Worcester Polytechnic Institute

https://www.wpi.edu/

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2021 Undergraduate Tuition

$54,640

2.9% growth from 2020

2021 Average Net Price

$48,230

After Financial Aid

2019 Student Loan

0.599%

Default Rate

2021 Acceptance Rate

60.2%

11,092 Applicants

2021 Enrolled Students

7,230

81.8% Full-Time

2021 Graduation Rate

87.2%

953 Graduates

About

Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a higher education institution located in Worcester County, MA. In 2021, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at Worcester Polytechnic Institute were Mechanical Engineering (229 degrees awarded), Computer Science (183 degrees), and Bioengineering & Biomedical Engineering (101 degrees).

In 2021, 2,043 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. 37.9% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 62.1% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (1,156 degrees), 7.51 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (154 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Worcester Polytechnic Institute is $54,640, which is $25,648 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,992).

Doctoral Universities: Higher Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

In 2021, the median undergraduate tuition at Worcester Polytechnic Institute is $54,640, which is $25,648 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,992).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $48,230.

In 2021, 95% of undergraduate students attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 51% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$54,640

2021 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2021, the cost of tuition at Worcester Polytechnic Institute was $54,640. The cost of tuition at Worcester Polytechnic Institute is $25,648 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,992).

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

Average Net Price

$48,230

2021 Value

5.23%

1 Year Growth

In 2021 Worcester Polytechnic Institute had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $48,230. Between 2020 and 2021, the average net price of Worcester Polytechnic Institute grew by 5.23%.

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

$15,680

Room and Board

$1,200

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Worcester Polytechnic Institute was of $15,680 in 2021. The cost of room and board increased by 4.27% between 2020 and 2021.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,200. The cost of books and supplies increased by 20% during the same period.

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

Financial Aid by Income Level

95%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

51%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

95% of undergraduate students at Worcester Polytechnic Institute received financial aid through grants or loans in 2021. This represents a growth of 1.06% with respect to 2020, 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.

0.599%

2019 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2019 the default rate for borrower's at Worcester Polytechnic Institute was 0.599%, which represents 5 out of the 835 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 11,092 undergraduate applications in 2021, which represents a 1.57% annual growth. Out of those 11,092 applicants, 6,679 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 60.2% acceptance rate.

There were 7,230 students enrolled at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 2021.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute has an overall enrollment yield of 21.1%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

60.2%

Acceptance Rate in 2021

6,679

Accepted Out of 11,092

In 2021, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute was 60.2% (6,679 admissions from 11,092 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2020, which was 59%. Between 2020 and 2021, the number of applicants grew by 1.57%, while admissions grew by 0.376%..

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

Enrollment

Worcester Polytechnic Institute had a total enrollment of 7,230 students in 2021. The full-time enrollment at Worcester Polytechnic Institute is 5,917 students and the part-time enrollment is 1,313. This means that 81.8% of students enrolled at Worcester Polytechnic Institute are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, both undergraduate and graduate, is 59.5% White, 8.81% Asian, 7.79% Hispanic or Latino, 3.11% Two or More Races, 2.86% Black or African American, 0.0415% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.0277% American Indian or Alaska Native.

Students enrolled at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Male (37.9%), followed by White Female (26%) and Hispanic or Latino Male (5.7%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Male (17.6%), followed by White Female (9.12%) and Hispanic or Latino Male (1.96%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

81.8%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 2021, both undergraduate and graduate, is 7,230 students. The full-time enrollment at Worcester Polytechnic Institute is 5,917 and the part-time enrollment is 1,313. This means that 81.8% of students enrolled at Worcester Polytechnic Institute are enrolled full-time compared with 76.6% 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

94%

2021 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 94%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (84%), 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 (2021)

White
4,300 enrolled students
Asian
637 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
563 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Worcester Polytechnic Institute is 59.5% White, 8.81% Asian, 7.79% Hispanic or Latino, 3.11% Two or More Races, 2.86% Black or African American, 0.0415% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.0277% American Indian or Alaska Native. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 48.9% White, 15.1% Hispanic or Latino, and 9.56% 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, 323 students (4.47%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2021, 493 fewer women than men received degrees from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Worcester Polytechnic Institute is white (1,156 degrees awarded). There were 7.51 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (154 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Worcester Polytechnic Institute is Mechanical Engineering (229 degrees awarded), followed by Computer Science (183 degrees) and Bioengineering & Biomedical Engineering (101 degrees).

