<p>UMass Lowell has the #2 program in Criminal Justice in Massachusetts (Northeastern is first). My son lives on campus and has made GREAT friends. The kids all help each other out. At first he used to come home every few weeks but towards the end of his first semester we didn’t see him at all. At the end of the first semester he actually stayed 2 days past his last final because one of his friends was having a birthday and no one wanted him to be there alone with nothing but a final on that day. So a group of kids all stayed to help him celebrate. He made such good friends that they hung out over the winter break. As BeanTownGirl said Lowell is no California but they do have new dorms, classrooms & other buildings opening. He was accepted into UMass Amherst and chose not to go because it is HUGE and in the middle of no where. He was also accepted into Northeastern with a 1/2 scholarship but intends on attending grad school and didn’t want to spend $$$ with more school still ahead. It is a 1/2 hour train ride into Boston and although kids go into UMass Lowell with the intent on getting into Boston they are having such a good time there it rarely happens.</p>