Your Financial Aid Eligibility
Eligibility for financial aid begins with filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
You must file the FAFSA every year online at the Federal Student Aid website beginning October 1 of each year.
Determining Your Financial Need
Financial aid is available to help you pay for college. We use the Cost of Attendance (COA) and Expected Family Contribution (EFC) to determine the amount and types of aid you may be eligible for.
Cost of Attendance (COA) is the estimated amount it should cost you to attend UMass Lowell for one academic year. COA is based on residency status, career level, and whether the student will be living on-campus, off-campus or commuting. COA includes both direct and indirect costs.
Find your COA online based on your career.
Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is an estimate of the amount of money you (and your parents, if you are dependent) could reasonably contribute toward college costs. Your EFC is calculated by the Department of Education using the financial information entered on the FAFSA.
Demonstrated Financial Need is calculated by subtracting the EFC from the COA.
Example:
Cost of Attendance (COA) — Expected Family Contribution (EFC) = Demonstrated Financial Need (Need)
Your Cost of Attendance (COA)
- Direct Costs: These are the charges you will see on your student bill. Direct costs may include tuition, fees, on-campus housing and food.
- Indirect Costs: These are estimates of other expenses you may have while attending the university. Indirect costs may include books, off-campus housing and transportation.
| Direct Costs – Undergraduate (Based on 12 credits/semester) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | In State | Out of State | NE Regional |
| Commuter Student | $16,570 | $35,396 | $29,010 |
| On-campus Student | $31,994 | $50,820 | $44,434 |
Find information on tuition costs for Graduate, Online and Professional Studies.
Figures shown are actual 2023-2024 costs. Find more information on tuition and fees.
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Terms & Conditions
Financial aid applicants must meet the following key criteria to receive most types of financial aid:
- Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment into a degree granting or approved certificate program. Students enrolled in non-degree programs are not eligible for financial aid.
- Be matriculated in at least 6 credits per semester (some grants require full-time enrollment).
- Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or eligible non-citizen as defined by the federal government.
- Have a valid Social Security Number.
- Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward degree completion.
- Not be in default or owe money on a federal or state student loan.
- Have a high school diploma, a General Education Development (GED) certificate, or have completed a high school education in a home school setting that is treated as a home school or private school under state law.