Business/Commerce (Bachelor's Degree) at University of Massachusetts-Lowell

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$50,848

Est. from MA median (8 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$26,000

Est. from MA median (3 programs)

Analysis

A $26,000 debt load to start your career at roughly $51,000 represents manageable numbers for a business degree, though these figures come from comparable Massachusetts business programs rather than UMass Lowell's specific outcomes. The half-to-one debt-to-earnings ratio suggests graduates could reasonably pay down their loans while building early career momentum—a solid foundation if these estimates hold true for this program.

What complicates the picture is where UMass Lowell sits in the Massachusetts business school landscape. The state's top-performing programs show a wide spread, from Northeastern's $75,000 starting salaries down to mid-$50,000 ranges at regional state universities. Similar Massachusetts programs suggest earnings around the state median, which would place UMass Lowell graduates in the middle of this pack—competitive with peer regional universities but well below the premium private options.

For an anxious parent, the question becomes whether UMass Lowell's business program performs closer to the $59,000 outcomes at UMass Dartmouth or the $51,000 range at similar state schools. The estimated debt is manageable either way, but without actual graduate data for this specific program, you're betting on peer performance. Connect with the career services office and ask for placement details—where graduates actually land jobs and at what salaries—before committing. The fundamentals look reasonable, but verify before you invest.

Where University of Massachusetts-Lowell Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all business/commerce bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Massachusetts

Business/Commerce bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Massachusetts (16 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
University of Massachusetts-LowellLowell	$16,570	$50,848*	—	$26,000*	—
Northeastern UniversityBoston	$63,141	$74,868*	$91,376	$24,000*	0.32
University of Massachusetts-DartmouthNorth Dartmouth	$15,208	$59,287*	—	$24,973*	0.42
Brandeis UniversityWaltham	$64,946	$55,806*	$78,672	$26,000*	0.47
Western New England UniversitySpringfield	$46,430	$50,921*	—	—*	—
Framingham State UniversityFramingham	$11,630	$50,775*	$50,799	$26,000*	0.51
National Median	—	$47,506*	—	$26,000*	0.55

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with business/commerce graduates

Sales Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.

$138,060/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Industrial Production Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the work activities and resources necessary for manufacturing products in accordance with cost, quality, and quantity specifications.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Quality Control Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate quality assurance programs. Formulate quality control policies and control quality of laboratory and production efforts.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Geothermal Production Managers

Manage operations at geothermal power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor geothermal plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biofuels Production Managers

Manage biofuels production and plant operations. Collect and process information on plant production and performance, diagnose problems, and design corrective procedures.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biomass Power Plant Managers

Manage operations at biomass power generation facilities. Direct work activities at plant, including supervision of operations and maintenance staff.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Hydroelectric Production Managers

Manage operations at hydroelectric power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor hydroelectric plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Construction Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate, usually through subordinate supervisory personnel, activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities, and systems. Participate in the conceptual development of a construction project and oversee its organization, scheduling, budgeting, and implementation. Includes managers in specialized construction fields, such as carpentry or plumbing.

$106,980/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Administrative Services Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate one or more administrative services of an organization, such as records and information management, mail distribution, and other office support services.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Facilities Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate operations and functionalities of facilities and buildings. May include surrounding grounds or multiple facilities of an organization's campus.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Security Managers

Direct an organization's security functions, including physical security and safety of employees and facilities.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Executives

Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At University of Massachusetts-Lowell, approximately 27% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 8 similar programs in MA. Actual outcomes may vary.