How to Apply to Engineering at UMass Lowell: Nine B.S.E. Programs in the Francis College of Engineering, Eight with ABET Accreditation, and Why Changing Majors After the First Sophomore Semester Can Add Time, for Domestic and International (Including Chinese) Applicants and Transfer Students

At the University of Massachusetts Lowell (UMass Lowell), undergraduate engineering is offered by the James B. Francis College of Engineering. Based on UMass Lowell’s website, this guide is organised for U.S. domestic applicants, international applicants, applicants from China and transfer students. Computer science sits in the Kennedy College of Sciences at UMass Lowell and has its own guide on this site, so it is not covered here.

1. Majors and accreditation

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering (B.S.E.): biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, environmental, industrial, mechanical and plastics engineering; chemical engineering also has a nuclear engineering option.
• Engineering technology: B.S. programs in electronic and mechanical engineering technology (a mix of on-campus and online courses), plus associate degrees with the same names.
• ABET accreditation (university accreditation page): biomedical, chemical, chemical (nuclear option), civil, computer, electrical, environmental, mechanical and plastics engineering are accredited by ABET’s Engineering Accreditation Commission; the electronic and mechanical engineering technology B.S. programs are accredited by ABET’s Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission. Industrial engineering is not listed on that page; ask the department about its status.
• Example curriculum: mechanical engineering (fall 2026 entry onwards) requires at least 121 credits, with at least 63 in the major. First-year fall includes Chemistry I with lab and Calculus I; spring includes Calculus II, Physics I with lab and Introduction to Engineering Design. From sophomore year students take statics, strength of materials, dynamics and thermodynamics, and several major courses need a C- or better before the next course in the sequence.
• Co-op: the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering department runs a co-op program, and UMass Lowell guarantees every first-time, first-year student the opportunity to pursue at least one Career Connected Experience (internship, co-op and more).

2. Admission and changing majors

• Admission by major: the engineering and admissions pages we read do not say whether students are admitted directly to a specific engineering major, whether there is an undeclared engineering option, or whether engineering has its own admission threshold. Ask Admissions (admissions@uml.edu) or the college (engineering@uml.edu).
• Changing programs within engineering: the catalog says engineering students follow the university procedure for a change of major within the college; those who change after the first semester of sophomore year should expect extra credits beyond the minimum and a longer period of study.
• Transferring in from another UMass Lowell college: qualified students may move into engineering programs using the same procedure, again with a likely longer path, especially after the first sophomore semester. The engineering pages do not state a grade threshold.

3. High school courses and deadlines

• High school courses (university-wide): 4 English; 4 math (algebra I and II and geometry or trigonometry, or comparable), including math in the final year; 3 sciences, all with lab; 2 social sciences (including 1 U.S. history); 2 of one foreign language; 2 electives. UMass Lowell strongly recommends four years of science for students interested in math, science or engineering.
• First-year deadlines (no year shown): Early Action I November 5, Early Action II January 15, Regular Decision February 15; spring priority deadline January 7.
• Application fee: $70, non-refundable; apply through the Common App or the UMass Lowell application.
• Testing: a No Test option is available. The fall 2026 first-year profile shows an average GPA of 3.795, SAT 1316 and ACT 27, with 69% of applicants choosing not to submit tests.

4. U.S. domestic applicants

• Tuition (2026-2027 estimates, full-time on campus): tuition is $17,402 in-state and $36,610 out-of-state; the Regional Tuition Program (permanent address in New England, New Jersey, New York or Pennsylvania) is $28,158. Mandatory fees are $850, housing about $11,402 and food $6,080, for totals of $35,734 in-state, $54,942 out-of-state and $46,490 regional. The tuition page does not list any extra engineering charge.
• Review: first-year applicants are evaluated against standards set by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education and the university; applicants who do not meet them but seem a good match are reviewed individually.
• Scholarships: first-year merit scholarships are decided at admission with no separate application; eligible students are notified with their offer.

5. International applicants

• Deadlines: international first-year and transfer applicants apply by July 25 for fall. Spring dates differ: the deadlines page says December 12, while the international undergraduate page says December 1 for first-year and January 7 for transfer applicants. UMass Lowell advises starting at least 12 months ahead.
• Materials: secondary school transcripts (with graduation or leaving exam results; non-English documents professionally translated and notarised), SAT or ACT (or the No Test option), one essay (250–650 words), one recommendation and English results.
• English: Duolingo 110, IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 79, PTE (first-year) 61. Waivers apply for a school letter confirming English-medium instruction, IB, American schools and Cambridge International (IGCSE/O-level and A-level); citizens of Canada (except Quebec) are exempt.
• Costs: 2026-2027 international tuition is $36,610 with $5,467 in mandatory fees (activity, technology, international and health insurance), plus housing and food as above, an estimated total of $59,559.
• Scholarships: first-year merit scholarships are decided at admission; international students are not eligible for U.S. federal aid.

6. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the international page asks for secondary school transcripts and graduation or leaving exam results but does not say how the Gaokao is used or what score is needed. Ask Admissions (admissions@uml.edu).
• Documents: transcripts should come directly from the school or education authority, and Chinese documents need professional translation and notarisation.
• International curricula: A-level and IB students may be exempt from English tests; IB higher-level and qualifying AP results can earn credit, with up to 30 credits from external exams. No Gaokao, A-level or IB admission scores are published.

7. Transfer students

• Deadlines: fall July 25, spring December 12 (priority deadlines for domestic transfers).
• Materials: official transcripts from every institution attended; foreign transcripts need a WES course-by-course evaluation with course descriptions (translated and notarised); students with fewer than 24 college credits also send high school transcripts.
• Credit: departments decide transfer credit, and not all credit is guaranteed to transfer. The engineering pages do not list separate calculus or physics prerequisites for transfer applicants; use the degree pathway (Chemistry I, Calculus I and II, Physics I in year one) as a guide and confirm with the department.

Checklist

U.S. domestic applicants:

• Take 4 years of math (including senior year) and 3 lab sciences; aim for 4 years of science for engineering
• Apply by Early Action November 5 or January 15, or Regular Decision February 15; testing is optional
• Students from New England, New York, New Jersey or Pennsylvania should check the Regional Tuition Program

International applicants (including China):

• Complete your application by July 25 for fall; prepare IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 79 or Duolingo 110, or check the IB/A-level waiver
• Have Chinese transcripts and diplomas translated and notarised; ask Admissions how the Gaokao is used

Transfer students:

• Get a WES course-by-course evaluation for foreign transcripts; confirm with the engineering department how your calculus, physics and chemistry credits apply

Sources: UMass Lowell, Engineering undergraduate majors; Mechanical Engineering major and degree pathway; Accreditation and professional memberships; Change of program, engineering; Deadlines and fees; Academic requirements and admitted profile; International undergraduate requirements; Transfer application package; Undergraduate tuition and fees; International student scholarships. Deadline pages do not state a year, and costs are 2026-2027 estimates. Check UMass Lowell for the latest details.