Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) vs Vanderbilt

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and Vanderbilt University (VU) stand out as two esteemed institutions of higher learning, each offering a unique educational experience. WPI, a private research university in Worcester, Massachusetts, is renowned for its strong STEM programs and project-based learning approach, while VU, a private research university in Nashville, Tennessee, is known for its liberal arts and sciences curriculum and commitment to interdisciplinary studies. With acceptance rates of 48% for WPI and 10% for VU, both universities attract a highly competitive pool of applicants. WPI's student body is predominantly male (63%), while VU's is more evenly distributed (53% female, 47% male). In terms of popular majors, WPI excels in engineering, computer science, and robotics, while VU is known for its strengths in medicine, nursing, and business. With graduation rates of 86% for WPI and 91% for VU, both

	Vanderbilt University	Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Overview
Location	Nashville, Tennessee	Worcester, Massachusetts
Campus setting	City: Large	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	97.0%	94.0%
Common app member	Yes	Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	7.1%	60.2%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $50 Graduate: $95	$70
SAT range	1480 - 1570	N/A
ACT range	34 - 35	N/A
Students submitting SAT score	25.0%
Students submitting ACT score	32.0%
Total number of applicants	47,152	11,092
Total number of admissions given out	3,368	6,679
Admitted students who chose to enroll	1,626	1,410
Yield rate	48.3%	21.1%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Required	Not required
Recommendation letters	Not required	Required
High school transcript	Not required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	Required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$79,538	$74,271
Average net price	$27,553	$48,230
Tuition	$54,840	$54,640
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $12,000 Meal plan: $6,376	Room/dormitory: $9,250 Meal plan: $7,030
Available payment plans		Prepaid tuition plan Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	64.0% Average amount $49,730	98.0% Average amount $23,821
Students receiving federal student loan	10.0% Average amount $4,979	51.0% Average amount $5,212
Students taking out private loans	2.0% Average amount $27,798	39.0% Average amount $13,871

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	7,111 Men 48.9% Women 51.1%	5,224 Men 60.3% Women 39.7%
Graduate students	6,685 Men 39.5% Women 60.5%	2,006 Men 68.8% Women 31.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Low
Out-of-state students	89.5%	N/A
International students	11.7%	13.4%
Campus local/setting	City: Large	City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity	5,598	2,508
First year students are required to live on campus?	Yes	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	Tennessee California New York Florida Texas	Connecticut New York New Hampshire New Jersey Rhode Island

Academics
Popular study areas	Health Professions Education Engineering Business Legal Profession	Engineering Computer and Information Science Multidisciplinary Studies Business Mathematics and Statistics
Students to faculty ratio	8:1	14:1
Institutional accreditation	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges	New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome
Graduation rate	93.4%	87.2%
Dropout rate	6.4%	12.2%
Transferred out	N/A	N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $101,041 Year 2: $122,038 Year 3: $169,145 Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $129,825 Year 2: $130,517 Year 3: $144,008 Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $131,102 Year 2: $117,572 Year 3: $133,025 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $128,494 Year 2: $127,087 Year 3: $132,454 Law (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $132,293 Year 2: $114,324 Year 3: $130,516 Marketing (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $108,764 Year 2: $111,620 Year 3: $121,754 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $126,876 Year 2: $119,805 Year 3: $112,193 Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $91,224 Year 2: $104,192 Year 3: $108,525 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $99,979 Year 2: $93,249 Year 3: $101,010 Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $76,609 Year 2: $80,309 Year 3: $95,754	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

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the primary academic focuses of Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and Vanderbilt University?

WPI is renowned for its project-based learning approach, emphasizing STEM fields like engineering, computer science, and robotics. Vanderbilt, while also strong in STEM, offers a broader range of programs, including a highly regarded liberal arts college, a prestigious medical school, and a law school. Vanderbilt provides a more comprehensive university experience, while WPI is laser-focused on technical education.
How do the campus environments and locations differ between WPI and Vanderbilt?

WPI is located in Worcester, Massachusetts, a mid-sized city with a growing tech scene. The campus is compact and fosters a close-knit community. Vanderbilt is situated in Nashville, Tennessee, a vibrant and rapidly growing city known for its music, culture, and healthcare industry. Vanderbilt's campus is larger and more integrated into the urban environment.
What is the typical class size and student-to-faculty ratio at WPI and Vanderbilt?

WPI generally has smaller class sizes, with a student-to-faculty ratio of around 13:1. This allows for more personalized attention from professors. Vanderbilt's student-to-faculty ratio is approximately 8:1, also providing ample opportunity for interaction with faculty, although introductory courses may be larger.
How do the research opportunities compare between WPI and Vanderbilt?

Both WPI and Vanderbilt offer significant research opportunities. WPI's project-based curriculum naturally integrates research into the undergraduate experience, particularly in STEM fields. Vanderbilt, as a major research university, boasts extensive research facilities and funding across a wide array of disciplines, including medicine, engineering, and the humanities. Vanderbilt offers a broader scope of research areas.
What is the social atmosphere like at WPI versus Vanderbilt?

WPI's social scene is often described as collaborative and focused on academics and project work. There's a strong sense of community among students. Vanderbilt offers a more diverse social experience, with a larger student body and a wider range of extracurricular activities, including a prominent Greek life presence. Nashville's vibrant city life also contributes to the social scene.
How do the career services and internship opportunities differ between the two universities?

WPI's career services are tailored to its STEM focus, with strong connections to companies in the technology and engineering sectors. The project-based curriculum also provides practical experience that is highly valued by employers. Vanderbilt's career services are comprehensive, catering to students across various disciplines. Nashville's growing economy offers internship opportunities in healthcare, finance, entertainment, and more. Both universities have strong career placement rates.
What are the key differences in the cost of attendance and financial aid options at WPI and Vanderbilt?

The cost of attendance at both WPI and Vanderbilt is significant, but Vanderbilt tends to be slightly higher. Both institutions offer need-based and merit-based financial aid. Vanderbilt has a strong endowment and is committed to meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need for admitted students. WPI also provides substantial financial aid packages. It's best to compare individual financial aid offers based on your specific circumstances.
How does the project-based learning approach at WPI differ from the academic experience at Vanderbilt?

WPI's distinctive project-based curriculum, known as the WPI Plan, requires students to complete two major projects: the Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP) and the Major Qualifying Project (MQP). These projects provide hands-on experience and address real-world problems. Vanderbilt offers a more traditional academic structure with a focus on coursework and research, although experiential learning opportunities are also available through internships, research labs, and study abroad programs.
What types of students typically thrive at WPI versus Vanderbilt?

WPI is a great fit for students who are passionate about STEM, enjoy hands-on learning, and thrive in a collaborative environment. Students who are self-directed and enjoy working on projects will excel at WPI. Vanderbilt is well-suited for students who are academically strong, intellectually curious, and seek a well-rounded education with a broad range of academic and extracurricular opportunities. Students who enjoy a vibrant campus life and a diverse community will find Vanderbilt appealing.
How do the graduate programs at WPI and Vanderbilt compare?

WPI's graduate programs are primarily focused on STEM fields, building upon its undergraduate strengths in engineering, computer science, and related disciplines. Vanderbilt offers a much wider range of graduate programs, including highly ranked programs in medicine, law, education, business, and the humanities, in addition to its strong STEM offerings. Vanderbilt provides a more comprehensive graduate school experience.

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