<p>Personally, I can’t imagine someone from California coming all the way out here for UMass Lowell. First, it isn’t even our state flagship university (UMass Amherst is), and is neither in a bucolic leafy college town nor is it in Boston (a great city for college students).
UML is a great choice for kids in this area since they have some very strong programs, great connections with local businesses (for internships/co-ops/research, and to help with program funding), and they offer merit scholarships to top students (to lure them away from UMass Amherst or private schools).
But Lowell is an old mill city and even though it has undergone some huge improvements over the past 10 years or so (some of which are tied to UML expansion and improvements) I don’t see it as a place I would leave California for. Certainly not without a visit! Don’t get me wrong, I know students at UML and I know many adults who have chosen Lowell as their home. It’s just not some idyllic campus or college town.
The campus is relatively safe for an urban campus, but also note the campus is not one cohesive campus. There is the North campus (north of the river) which houses science and engineering departments (and others? not sure) while many other academic departments are in the south campus. There are new dorms and academic buildings (and more underway), and their sports have moved up to Division 1. For an idea of the many new buildings and other improvements currently underway [Department</a> of Facilities Management](<a href=“http://www.uml.edu/Facilities/Capital-Improvements/default.aspx]Department”>http://www.uml.edu/Facilities/Capital-Improvements/default.aspx)
I think UML is a great value for local students, and **could **also be for OOS students as long as they know what they are getting. Some more info…
[About</a> the City of Lowell](<a href=“http://www.uml.edu/About/about-lowell/default.aspx]About”>About Lowell | UMass Lowell)
<a href=“http://www.wrrb.org/files/downloads/events/2012/baacke-lowell-may-2012.pdf[/url]”>http://www.wrrb.org/files/downloads/events/2012/baacke-lowell-may-2012.pdf</a>
[UMass</a> Lowell’s Reputation Rising | Chronicle - WCVB Home](<a href=“http://www.wcvb.com/chronicle/umass-lowells-reputation-rising/-/12523032/23059494/-/r5n9t6z/-/index.html]UMass”>UMass Lowell's Reputation Rising)
<a href=“http://www.wcvb.com/chronicle/really-there-is-a-lot-to-like-about-lowell/-/12523032/23059476/-/12io48mz/-/index.html[/url]”>http://www.wcvb.com/chronicle/really-there-is-a-lot-to-like-about-lowell/-/12523032/23059476/-/12io48mz/-/index.html</a>
[Art</a> renaissance building in Lowell - The Boston Globe](<a href=“http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2012/08/16/art_renaissance_building_in_lowell/]Art”>http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2012/08/16/art_renaissance_building_in_lowell/)</p>