Worcester Polytechnic Institute

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2017 Undergraduate Tuition

$47,988

3.5% growth from 2016

2017 Average Net Price

$43,027

After Financial Aid

2016 Student Loan

1.16%

Default Rate

2017 Acceptance Rate

48.5%

10,331 Applicants

2017 Enrolled Students

6,642

77.5% Full-Time

2017 Graduation Rate

88.6%

890 Graduates

About

Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a higher education institution located in Worcester County, MA. In 2016, the most popular Bachelor's Degree concentrations at Worcester Polytechnic Institute were Mechanical Engineering (215 degrees awarded), Computer Science (143 degrees), and Electrical & Electronics Engineering (108 degrees).

In 2017, 1,969 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. 32.7% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 67.3% awarded men. The majority of degree recipients were white (1,024 degrees), 7.01 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, unknown (146 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Worcester Polytechnic Institute is $47,988, which is $21,488 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($26,500).

Doctoral Universities: Higher Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

The median undergraduate tuition at Worcester Polytechnic Institute is $47,988, which is $21,488 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($26,500).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $43,027.

In 2017, 92% of undergraduate students received federal grants, while 56% of undergraduate students received federal loans.

Student Expenses

Tuition Costs

$47,988

2017 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2017, the cost of tuition at Worcester Polytechnic Institute was $47,988. The cost of tuition at Worcester Polytechnic Institute is $21,488 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($26,500).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Worcester Polytechnic Institute (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$43,027

2017 Value

5.81%

1 Year Growth

In 2017 Worcester Polytechnic Institute had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $43,027. Between 2016 and 2017, the average net price of Worcester Polytechnic Institute grew by 5.81%.

This chart compares the average net price of Worcester Polytechnic Institute (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$13,573

Room and Board

$1,000

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Worcester Polytechnic Institute was of $13,573 in 2017. During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,000. The cost of room and board increased by 2.47% between 2016 and 2017. The cost of books and supplies did not change during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid

Financial Aid by Income Level

92%

Of Undergraduates Receive Grants

56%

Of Undergraduates Receive Federal Loans

92% of undergraduate students at Worcester Polytechnic Institute received grants or loans in 2017. This represents a decline of 2.13% with respect to 2016, when 94% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

1.16%

2016 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2016 the default rate for borrower's at Worcester Polytechnic Institute was 1.16%, which represents 10 out of the 863 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

Worcester Polytechnic Institute received 10,331 undergraduate applications in 2017, which represents a 1.31% annual decline. Out of those 10,331 applicants, 5,009 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 48.5% acceptance rate.

There were 6,642 students enrolled at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 2017, and N/A% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute has an overall enrollment yield of 22.4%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

48.5%

Acceptance Rate in 2017

5,009

Accepted Out of 10,331

In 2017, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute was 48.5% (5,009 admissions from 10,331 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2016, which was 48.4%. Between 2016 and 2017, the number of applicants declined by -1.31%, while admissions declined by -1.22%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute (in red) with that of other similar universities.

SAT Scores

N/A%

Submission Percentage

N/A

Scores Submitted

N/A% of enrolled first-time students at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 2017 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

This chart shows the SAT scores for the 25th and 75th percentile of applicants broken out into each section of the test that their are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Worcester Polytechnic Institute has a total enrollment of 6,642 students. The full-time enrollment at Worcester Polytechnic Institute is 5,150 students and the part-time enrollment is 1,492. This means that 77.5% of students enrolled at Worcester Polytechnic Institute are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, both undergraduate and graduate, is 56% White, 7.21% Hispanic or Latino, 3.91% Asian, 2.86% Black or African American, 1.84% Two or More Races, 0.301% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0301% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in full-time Undergraduate programs are majority White Male (41.1%), followed by White Female (22.1%) and Hispanic or Latino Male (4.95%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are majority White Male (13.5%), followed by White Female (6.36%) and Asian Male (1.41%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

77.5%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, both undergraduate and graduate, is 6,642 students. The full-time enrollment at Worcester Polytechnic Institute is 5,150 and the part-time enrollment is 1,492. This means that 77.5% of students enrolled at Worcester Polytechnic Institute are enrolled full-time compared with 78% at similar Doctoral Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

95%

2017 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Worcester Polytechnic Institute was 95%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (83%), Worcester Polytechnic Institute had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity

White
3,720
Hispanic or Latino
479
Asian
260

The enrolled student population at Worcester Polytechnic Institute is 56% White, 7.21% Hispanic or Latino, 3.91% Asian, 2.86% Black or African American, 1.84% Two or More Races, 0.301% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0301% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 51.5% White, 13.4% Hispanic or Latino, and 9.57% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 439 students (6.61%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2017, 683 fewer women than men received degrees from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The majority of degree recipients at Worcester Polytechnic Institute are white (1,024 degrees awarded). There were 7.01 times more white graduates than the next closest race/ethnicity group, unknown (146 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Worcester Polytechnic Institute is Mechanical Engineering (215 degrees awarded), followed by Computer Science (143 degrees) and Electrical & Electronics Engineering (108 degrees).

The most specialized majors across all degree types at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Engineering (1,192 degrees awarded), Math & Statistics (96 degrees), and Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (290 degrees).

