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Worcester Polytechnic Institute

601–800th
World University Rankings 2025
1001–1500th
Impact Rankings 2024
121st
US College Rankings 2022
100 Institute Road, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01609-2280, United States

About Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a private university in Worcester, Massachusetts, US, founded in 1865.

The institute uses a process of learning called the WPI Plan, which has been running since 1970. The Plan helps students apply their classroom experiences to projects that cover a social and global perspective.

This includes a first-year course called the Great Problems Seminar, which analyses issues in public health, water, food security, energy and education; an Interactive Qualifying Project in which students offer a solution to a science, technology and society problem; and a Global Projects Programme which sends students to over 40 off-campus project centres. The programme is structured across seven-week terms and there are no failing grades. All students are required to study a core humanities and arts course.

Beyond academics, students can join student organisations such as the African percussion and dance ensemble, fencing club, freestyle wrestling club and table tennis among others.

In terms of athletics, there is the option to play baseball, basketball, cross country, field hockey, football, rowing, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, track and field, volleyball and wrestling competitively.

The university has a 97 per cent first-year retention rate, one of the highest in the US.

A few notable alumni are entrepreneurs Dean Kamen and Naveen Selvadurai, actress Nancy Pimental and chemist George Cowan.

 

Explore rankings data for Worcester Polytechnic Institute

All ranked institutions have an overall score and 4 pillar scores. However for each pillar, only institutions ranked in the top 500 overall or the top 500 in this pillar have a publicly visible score

Compare universities on their key stats

Key statistics

  • 6,272
    Number of FTE Students
    (1)
  • 13.6
    No. of students per staff
    (1)
  • 24%
    Proportion of ISR Publications
    (1)
  • 38 : 62
    Student Ratio of Females to Males
    (1)
  • 14%
    Percentage of International Students
    (1)
  • $52,320
    Out-of-state Tuition and Fees
    (2)
  • $82,600
    Salary after 10 years
    (2)
  • $15,302
    On-campus Room and Board
    (2)
Based on data collected for the (1) 2025 World University Rankings and (2) 2022 US Rankings

Subjects taught at Worcester Polytechnic Institute

  • Engineering & technology

    • Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
    • Electrical & Electronic Engineering
    • Chemical Engineering
    • General Engineering
    • Civil Engineering
  • Social sciences

    • Politics & International Studies (incl Development Studies)
    • Communication & Media Studies
    • Sociology
  • Physical sciences

    • Chemistry
    • Geology, Environmental, Earth & Marine Sciences
    • Physics & Astronomy
    • Mathematics & Statistics
  • Arts & humanities

    • History, Philosophy & Theology
    • Art, Performing Arts & Design
    • Architecture
  • Clinical, pre-clinical & health

    • Other Health
  • Psychology

    • Psychology
  • Life sciences

    • Biological Sciences
  • Business & economics

    • Business & Management
    • Economics & Econometrics
  • Education

    • Education
  • Computer science

    • Computer Science