Making Education More Accessible and Affordable is the Heart of UMass Lowell's mission.
Long before online education became mainstream, UMass Lowell was building high-quality online programs grounded in academic rigor, faculty engagement and real-world relevance.
Our online programs were created for people balancing school with work, family, military service, career changes and life's unexpected turns. Over the years, our online programs, which are ranked as some of the best in the country, have opened doors for students across the country and around the world.
From the beginning, our approach has been different: online students learn from the same expert faculty, meet the same academic standards and earn the same respected UMass Lowell degree as students studying on campus.
30 Years, Thousands of Stories
Every online student has a story. Some complete their degrees while working full-time. Some study across time zones. Some return to school after years away. But they all bring their UMass Lowell education into their communities and to their careers, in boardrooms, laboratories, startups and classrooms around the world.
Featured Riverhawks
From Montana to Commencement
Online bachelor's student Abby Koljonen drove more than 2,300 miles from Montana to walk at Commencement after earning a 4.0 GPA and the Chancellor's Medal for Academic Achievement.
A Global MBA Journey
Graduates from UMass Lowell's online MBA partnership with Abitus in Japan traveled nearly 7,000 miles to celebrate their degrees at Commencement.
Read more about the 7,000 journey.
Research With Real-World Impact
Online MBA student Teri Leavens co-authored research on recruiting and retaining working parents that appeared in MIT Sloan Management Review.
Read more about Teri Leavens.
Family, Motivation and Momentum
Atta Meer and Khadija Mir, a father-daughter duo, completed business degrees online together, turning family study sessions into shared academic milestones.
Read more about Atta Meer and Khadija Mir.
Innovation That Saves Lives
Online MBA student Diego King co-developed barReleeze, a life-saving window release device that won first place at UMass Lowell's Engineering Prototyping Competition.
Read more about Diego King.
Learning From Anywhere
Parisa Raad '26 pursued a business degree online while working and driving for a rideshare service, and expanded her education through a study-abroad experience in Belfast.
Read more about Parisa Raad.The UMass Lowell Online Difference
What Hasn't Changed in 30 Years
Technology has changed (thank goodness since we started with dial- up modems!). Student needs have evolved. We've expanded our online offerings and added new programs. But UMass Lowell's commitment to provide accessible, affordable online education with the academic quality of a respected public research university has remained constant.
Quality
Online courses are taught by UMass Lowell faculty and held to the same academic standards as on-campus courses.
Flexibility
Programs are designed for students balancing education with work, family and other responsibilities.
Momentum
Students gain credentials, knowledge and confidence they can apply directly to their careers.