Workforce

Common Jobs by Major

Software developers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Worcester Polytechnic Institute are Software developers (829,612 people), Other managers (485,330 people), Miscellaneous engineers, including nuclear engineers (350,707 people), Civil engineers (242,708 people), and Postsecondary teachers (222,611 people).

The most specialized majors at Worcester Polytechnic Institute are Engineering (1,192 degrees awarded), Math & Statistics (96 degrees), Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (290 degrees), Physical Sciences (38 degrees), and Interdisciplinary Studies (69 degrees).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Worcester Polytechnic Institute are Surgeons, Magnetic resonance imaging technologists, Chemists & materials scientists, Dentists, and Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents

Common Industries by Major

Computer Systems Design

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Worcester Polytechnic Institute are Computer Systems Design (957,385 people), Architectural, engineering & related services (466,705 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (456,664 people), Elementary & secondary schools (338,568 people), and Construction (302,401 people).

Degrees

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Most Common

Mechanical Engineering
215 degree-majorss awarded
Computer Science
143 degree-majorss awarded
Electrical & Electronics Engineering
108 degree-majorss awarded

In 2017, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Worcester Polytechnic Institute was Mechanical Engineering with 215 degree-majorss awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at Worcester Polytechnic Institute according to their major.

Gender Breakdown for Common Majors

Degrees Awarded to Men

1,326
643

In 2017, 1,326 degrees were awarded to men at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, which is 2.06 times more than the number of degrees awarded to females (643).

This chart displays the gender disparity between the top 5 majors at Worcester Polytechnic Institute by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2017, 215 degrees were awarded to men at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Mechanical Engineering, which is 2.91 times more than the 74 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2017, 74 degrees were awarded to women at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Mechanical Engineering, which is 0.344 times less than the 215 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

76%

100% Completion Time

85%

150% Completion Time

In 2017, 76% of students graduating from Worcester Polytechnic Institute completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 85% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 85% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Diversity

Graduation Rate by Race and Gender

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

American Indian or Alaska Native Female

Highest Graduation Rate (100%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate at Worcester Polytechnic Institute is Female and American Indian or Alaska Native (100% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (68.1%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 3.93% of graduates (35 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

White
1,024 degrees awarded
Unknown
146 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
128 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Worcester Polytechnic Institute is white (1,024 degrees awarded). There were 7.01 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, unknown (146 degrees).

7.41% of degree recipients (146 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Gender

Most Common Gender Demographic

White Male
705 degrees awarded
White Female
319 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Male
77 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and gender grouping at Worcester Polytechnic Institute is white male (705 degrees awarded). There were 2.21 times more white male recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (319 degrees).

Operations

Worcester Polytechnic Institute has an endowment valued at nearly $502M, as of the end of the 2017 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of $53.6M (10.7%), compared to the 5.91% average return ($16.9M on $287M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2017, Worcester Polytechnic Institute had a total salary expenditure of $250M. Worcester Polytechnic Institute employs 143 Instructors, 100 Professors, and 99 Associate professors. Most academics at Worcester Polytechnic Institute are Male Instructors (90), Male Professors(81), and Male Associate professors (65).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Worcester Polytechnic Institute are: Office and Administrative Support, with 136 employees, Business and Financial Operations, with 133 employees, and Management with 117 employees.

Finances

Endowment

$502M

2017 Endowment

7.75%

growth from 2016

Worcester Polytechnic Institute has an endowment valued at about $502M, as of the end of the 2017 fiscal year. The endowment of Worcester Polytechnic Institute grew 7.75% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $216M higher than than the median endowment of Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Doctoral Universities: Higher Research Activity Carnegie Classification grouping.

Government Grants and Contracts

Grants & Contracts

$21M - Federal
$2.7M - State
$0 - Local

As of 2017, Worcester Polytechnic Institute received $21M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $2.7M from state grants and contracts, and $0 from local grants and contracts.

Expenses

Salary Expenditure

$115M

2017 Salaries

7.69%

growth from 2016

In 2017, Worcester Polytechnic Institute paid a median of $115M in salaries, which represents 46% of their overall expenditure ($250M) and a 7.69% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 4.17% growth from 2015 and a 5.27% growth from 2014.

The median for similar Doctoral Universities is 215M (42.7% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$43.2M

Instructional Salaries

396

Number of Employees

In 2017, Worcester Polytechnic Institute paid a total of $43.2M to 396 employees working as instructors, which represents 37.5% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $61.3M (31.9%) for similar Doctoral Universities: Higher Research Activity.

Faculty and Staff

Occupations by Share

Instructor

Most Common Instructor

143 Employees

Office and Administrative Support

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

136 Employees

In 2017, the most common positions for instructional staff at Worcester Polytechnic Institute were Instructor with 143 employees; Professor with 100 employees; and Professor with 99 employees.

In 2017, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Worcester Polytechnic Institute were Office and Administrative Support with 136 employees; Business and Financial Operations with 133 employees; and Management with 117 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Gender

Most Common Demographic

Male Instructor
Male Professor
Male Associate professor

In 2017, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Worcester Polytechnic Institute was Male Instructor with 90 employees, Male Professor with 81 employees, and Male Associate professor with 65 employees.

This chart shows the gender split between each academic rank present at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

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