Mission: The mission of the University of Massachusetts Lowell is to provide to students an affordable education of high quality and to focus some of its scholarship and public service on assisting sustainable regional economic and social development.

Overview: Located in the historic industrial city of Lowell, 25 miles northwest of Boston, the campus spans more than 125 acres along the Merrimack River. More than 12,000 resident and commuter students of all backgrounds pursue bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees as well as professional certificates in the arts, humanities and sciences; education; engineering; health and environment; and management.

History: For more than a century, the University of Massachusetts Lowell has been educating students to work in the real-world, solve real problems and help real people. The University began as the Lowell Normal School, founded in 1894 to prepare students to become teachers, and the Lowell Textile School, founded in 1895 to train technicians and managers for the textile industry. Over the next 75 years, both institutions extended their offerings to meet the growing needs of the region. Lowell State and Lowell Tech, as they were then known, merged in 1975 to form the University of Lowell. In 1991, the campus became part of the University of Massachusetts system.