National university
#9 Best colleges for communications and journalism in MassachusettsWorcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofit · 4-year
Your real cost
Average price after aid $43,071 a year
Median debt at graduation: $27,000 (all students)
Estimate your own price · the college’s net price calculator
Rankings
Where this college places on our top lists. Lists are worked out from official data and our own research; places in the top quarter of each list are shown. See every list
In America
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in America#76 of 1,829
- Best colleges for business in America#119 of 1,563
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in America#101 of 1,238
- Best colleges in America#188 of 1,829
- Best colleges for psychology in America#152 of 1,418
- Best test-optional colleges in America#161 of 1,481
Show 12 more
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in America#154 of 1,358
- Best mid-size colleges in America#83 of 667
- Best colleges for art and design in America#148 of 1,187
- Best colleges for mathematics in America#157 of 1,215
- Best colleges for chemistry in America#155 of 1,162
- Best colleges for computer science in America#106 of 750
- Best colleges for NCAA Division III athletes in America#66 of 430
- Best colleges for engineering in America#118 of 749
- Colleges where the most freshmen return in America#110 of 693
- Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in America#110 of 598
- Best colleges for economics in America#152 of 788
- Colleges that spend the most on teaching in America#148 of 704
In Massachusetts
Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.90%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.94%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.Not reported
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.13 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$21,636
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
What families pay, by income
Average yearly price after grants and scholarships, for students who receive federal aid.
| Family income | Price after aid |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | |
| $30,001–$48,000 | |
| $48,001–$75,000 | |
| $75,001–$110,000 | |
| Over $110,000 |
Full cost of attendance before aid: $78,679 a year.
Use the college’s net price calculator for your own estimate.
Cost and value
Federal data: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and what they owe.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 5,453 |
|---|---|
| Men and women College Scorecard, fall 2023 | Men 67% · Women 33% |
| First-generation students College Scorecard | 13% |
| First-year students from another state IPEDS, fall 2023 | 53% |
| Total students | 7,353 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | $43,071 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $78,679 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 90% |
| Graduation rate for Pell grant recipients College Scorecard, within 6 years | 82% |
| Graduation rate for first-generation students College Scorecard, within 6 years | 86% |
| Borrowers paying down their loans within 3 years College Scorecard, within 3 years | 92% |
| First-year retention | 94% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $103,470 |
| Admission rate | 60% |
| Application fee IPEDS, 2023–24 | No application fee |
| Typical rent HUD fair market rent, FY2026 | About $1,599 a month for a one-bedroom |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 12% |
Value: Solid (how it’s computed)
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
Earnings by major
Median earnings of bachelor’s graduates a few years after finishing, by major (College Scorecard).
| Major | Median earnings |
|---|---|
| Computer science | |
| Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering | |
| Electrical engineering | |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | |
| Industrial Engineering | |
| Chemical Engineering | |
| Mechanical engineering | |
| Software and media applications | |
| Civil engineering | |
| Other business, management, marketing, and related support services | |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | |
| Architectural Engineering | |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | |
| Biology |
Also offered (no earnings published yet): Biochemistry, Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology, Business (general), Chemistry, Data Analytics, Data Science, Design, Economics, Engineering Physics, Engineering-Related Fields, Interdisciplinary studies, International relations, Liberal arts, Management information systems, Mathematics, Other mathematics and statistics, Physics, Psychology, Public relations, Science, Technology and Society, Sustainability Studies.
What students study most
Share of bachelor’s degrees by field, first majors in 2023–24 (IPEDS).
| Field | Share of degrees |
|---|---|
| Engineering | |
| Computer and information sciences | |
| Biology | |
| Interdisciplinary studies | |
| Mathematics and statistics |
Campus life
| School colors | |
|---|---|
| Setting | City |
| Part-time undergraduates | 2% |
| Undergraduates aged 25 and older | 1% |
| On-campus room and board (per year) | $18,386 |
| Sports | NCAA Division III · New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference |
| ROTC | Army · Navy · Air Force |
| Study abroad | Offered |
| Students per faculty member | 13 to 1 |
| Undergraduates registered with the disability office | About 15%IPEDS, 2023–24 |
| Disability services | Visit the office’s pageThe college’s own page |
| Faculty who are full-time | 83%College Scorecard, fall 2023 |
| Endowment per student | $95,035IPEDS, 2023, per student |
| Dorm space | For about 48% of studentsBeds per undergraduate; not who lives on campus |
| Nearest airport with airline service | Worcester Regional Airport (ORH)About 3 miles away · about 15 minutes by car |
| Nearest major airport | Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)About 41 miles away |
| Town population | 207,055Census, 2020–2024 |
| Nearest city of 250,000 people or more | BostonAbout 41 miles away · about 1 hour 5 minutes by car |
| Typical weather | 25°F in January · 71°F in JulyNOAA, 1991–2020, from Worcester Regional Airport, MA, about 3 miles away |
Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard), except school colors.
Campus safety reports
On-campus crimes reported in 2024, per 1,000 students.
| Category | This campus | U.S. rate |
|---|---|---|
| Rape | 0.13 | 0.07 |
| Robbery | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Aggravated assault | 0.00 | 0.04 |
| Burglary | 1.85 | 0.08 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 0.13 | 0.15 |
Numbers reflect what each campus reported. They differ with campus size and how reporting is done, so compare with care. U.S. rate: total reported offenses divided by total students at every institution in the report.
Questions families ask
- What is Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s Compass Score?
- Excellent (grade A-). It ranks in the top 11% of rated colleges. The grade comes from outcomes (40%: graduation, retention and earnings), entering students (40%: test scores and selectivity), cost (15%: debt and price after aid) and teaching (5%: class size), all from federal data.
- How much does Worcester Polytechnic Institute cost after financial aid?
- The average net price is $43,071 a year for students who receive federal aid, after grants and scholarships. What your family pays depends on income; the college’s net price calculator gives your own estimate.
- How hard is it to get into Worcester Polytechnic Institute?
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute admitted 60% of applicants in the most recent federal data.
- How do Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s graduates do?
- 90% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years; the median earnings of former students ten years after entry are $103,470; the median federal debt at graduation is $27,000.
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About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 168421
- Carnegie classification: Doctoral university (high research)
- Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
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Colleges like this one
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