The University of Massachusetts Lowell (UMass Lowell) was founded in 1894 and is a public research university located in Lowell, Massachusetts. The campus is situated along the Merrimack River in the center of Lowell, a city with a unique character. It is part of the University of Massachusetts system and is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. It is the largest university in the Merrimack Valley and the second-largest public institution in the state of Massachusetts.

UMass Lowell comprises six colleges: the Manning School of Business, the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences, the College of Sciences, the Francis College of Engineering, the College of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, the Kennedy College of Sciences, and the College of Education. The university offers over 122 undergraduate programs, 43 master's programs, and 36 doctoral programs, including nationally recognized programs in engineering, criminal justice, education, music, sciences, and technology.

The most popular programs at UMass Lowell include: Business, Management, Marketing and related support services; Engineering; Health Professions and related programs; Computer and Information Sciences and related services; Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and related protective services. The student population is approximately 17,000, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 17:1. The university follows a semester-based academic calendar, with an acceptance rate of 60%.

According to U.S. News & World Report, UMass Lowell’s Graduate Education School is ranked 103rd in the U.S. It is one of the few universities in the U.S. offering bachelor’s degrees in Plastic Engineering, Sound Recording, Meteorology, and Nuclear Engineering. In the U.S. News & World Report, UMass Lowell is ranked second among public universities in Massachusetts and 78th among top public universities nationwide.

Notable alumni include: Bonnie Comley (Broadway and Film Producer), Eunice Alberts (Opera and Concert Singer), Richard Farrell (Author, Film Producer, Teacher, and Journalist), and Jack Weinstein (U.S. Air Force Major General).