A college degree is an investment in your future and for UMass Lowell students and alumni, the Wall Street Journal rankings are one more proof point of what they experience every day.”
Among the results, the Wall Street Journal pegs the value of UMass Lowell students’ return on their investment as more than $35,000 higher compared to the salary impact of a similar college or university.
The ranking also echoes other ROI data demonstrating the value of a UMass Lowell education, including recent rankings by payscale.com:
- No. 1 in New England for return on investment among public universities
- No. 1 for 20-year return on investment among public universities
- No. 1 for mid-career salary among New England public universities
UMass Lowell’s continued focus on guaranteeing paid career-connected experiences for all students is a key factor in achieving these results.
“It’s not just the excellent education we provide UMass Lowell students that prepares them for success in their next chapter,” said Chancellor Julie Chen, who announced in April that incoming students would be guaranteed a paid career-connected experience. “Just as important is helping students apply that classroom knowledge to a professional setting and creating student outcomes that make our alumni highly sought by employers.”