


UMass Lowell competes in NCAA Division I varsity athletics. Its River Hawks teams compete primarily in America East, while men's ice hockey competes in Hockey East. Varsity offerings include sports such as basketball, soccer, baseball, softball, field hockey, and track and field.
Varsity participation involves team selection and conference competition. Students seeking a less specialized commitment can look into club sports, intramurals, and campus recreation, whose offerings and schedules may change by term. A sport appearing among recreational opportunities should not be mistaken for a varsity team; in particular, UMass Lowell does not field a varsity football program.
UMass Lowell has student organizations spanning academic interests, cultural communities, faith, arts, events, and recreation. Examples include the Association of Campus Events, the Associated Students of African Origin, the Muslim Students Association, and Christian Student Fellowship. Fraternity and sorority life is another involvement option.
Student government and professional or major-related groups offer different kinds of participation from social clubs: one may focus on representation and campus issues, while another organizes speakers or field-specific activities. An engagement fair and the current student-organization directory are useful ways to distinguish active, recognized groups from organizations that operated in a previous year.
UMass Lowell enrolls about 16,598 students across its undergraduate and graduate programs. A reported entering cohort included 2,068 first-time degree-seeking students, while 1,067 degree-seeking undergraduates entered as transfers - an indication that transfer pathways are a substantial part of enrollment.
The reported geographic breakdown for the measured student group was predominantly Massachusetts-based, at 88%. Enrollment counts also include students identifying as Hispanic or Latino, Black or African American, Asian, White, and two or more races. These figures describe enrollment, not the experiences or views of individuals within any group. With a reported student-to-faculty ratio of 17 to 1, class size will still vary considerably between introductory lectures, labs, and advanced seminars.
Student life at UMass Lowell combines a residential campus with a sizable commuter population. About 40% of students are reported to live on campus and 60% to commute, so participation in evening activities may depend on transportation and scheduling as much as interest.
Students can connect through campus events, performing arts, a student newspaper, radio, recreation, and community activities. Health services and personal counseling are available, as are support offices serving groups including veterans. For a new student, orientation, campus events, and shared study spaces may be especially useful ways to learn a university spread across several campus areas.
UMass Lowell students can use campus libraries for study space, research help, and access to academic materials. O'Leary Library and Learning Commons serves South Campus, while Lydon Library serves North Campus; specialized collections include resources documenting Lowell's history.
Library services include research assistance, electronic journals and databases, and reservable study rooms. Students working off campus should check authentication requirements for online resources, while those needing material the university does not hold can investigate borrowing or interlibrary-loan options. Library hours vary by building and term; students should not assume that study areas are open around the clock.
Total enrollment
16598Full Time Degree Seeking Freshmen
1999Member of Athletic Associations
NCAATotal staff
599 full time, 417 part timeVeterans affair office
YesVarsity teams compete against other colleges, intramural teams within the school. Each column says whether men, women or both take part, and whether the sport offers athletic scholarships (Aid).
Sport
Badminton
Baseball
Basketball
Cheerleading
Cross-country running
Equestrian sports
Field hockey
Golf
Ice hockey
Lacrosse
Rock climbing
Rugby
Soccer
Softball
Table tennis
Tennis
Track and field
Ultimate Frisbee
Volleyball
Data last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.