University Praised for its Leadership, Diversity and Innovation in Annual Survey
Image by Henry Marte 11/05/2026
Media Contacts: Nancy Cicco, associate director of media relations, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu and David Joyner, executive director of communications and digital media, David_Joyner@uml.edu
LOWELL, Mass. – For the 10th consecutive year, UMass Lowell has been named one of the Bay State’s most successful organizations led by a woman.
The university ranks second among colleges and universities in Massachusetts and No. 22 overall, according to The Women’s Edge, a nonprofit organization that connects, supports and advances women business leaders. The list includes businesses and nonprofits in health care, financial services, human services, retail, real estate, law and more. The 100 companies represent combined revenue and operating budgets of more than $164 billion, according to the Women’s Edge.
“We’re grateful for this recognition, which reflects the dedication and talent of our faculty, staff and students,” said UMass Lowell Chancellor Julie Chen. “UMass Lowell is committed to providing students with a rigorous, accessible education and a strong return on investment, while advancing pioneering research as an R1 institution and expanding career-connected opportunities. Through initiatives such as the Lowell Innovation Network Corridor, we are also strengthening partnerships with the city and industry to create new opportunities for our students and contribute to the commonwealth’s growth.”
To determine the rankings, The Women’s Edge considers the size of each organization’s operating budget and Massachusetts workforce, its workplace and management diversity, as well as its innovative projects. The rankings also considered the percentage of women in upper management positions. Here, UMass Lowell is counted among companies where 70% to 79% of positions at the vice president level or higher are held by women.
Results were announced Friday, Oct. 30, at a celebratory breakfast at Boston Marriott Copley Place. The list, which is compiled in partnership with The Boston Globe, is featured in the Globe magazine’s annual “Women & Power” edition.
The Women’s Edge rankings dovetail with results released by U.S. News & World Report earlier this fall. For the second consecutive year, the media outlet named UMass Lowell the state’s top public university in on its “Best Value Schools” list, part of its 2027 Best Colleges edition, which evaluates institutions across the country. UMass Lowell ranked No. 11 overall in Massachusetts and No. 148 in the country among top higher-education institutions defined as national universities; No. 5 in the state for “Best Social Mobility” in enrolling and graduating students of exceptional financial need who are attending college with the assistance of federal Pell Grants; and No. 2 in Massachusetts among “Best Colleges for Veterans.