Due to the rise in fraudulent applications, UMass Lowell has joined other universities in implementing an Applicant Identity Verification process using Stripe. This process requires access to a smartphone and identity documents such as a driver’s license or passport. The process should only take a few minutes to complete.

Identity Verification Process

Applicants must complete the Identity Verification Process after submitting their application to UMass Lowell. This is a required checklist item in the Admissions Applicant Portal and must be done in order to complete your application and move it to the review process.

  1. Click the Identity Verification link in your portal checklist to open the verification page.
  2. Once the “Start Verification” button is clicked, you will be directed to the Stripe-powered identity verification tool. Please note: you do not need to create a Stripe account to complete this step.
  3. You will be asked to follow the prompts by the Stripe identity verification tool on your mobile device. Stripe asks applicants to:
    • Take pictures of their identification document (driver's license, photo identification (ID) or passport);
    • Provide part of their government ID number, like the last four digits of a Social Security Number;
    • Take a selfie
  4. Stripe will verify the applicant's identification by comparing the card’s information (ID number, expiration and more) against government and third-party databases. It also confirms the physical object’s legitimacy, and can verify hundreds of document types from around the world. Identity verification validates the identities of individuals aged 16 or older. The selfie portion compares the subject to the photo on the ID and can detect digital layering techniques.

Multiple or Failed Attempts

Applicants who fail the identity verification process and require another chance should email the Admissions Office by email: admissions@uml.edu. Questions or concerns can also be sent to this email address.