Worcester State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Worcester, Massachusetts. It enrolls 3,930 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Every figure on this page is reported by the federal government, not supplied by the college, so it can be compared like for like against anywhere else you are looking.
AccreditorNew England Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
These four scores answer one question: compared with similar colleges, is this one worth the money? Each runs 0 to 100 and is judged only against its peer group (4-Year Selective), so a community college is never marked down for not being Harvard. Everything is computed from federal data. Nobody can pay to move a score, and a pillar with missing data is left unscored rather than guessed.
Strong
75/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes56
Value89
Affordability61
Selectivity37
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
Worcester State University admits 88% of applicants, which makes it open to most qualified applicants, so admission is unlikely to be the hurdle.
Acceptance Rate
88%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1026 – 1283
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 Worcester State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
9.1 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
Ignore the sticker price. What matters is the net price, which is what a typical family pays here after grants and scholarships come off. At $13,381 a year on average, it sits below what public colleges charge nationally. That still leaves most families a gap to cover, but a manageable one. Figures are College Scorecard 2023-24.
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$11,786
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$17,866
Room & Board (on-campus)
$14,307
Room & Board (off-campus)
$10,793
Books & Supplies
$1,368
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,892
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,190
Total Cost of Attendance
$22,874
Application fee: $50 (one-time, due at submission)
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
$8,793
$30,001 – $48,000
$9,629
$48,001 – $75,000
$9,540
$75,001 – $110,000
$13,658
Over $110,000
$19,679
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.
$3,25010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$19,500Medianpercentile
$22,52575%percentile
$28,50090%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 $14,250
↓ $5,250
No Pell $13,000
↓ $6,500
Dependent students $14,250
↓ $5,250
Independent students $11,000
↓ $8,500
Female students $14,047
↓ $5,453
Male students $12,700
↓ $6,800
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,750, less than completers ($19,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
29% of students who start here finish within six years, and 77% come back after first year. Most students who start here do not finish. That is the single most important number on this page. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Completion and earnings carry the most weight in this college's score, and how the UCD Score weighs each measure sets out exactly how they are combined.
6-Year Graduation Rate
29%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
77%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
Ten years after starting here, the median student earns $60,624 a year, above the national median. That is a healthy return for most cost levels. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$60,624
Earning > $25K
83%
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
$48,100
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$58,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$51,700
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$49,800
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$55,000
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $10,200, about 17% 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 ↑
12.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 86% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Who you would actually be sitting next to: 3,930 students, a mid-sized community. Worth knowing: 36% are the first in their family to go to college.
Total Enrolled
3,930
Part-Time
14%
First-Generation
36%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 58.6%2,301
Hispanic 19.2%755
Black 9.9%387
Asian 5.5%217
Other 3.1%121
International 2.0%77
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Worcester State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Worcester State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
49 distinct programs across
18 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.
There are 15 students for every instructor here: about average, so expect a mix of small seminars and big lectures.
Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$10,328
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$24M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$85,280
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
197 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
82
42%
$105,916
Associate Professors
52
26%
$76,066
Assistant Professors
53
27%
$67,508
Instructors
10
5%
$58,160
Pros & Cons of Worcester State University
No college is right for everyone. Here is where Worcester State University is likely to suit you and where it may not, based on the same figures shown above.
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, Worcester State University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Worcester State University
The questions families ask most about Worcester State University, answered straight from the federal data rather than from the college's own marketing.
Is Worcester State University hard to get into?
Not especially. Worcester State University admits most qualified applicants, with an acceptance rate of 88%. Plan around cost and whether students finish, not your odds of getting in.
What is the acceptance rate at Worcester State University?
88% of applicants are admitted. Most applicants who meet the basic requirements are admitted. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What SAT score do you need for Worcester State University?
Aim for 1283 or better. Half of admitted students scored between 1026 and 1283 (Reading plus Math), so anything above the top of that range makes you competitive and anything below the bottom means the rest of your application has to carry more weight. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Worcester State University cost?
Budget around $13,381 a year. That is the net price, what families typically pay once grants and scholarships come off, not the sticker price. Your own figure depends on household income, so treat this as a midpoint rather than a quote. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Worcester State University worth it?
On the numbers, yes: solid return on investment. Ten years in, the median graduate earns $60,624 a year against a net price of $13,381, about 4.5 dollars of earnings for every dollar of annual cost. That ratio ignores whether you finish and what you study, which matter just as much. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Worcester State University known for?
Mostly Psychology, Business Administration, Criminal Justice. Those are the fields where it awards the most degrees, which is a better guide to where the teaching strength sits than any reputation ranking. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What do Worcester State University graduates earn?
About $60,624 a year, measured ten years after students first enrolled. Half earn more and half earn less, and what you study moves that figure far more than where you study. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Worcester State University accredited?
Yes. Worcester State University is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Worcester State University?
3,930 students. Big enough for a wide course catalogue without feeling anonymous. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What is the graduation rate at Worcester State University?
29% finish within six years. That means most students do not finish in six years. Ask the school directly what support exists for students who fall behind. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Is Worcester State University a public or private college?
It is Public. Public, so in-state students usually pay materially less than everyone else.
Where is Worcester State University located?
Worcester State University is located in Worcester, Massachusetts.
What programs does Worcester State University offer?
49 different programs, most commonly Psychology, Business Administration, Criminal Justice. If the subject you want is not among them, check the full list before applying rather than assuming it is offered.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Worcester State University?
15 students per instructor. About average, so a mix of seminars and larger lectures. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Related Colleges in Massachusetts
Other colleges in Massachusetts share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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