In 2021, 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 (1,220 degrees awarded), Math & Statistics (82 degrees), and Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (318 degrees).

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 (957,064 people), Other managers (489,220 people), Miscellaneous engineers, including nuclear engineers (387,749 people), Civil engineers (274,207 people), and Postsecondary teachers (233,461 people).

The most specialized majors at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 2021 are Engineering (1,220 degrees awarded), Math & Statistics (82 degrees), Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (318 degrees), Interdisciplinary Studies (135 degrees), and Physical Sciences (33 degrees) (as of 2021).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Podiatrists

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 Podiatrists, Surgeons, Physicians, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, and Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

The most specialized majors at Worcester Polytechnic Institute are Engineering (1,220 degrees awarded), Math & Statistics (82 degrees), Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (318 degrees), Interdisciplinary Studies (135 degrees), and Physical Sciences (33 degrees) (as of 2021).

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 (1,055,611 people), Architectural, engineering & related services (491,545 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (461,140 people), Elementary & secondary schools (353,851 people), and Construction (328,408 people).

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 (2021)

Mechanical Engineering
229 degrees awarded
Computer Science
183 degrees awarded
Bioengineering & Biomedical Engineering
101 degrees awarded

In 2021, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Worcester Polytechnic Institute was Mechanical Engineering with 229 degrees awarded.

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

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

1,268

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2021

775

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2021

In 2021, 1,268 degrees were awarded to men at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, which is 1.64 times more than the number of degrees awarded to females (775).

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

Most Common Male Majors

In 2021, 209 degrees were awarded to men at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Mechanical Engineering, which is 1.97 times more than the 106 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2021, 106 degrees were awarded to men at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Mechanical Engineering, which is 0.507 times less than the 209 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

82%

100% Completion Time

89%

150% Completion Time

In 2021, 82% of students graduating from Worcester Polytechnic Institute completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 89% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 90% 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.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

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 in 2021 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 (72.9%).

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, 1.15% of graduates (11 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2021)

White
1,156 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
154 degrees awarded
Asian
108 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Worcester Polytechnic Institute is white (1,156 degrees awarded). There were 7.51 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (154 degrees).

5.38% of degree recipients (110 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2021)

White Male
716 degrees awarded
White Female
440 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Male
80 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Worcester Polytechnic Institute is white male (716 degrees awarded). There were 1.63 times more white male recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (440 degrees).

Operations

Worcester Polytechnic Institute has an endowment valued at nearly $635M, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 152M (24%) compared to the 10.4% average return (40.5M on 388M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2021, Worcester Polytechnic Institute had a total salary expenditure of 296M. Worcester Polytechnic Institute employs 151 Instructors, 121 Professors and 78 Associate professors. Most academics at Worcester Polytechnic Institute are Male Instructor (104), Male Professor (88), and Male Associate professor (61).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Worcester Polytechnic Institute are: Office and Administrative Support, with 134 employees, Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media, with 120 employees, and Management with 114 employees.

Endowment

$635M

2021 Endowment

25.5%

growth from 2020

Worcester Polytechnic Institute has an endowment valued at about $635M, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The endowment of Worcester Polytechnic Institute grew 25.5% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $247M 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.

Salary Expenditure

$132M

2021 Salaries

6.88%

decline from 2020

In 2021, Worcester Polytechnic Institute paid a median of $132M in salaries, which represents 44.8% of their overall expenditure ($296M) and a 6.88% decline from the previous year.

The median for similar Doctoral Universities is 234M (42.8% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$49.5M

Instructional Salaries

421

Number of Employees

In 2021, Worcester Polytechnic Institute paid a total of $49.5M to 421 employees working as instructors, which represents 37.4% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $71M (30.3%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

Instructor

Most Common Instructor

151 Employees

Office and Administrative Support

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

134 Employees

In 2021, the most common positions for instructional staff at Worcester Polytechnic Institute were Instructor with 151 employees, Professor with 121 employees, and Associate professor with 78 employees.

In 2021, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Worcester Polytechnic Institute were Office and Administrative Support with 134 employees, Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 120 employees, and Management with 114 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2021)

Male Instructor
Male Professor
Male Associate professor

In 2021, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Worcester Polytechnic Institute was Male Instructor with 104 employees, Male Professor with 88 employees, and Male Associate professor with 61 employees.

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