For the second time in two years, The Wall Street Journal has named UMass Lowell the No. 1 public university in the Bay State. The ranking, included in the WSJ/College Pulse 2026 Best Colleges report, comes on the heels of other accolades to the university issued by U.S. News & World Report and other institutions.
U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 national rankings of top colleges and universities again this year give high marks to UMass Lowell for the education and economic value it provides to students.
Political Science Professor Ardeth Thawnghmung, an internationally recognized scholar of Myanmar politics and a community leader, is UMass Lowell’s 2025 Distinguished University Professor.
UMass Lowell has partnered with tech manufacturer WolfVision to launch the nation’s first Technology Enhanced Active Learning (TEAL) Faculty Certification Program, helping instructors create more engaging, student-centered classrooms.
Brothers Caleb ’26 and Josiah Gennell ’22, ’24 turned a pandemic workout routine into The Natty Bros, a growing YouTube brand and live-event series that’s promoting professional arm wrestling across New England.
River Hawk Racing President Thomas Warren designed precision robotics for semiconductor manufacturing during a pair of summer internships at Brooks Automation.
Rena McFall led student organizations and gained national and international experience in Washington, D.C., preparing for a future career in international law.
