Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) vs Champlain College

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and Champlain College are two distinct institutions of higher learning, each offering unique educational experiences. WPI, a private research university in Worcester, Massachusetts, is renowned for its strong STEM programs and project-based learning approach, while Champlain College, a private liberal arts college in Burlington, Vermont, emphasizes experiential learning and career preparation. With acceptance rates of 49% and 75%, respectively, WPI attracts a more selective student body, while Champlain College offers a more accessible admissions process. WPI's student body is predominantly male (63%), while Champlain College's student body is more evenly distributed between genders (49% male, 51% female). Both institutions boast impressive graduation rates, with WPI's four-year graduation rate at 84% and Champlain College's six-year graduation rate at 70%. To help you make an informed decision about your higher education journey, we've compiled a comprehensive
Champlain College logo

Champlain College

Worcester Polytechnic Institute logo

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Overview

Location Burlington, Vermont Worcester, Massachusetts
Campus setting City: Small City: Midsize
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 69.0% 94.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 62.4% 60.2%
Application fees $70
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants 6,444 11,092
Total number of admissions given out 4,023 6,679
Admitted students who chose to enroll 440 1,410
Yield rate 10.9% 21.1%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Not required
Recommendation letters Required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $58,884 $74,271
Average net price $36,276 $48,230
Tuition $42,564 $54,640
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $9,856

Meal plan: $5,998
Room/dormitory: $9,250

Meal plan: $7,030
Available payment plans
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Other alternative tuition plan
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

98.0%
Average amount $24,604
98.0%
Average amount $23,821
Students receiving federal student loan 54.0%
Average amount $5,196
51.0%
Average amount $5,212
Students taking out private loans 10.0%
Average amount $17,800
39.0%
Average amount $13,871

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 3,217
Men 60.4% Women 39.6%
5,224
Men 60.3% Women 39.7%
Graduate students 608
Men 49.2% Women 50.8%
2,006
Men 68.8% Women 31.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 0.3% 13.4%
Campus local/setting City: Small City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 1,469 2,508
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A Connecticut New York New Hampshire New Jersey Rhode Island

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Business
  • Mathematics and Statistics
Students to faculty ratio 13:1 14:1
Institutional accreditation New England Commission on Higher Education New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 68.5% 87.2%
Dropout rate 30.6% 12.2%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $85,464
  • Year 2: $73,635
  • Year 3: $78,629
Computer Software and Media Applications (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $41,964
  • Year 2: $55,512
  • Year 3: $64,905
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,066
  • Year 2: $55,964
  • Year 3: $61,953
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,991
  • Year 2: $31,314
  • Year 3: $54,175
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $48,148
  • Year 2: $48,432
  • Year 3: $53,813
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,078
  • Year 2: $54,713
  • Year 3: $52,129
Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $34,126
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: $50,323
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,762
  • Year 2: $48,823
  • Year 3: $50,125
International Business (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,632
  • Year 2: $33,993
  • Year 3: $48,165
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $45,074
  • Year 2: $41,087
  • Year 3: $46,554
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $111,634
  • Year 2: $119,061
  • Year 3: $127,598
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $97,509
  • Year 2: $96,405
  • Year 3: $113,831
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $86,601
  • Year 2: $95,207
  • Year 3: $109,222
Systems Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $100,114
  • Year 2: $97,959
  • Year 3: $101,375
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $86,644
  • Year 2: $79,598
  • Year 3: $91,716
Engineering, Other (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $82,311
  • Year 2: $78,814
  • Year 3: $91,318
Engineering, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $79,688
  • Year 3: $91,034
Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,720
  • Year 2: $76,460
  • Year 3: $82,909
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,868
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $81,510
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,310
  • Year 2: $72,507
  • Year 3: $80,789

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