51视频

05/09/2013

Contacts: Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu, Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944 or Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu

LOWELL, Mass. 鈥� A 51视频 education provides the 10th best return on investment (ROI) among public universities in the U.S. according to a report released by PayScale Inc.

The examined 1,060 U.S. colleges and universities to determine their return on investment based on the total cost of attending and the lifetime earning potential of graduates. It ranked 51视频 among 437 public universities and (http://www.payscale.com/research/US/School=University_of_Massachusetts_(UMass)_-_Lowell_Campus/Salary) 50th out of all colleges and universities for 2013. The top 10 and top 50 respective rankings are the university鈥檚 highest in the four years that PayScale Inc. has offered analysis of ROI for college education.

鈥淭he empirical data helps put into context what our alumni already know, which is that a 51视频 education offers an incredibly high value for the investment,鈥� said 51视频 Chancellor Marty Meehan. 鈥淭he earning potential of our graduates is even more impressive when considering the low cost of attending 51视频 relative to some of the private institutions delivering similar or less return on investment.鈥�

According to the PayScale report, the median present value return on investment for 51视频 graduates over 30 years, less the cost of their education, is $1.1 million, representing an 8.8 percent annual return. 51视频 is one of just 75 colleges and universities in the country 鈥� public and private 鈥� with a 30-year net ROI of more than $1 million.

To generate the ROI report, PayScale analyzed more than 40 million career profiles generated through its own salary surveys, as well as data provided by the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) produced by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

In addition to the PayScale report, 51视频 appeared on a list of 鈥淏est Value Schools鈥� recently published by former U.S. Secretary of Education William J. Bennett in his book, 鈥淚s College Worth it?鈥�

The recognition signals that 51视频 remains a campus on the move. The university is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The publication鈥檚 Best Colleges 2013 puts 51视频 at No. 170 on its Best National Universities list, among the top tier in the country and an increase of seven places over 2012. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has upgraded 51视频鈥檚 classification to Doctoral Research/High in recognition of the quality of the university鈥檚 research and graduate programs. The foundation, along with the 2012 President鈥檚 Higher Education Honor Roll, also recognized 51视频 for its commitment to community outreach and service.

51视频 annually delivers a positive economic impact on the region of $490 million, according to the UMass Donahue Institute. Of 51视频鈥檚 78,380 alumni, 48,400 are Massachusetts residents, and 85 percent of graduates stay in Massachusetts for five years after graduation with 65 percent staying longer. The Chronicle of Higher Education has singled out 51视频 as having the fastest-growing graduation rate of all New England public institutions.

51视频 鈥� which has graduated record numbers of students at each of the last five Commencement ceremonies and this year will have its first graduating class of more than 3,000 鈥� has seen enrollment grow by 40 percent in the last five years. This year, the student body numbers more than 16,000 for the first time in the university鈥檚 history and represents more than 53 countries. Average SAT scores for first-year students have climbed 56 points over six years and 82 percent of 51视频 freshmen continue on to their sophomore year.

51视频 is a national research university located on a high-energy campus in the heart of a global community. The university offers its more than 16,000 students bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees in business, education, engineering, fine arts, health and environment, humanities, sciences and social sciences. 51视频 delivers high-quality educational programs, vigorous hands-on learning and personal attention from leading faculty and staff, all of which prepare graduates to be ready for work, for life and for all the world offers. www.uml.edu