As a UML undergraduate, you can save time and money with the bachelor's-to-master's program.

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Advantages of B2M

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  • Count up to six credits of graduate-level courses taken as an undergraduate toward your bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees, saving time and money. Full-time, in-state students can potentially complete graduate school for under $20,000 鈥 not including financial aid or scholarships.
  • Earning the advanced degree can be more cost effective than earning a second bachelor鈥檚 degree via a double major.
  • Some bachelor鈥檚-to-master鈥檚 programs may be completed in as little as five years.
  • Application to transition is very simple. One letter of recommendation is all that is needed for most students who complete prerequisite courses (for most programs).
  • Continue studying in your undergraduate discipline, or transition to another field. Almost every undergraduate major tracks to multiple options for graduate study. Customizing a program is also an option for many students.
  • Work full time after completing your bachelor鈥檚 degree. Bachelor鈥檚-to-master鈥檚 students may delay entry into the master鈥檚 program for up to a year.
  • Learn more about completing your master's with our Bachelor's to Master's opportunities.

Undergraduates save time and money by transitioning into a UMass Lowell master鈥檚 program, and the process is seamless.聽

There is no need to take tests (except for education majors, who must take the MTEL), and there is no application process.聽

Tips for the smoothest transition are:

  • Get started by clicking on 鈥淟earn More鈥 on this page. Almost every undergraduate program has an option for double-counting coursework toward both the bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees. A bachelor鈥檚-to-master鈥檚 program coach can help.
  • As early as possible, identify a B2M pathway.
    • Current students: Want a master鈥檚 degree, but not sure which one? See the 鈥淏2M Paths鈥 tab on this page.
    • Incoming new undergraduates/undeclared majors: Want a specific master鈥檚 degree, and unsure how to get there? Explore undergraduate majors that easily track to it. See 鈥淏2M Paths鈥 tab on this page.
  • Once the undergraduate major is chosen:聽
    • Contact your undergraduate advisor, to map out the best pathway for a smooth transition to the master鈥檚 program. When to take necessary prerequisite courses, as well as which graduate-level courses to take during the undergraduate years, are among the considerations.聽
  • Request additional recommendation.聽The Graduate Program Coordinator may request additional recommendations to fully evaluate your bachelors to master鈥檚 application. If you are asked to submit an additional recommendation, .
  • In the 2nd through 4th undergraduate years:聽
    • Take the prerequisite undergraduate courses that are required for admission to your chosen graduate program.
    • Take the graduate courses that can double count toward both degrees.聽
  • In the 3rd undergraduate/junior year:
    • Obtain a letter of recommendation to the graduate program, from an undergraduate faculty member.
    • Submit the letter to the graduate admissions office who will review the undergraduate GPA, performance in required prerequisite courses, and the recommendation letter in making an admission decision. Other factors may also be considered.
    • Certain programs have additional requirements, notably education, which requires students to pass the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL) prior to graduate admission.聽
  • Admission decisions are within a number of weeks of submitting application, for those who鈥檝e followed the above timeline. The final undergraduate year of study is when students would typically be taking graduate courses, which would count toward the requirements for both the bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees.

  • Get the degree you will need. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 鈥渆mployment in master鈥檚-level occupations is projected to grow by almost 17 percent from 2016 to 2026, the fastest of any education level.鈥澛
  • Only 12% of Americans have a graduate degree: set yourself apart by being one of them. The New England region鈥檚 workforce has a high percentage of bachelor鈥檚 degree holders, and the 鈥渒nowledge economy鈥 rewards those who are more educated.

Students may be able to complete a bachelor鈥檚-to-master鈥檚 program in as little as five years. In-state students can save more than $5,000, while out-of-state/international students can save just over $9,000, based on the 2022 per-credit costs of a UMass Lowell master鈥檚 program.

High-achieving students may also be eligible for fellowships and other types of graduate school assistance.

For more information, visit聽Costs & Aid for Graduate Programs. Tuition and fees are set annually and are subject to change.

Many students have saved time and money by earning master鈥檚 degrees at UMass Lowell in their undergraduate field of study, or another field. Here are some of the popular pathways River Hawks have chosen to become double River Hawks. Contact us by clicking on the "Learn More" button on this page to explore these options, or other graduate program options, further.

Ways to Get to a Specific Grad Program

Want a specific master鈥檚 degree, and unsure how to get there? Multiple undergraduate majors will readily track to many graduate programs, via a bachelor鈥檚-to-master鈥檚 pathway. Do not hesitate to contact the graduate admissions office for assistance, by clicking on 鈥淟earn More鈥 on this page.

Meet B2M Students

Portrait of Christine Vaudo smiling in the Pulichino Tong Business Center
Christine Vaudo '18
Business Analytics

Christine Vaudo returned to school after a long gap to earn a bachelor鈥檚 degree in business administration from the Manning School of Business and then decided to pursue her master鈥檚 degree in business analytics.

Everyone鈥檚 looking for analytics. Whether it鈥檚 fundraising, finance, marketing -- there are lots of jobs.
Read More 杏吧原创 Christine Vaudo