Worcester Polytechnic Institute campus
Worcester Polytechnic Institute logo

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Type 4 year, Private
Business Model Non Profit
Campus locale City: Midsize
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate
Calendar system Semester
Student body size Medium
Common app member Yes
Dormitory capacity 2,508
Student to faculty ratio 14 to 1
Acceptance rate 60%
Students retention rate 94%
On-time graduation rate 87%

Located in Worcester, Massachusetts, WPI is a private, non profit institution that offers undergraduate and graduate degrees. The college operates on a semester-based calendar system, providing students with structured academic terms.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education, ensuring that the institution meets certain standards of quality and effectiveness. This accreditation also allows students to transfer credits to other accredited institutions if they choose to continue their education elsewhere.

With a students-to-faculty ratio of 14-to-1, WPI emphasizes small class sizes, fostering a supportive and interactive learning environment.

WPI boasts an impressive student retention rate of 94% , indicating that the majority of students choose to continue their education at the institution. This number surpasses both the state and national averages of 76% and 74%, respectively.


  • Accredited by: New England Commission on Higher Education
  • The institution provides on-campus housing

Acceptance Rate

Fall 2021 admitted students

60.2%

In-State Tuition & Fees

$55,731

Cost of attendance at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 2022 for students from Massachusetts.

See how the college's in-state sticker price compares to 4 year Non Profit, private colleges in the state as well as nationally.

Massachusetts's average $12,584
National average $30,235

Out-of-State Tuition & Fees

$55,731

Cost of attendance at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 2022 for the out-of-state and international students

See how the college's out-of-state sticker price compares to 4 year Non Profit, private colleges in the state as well as nationally.

Massachusetts's average $24,972
National average $30,238

Average Grant & Scholarships

In 2022, 98 of freshman students at Worcester Polytechnic Institute received on average $23,821 in grant and scholarships from the college, the state and/or the federal government. Below is detail stats of the aid provided to full-time, freshman students.

$23,821
Students Receiving Aid Average Amount Total Amount
Pell Grant 131 10% $4,556 $596,850
Other Federal Grant 131 10% $6,228 $815,850
State Grant/Scholarships 58 4% $1,875 $108,734
Institutional Grant/Scholarships 1,269 98% $23,130 $29,351,909
Total Grant & Scholarships 1,271 98% $23,821 $30,276,493

Graduation Rate

The following chart shows the graduation rate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute students who enrolled in 2015 and after. The stat covers all undergraduates registered as full-time students to study a 4-year bachelor's degree program for the first time.

The breakdown shows the graduation rate by race/ethnicity of US students. All international students are represented under one group.

As of August 31, 2021, the average graduation rate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute students is 87.2%. Female students graduated at a rate of 89.3%, whereas male students graduated at a rate of 86.1%.

87.2%

  • asian 90.9% 50 students
  • African American 68.8% 22 students
  • white 87.9% 633 students
  • unknown 86.7% 26 students
  • hispanic 86.5% 90 students
  • International Students 89.7% 104 students
  • Mixed Race 76.7% 23 students

Sport Conferences

  • Football New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference
  • Baseball New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference
  • Basketball New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference
  • Track and Cross Country New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference

Athletic Associations

  • NCAA
    National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

Service Offerings

Worcester Polytechnic Institute provides the following additional services to its students
  • Placement services for graduates
  • Academic/career counseling services
  • Employment services for students

Educational Offerings

Worcester Polytechnic Institute offers educational programs in the following categories. Check the programs section to learn more about specific programs that you are interested in.
  • Academic

Special Learning Opportunities

  • Study abroad
  • Teacher certification
  • ROTC - Army
  • ROTC - Navy
  • ROTC - Air Force

Veteran Services

  • Dedicated point of contact for support services for veterans, military service-members, and their families
  • Yellow Ribbon Program (officially known as Post-9/11 GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon Program)

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