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Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Private Nonprofit Graduate Good 69/100

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Worcester, Massachusetts

About Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Worcester, Massachusetts. It enrolls 5,447 students (a large 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.

Official website: wpi.edu

Acceptance: 60.2%
Graduation: 87%
Net Price: $43,071
Median Earnings (10yr): $103,470
Enrollment: 5,447
Student : Faculty: 13:1

Accreditor New England Commission on Higher Education

Academic Calendar Semester

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

Outcomes 94

Value 38

Affordability 3

Selectivity 74

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 60.2%, Worcester Polytechnic Institute is moderately selective.

Acceptance Rate

60.2%

Moderate

SAT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

ACT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

Test Policy Test Optional Applicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Worcester Polytechnic Institute is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Becoming less selective ↑ 9.1 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute 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 $43,071 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$43,071

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

12%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

52%

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: $60,965
Room & Board (on-campus): $18,386
Room & Board (off-campus): $18,386
Books & Supplies: $1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus): $1,200
Other Expenses (off-campus): $1,200
Total Cost of Attendance: $78,679

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

$24,018
$30,001 – $48,000

$24,452
$48,001 – $75,000

$32,350
$75,001 – $110,000

$37,753
Over $110,000

$49,716

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.

$7,500

10% percentile

$17,500

25% percentile

$27,000

Median percentile

$30,000

75% percentile

$32,500

90% 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 $27,000 —

No Pell $26,747 ↓ $253

Dependent students $27,000 —

Independent students $21,886 ↓ $5,114

Female students $27,000 —

Male students $26,910 —

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $12,000, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

87% of full-time students who enrolled at Worcester Polytechnic Institute graduate within six years, and 94% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

87%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

94%

Returning for their second year

What this means: Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Worcester Polytechnic Institute earn a median of $103,470 ten years after first enrolling. That's well above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$103,470

Earning > $25K

96%

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

$74,000

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$88,400

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$76,500

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$85,200

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$85,800

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $14,400, about 16% 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.

Stable ↑ 2.1 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Excellent. 98% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Worcester Polytechnic Institute is home to 5,447 students, a large student community.

Total Enrolled

5,447

Part-Time

First-Generation

13%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 64.2% 3,498

Asian 12.6% 688

Hispanic 8.5% 464

International 6.4% 349

Other 3.8% 204

Black 2.7% 147

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Midsize City Worcester, Massachusetts

Housing

Mostly residential 2,628 beds on campus

Adult Learners

1% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Worcester Polytechnic Institute offers an extensive catalog of programs: 99 distinct programs across 14 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.

39 Programs

Engineering

Mechanical Engineering $92K ($78K–$109K)
Mechatronics & Robotics $102K ($83K–$125K)
Bioengineering $93K ($74K–$114K)

8 Programs

Computer Science

Computer Science $107K ($75K–$152K)
Computer Science $107K ($75K–$152K)
Computer Software & Media $59K ($36K–$88K)

12 Programs

Interdisciplinary Studies

10 Programs

Biology

Biochemistry & Biophysics $65K ($45K–$88K)
Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)
Biotechnology $67K ($47K–$89K)

7 Programs

Business

Business $68K ($48K–$95K)
Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Management Sciences $86K ($62K–$115K)

7 Programs

Mathematics

Mathematics $70K ($49K–$97K)
Mathematics $70K ($49K–$97K)
Mathematics and Statistics $89K ($64K–$125K)

6 Programs

Physical Sciences

Physics $77K ($52K–$103K)
Chemistry $65K ($48K–$84K)
Chemistry $65K ($48K–$84K)

2 Programs

Visual & Performing Arts

Design $51K ($33K–$71K)
Design $51K ($33K–$71K)

1 Program

Engineering Tech

Environmental Tech $90K ($71K–$110K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Worcester Polytechnic Institute is 13:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty

13:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Endowment

$799M

Solid financial position

Avg Faculty Salary

$118,268

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

444 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	126	28%	$158,786
Associate Professors	103	23%	$117,925
Assistant Professors	90	20%	$106,650
Instructors	125	28%	$86,072

Pros & Cons of Worcester Polytechnic Institute

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Worcester Polytechnic Institute tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Reasonable class sizes
Strong six-year graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Above-average post-graduation earnings

CONS

High net price compared to most US colleges
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families

Best for: Based on the data, Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a fit for students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.

Frequently Asked Questions about Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Is Worcester Polytechnic Institute hard to get into?

Admissions at Worcester Polytechnic Institute are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 60.2%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.

What is the acceptance rate at Worcester Polytechnic Institute?

Worcester Polytechnic Institute has an acceptance rate of 60.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

How much does Worcester Polytechnic Institute cost?

The average net price after aid at Worcester Polytechnic Institute is $43,071 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Worcester Polytechnic Institute worth it?

Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $103,470 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $43,071 per year. That's roughly 2.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Worcester Polytechnic Institute known for?

Worcester Polytechnic Institute is best known for its programs in Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics & Robotics. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Worcester Polytechnic Institute graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Worcester Polytechnic Institute are $103,470, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Worcester Polytechnic Institute accredited?

Yes. Worcester Polytechnic Institute is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.

How many students attend Worcester Polytechnic Institute?

Worcester Polytechnic Institute enrolls 5,447 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Worcester Polytechnic Institute?

Worcester Polytechnic Institute graduates 87% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Worcester Polytechnic Institute a public or private college?

Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a Private Nonprofit institution.

Where is Worcester Polytechnic Institute located?

Worcester Polytechnic Institute is located in Worcester, Massachusetts.

What programs does Worcester Polytechnic Institute offer?

Worcester Polytechnic Institute offers 99 distinct programs. The most popular include Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics & Robotics.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Worcester Polytechnic Institute?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Worcester Polytechnic Institute is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.