Fitchburg State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. It enrolls 2,752 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNew England Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
69/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes38
Value80
Affordability64
Selectivity34
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 86.9%, Fitchburg State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
86.9%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1060 – 1230
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Fitchburg State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
1.6 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Fitchburg State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $14,262 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$14,262
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
33%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
47%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$11,346
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$17,426
Room & Board (on-campus)
$15,452
Room & Board (off-campus)
$10,648
Books & Supplies
$1,500
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,100
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,500
Total Cost of Attendance
$25,555
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$10,204
$30,001 – $48,000
$11,199
$48,001 – $75,000
$11,540
$75,001 – $110,000
$15,571
Over $110,000
$21,123
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,63310%percentile
$6,50025%percentile
$24,239Medianpercentile
$26,22375%percentile
$30,55390%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $19,500
↓ $4,739
No Pell $15,000
↓ $9,239
Dependent students $18,500
↓ $5,739
Independent students $17,250
↓ $6,989
Female students $18,498
↓ $5,741
Male students $17,861
↓ $6,378
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,750, less than completers ($24,239), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
54% of full-time students who enrolled at Fitchburg State University graduate within six years, and 71% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
54%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
71%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Fitchburg State University earn a median of $53,874 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$53,874
Earning > $25K
80%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$44,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$51,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$44,100
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$46,800
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$49,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $6,600, about 13% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
8.9 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 82% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Fitchburg State University is home to 2,752 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 36% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
2,752
Part-Time
19%
First-Generation
36%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 58.3%1,604
Hispanic 17.7%488
Black 14.1%389
Other 3.8%104
Asian 3.0%83
International 1.3%36
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Fitchburg State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize SuburbFitchburg, Massachusetts
Housing
Mostly residential1,705 beds on campus
Adult Learners
20%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Fitchburg State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
62 distinct programs across
19 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Fitchburg State University is 11:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$17,702
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$22M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$90,228
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
189 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
81
43%
$105,982
Associate Professors
65
34%
$83,314
Assistant Professors
37
20%
$71,012
Instructors
6
3%
$70,966
Pros & Cons of Fitchburg State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Fitchburg State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, Fitchburg State University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Fitchburg State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Fitchburg State University.
Is Fitchburg State University hard to get into?
Fitchburg State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 86.9%.
What is the acceptance rate at Fitchburg State University?
Fitchburg State University has an acceptance rate of 86.9%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Fitchburg State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Fitchburg State University scored between 1060 and 1230 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
How much does Fitchburg State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Fitchburg State University is $14,262 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Fitchburg State University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $53,874 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $14,262 per year. That's roughly 3.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Fitchburg State University known for?
Fitchburg State University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Curriculum & Instruction, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Fitchburg State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Fitchburg State University are $53,874, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Fitchburg State University accredited?
Yes. Fitchburg State University is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Fitchburg State University?
Fitchburg State University enrolls 2,752 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Fitchburg State University?
Fitchburg State University graduates 54% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Fitchburg State University a public or private college?
Fitchburg State University is a Public institution.
Where is Fitchburg State University located?
Fitchburg State University is located in Fitchburg, Massachusetts.
What programs does Fitchburg State University offer?
Fitchburg State University offers 62 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Curriculum & Instruction, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Fitchburg State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Fitchburg State University is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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