As a Selective Achievers institution, Worcester Polytechnic Institute combines specialized STEM focus with exceptional post-graduation outcomes. Graduates earn $22,408 beyond expectations while achieving 99th percentile earnings performance, supporting strong long-term career advancement in high-demand technical fields despite higher educational costs.
The institution's ability to generate exceptional earnings relative to educational investment—among the highest we track
With modestly below average performance, driven by higher net costs that accompany the specialized technical education
With modestly below average performance, reflecting lower enrollment of Pell-eligible and first-generation students typical of specialized technical institutions
With above average performance, indicating solid economic advancement outcomes
Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Top 5% nationally for graduate earnings
Worcester Polytechnic Institute ranks #446 nationally in Azimuth's analysis, with return performance at the 98.2nd percentile—among the highest we track. Located in Worcester, Massachusetts, this private nonprofit medium-sized institution maintains moderately selective admission with a 58.5% acceptance rate while delivering exceptional post-graduation outcomes.
WPI enrolls 10.3% Pell-eligible students and 13.4% first-generation students, placing it below typical peers on access measures but reflecting its specialized focus on engineering and technology programs. Graduates earn $22,408 beyond expectations relative to similar students, ranking at the 95.3rd percentile nationally.
Median earnings reach $103,470 ten years after enrollment, placing WPI at the 99th percentile for long-term earnings outcomes. Compared to a peer median of $63,066, graduates earn $40,404 more annually.
This combination of selective admissions focused on STEM preparation and exceptional earnings outcomes places WPI within the Selective Achievers quadrant, where institutions deliver strong outcomes while serving fewer low-income students.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute delivers exceptional earnings outcomes that justify higher educational costs and debt levels. Graduates earn a median of $103,470 ten years after enrollment, ranking at the 99th percentile nationally.
This represents earnings $22,408 beyond expectations based on student demographics and program mix, placing WPI in the 95.3rd percentile for earnings uplift nationally. Earnings range from $77,738 at the 25th percentile to $129,699 at the 75th percentile, reflecting strong outcomes even for lower-earning career paths within STEM fields.
Students seeking exceptional STEM outcomes at a specialized engineering and technology institution. Well-suited for academically strong students (58.5% admission rate) who prioritize return on investment and career-focused technical education.
Less ideal for students from lower-income backgrounds given limited Pell enrollment (10.3%) or those seeking broad liberal arts exposure.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute admits approximately 58.5% of applicants, meaning roughly 3 in 5 applicants receive an offer of admission. This places WPI in the moderately selective category, with admission rates significantly more accessible than highly competitive technical institutions but more selective than typical four-year colleges.
The peer median admission rate of 70.6% indicates that WPI is more selective than similar institutions by about 12 percentage points, reflecting the specialized nature of its engineering and technology programs. This level of selectivity means that students with strong academic preparation, particularly in mathematics and science, have reasonable admission prospects if their qualifications align with WPI's technical focus.
However, the specialized curriculum means that students should demonstrate both academic capability and genuine interest in STEM fields. For students building college lists around engineering and technology programs, WPI represents a solid target school rather than a reach institution, though students should still include more accessible options given the competitive applicant pool drawn to well-regarded technical programs.
The combination of moderate selectivity and exceptional outcomes makes WPI attractive to high-achieving students seeking strong return on investment in technical fields.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute's published cost of attendance reaches $75,678 per year, including $59,070 in tuition, $18,072 for room and board, and $1,200 for books and supplies. However, the average student pays $43,273 after financial aid, representing savings of $32,405 from the sticker price.
This net price exceeds the peer median of $27,143 by $16,130, reflecting the premium associated with specialized technical education and smaller class sizes typical of private engineering institutions. The cost structure indicates that while WPI provides substantial financial aid, families should expect higher out-of-pocket costs compared to typical four-year institutions.
Net prices range significantly by family income, from $23,870 for the lowest-income families to $51,567 for the highest-income tier, demonstrating progressive aid targeting that helps make technical education accessible across economic backgrounds. Students and families should budget for costs above typical college expenses while considering the exceptional earning potential that justifies higher educational investment.
The $32,405 average aid amount indicates institutional commitment to affordability, though the final net price remains elevated compared to broader higher education options.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute graduates demonstrate exceptional earnings growth over time, reflecting the strong market demand for STEM professionals. Median earnings rise from $85,038 six years after enrollment to $100,553 at eight years and $103,470 at ten years, representing 21.7% growth from the six-year mark.
These outcomes are based on cohorts ranging from 245 to 295 graduates across time periods, providing high confidence in the reported figures. Graduates earn $22,408 beyond expectations compared to similar students nationally, placing WPI in the 95.3rd percentile for earnings uplift.
This exceptional performance reflects both the institution's specialized STEM focus and the career preparation provided to students. Low-income graduates earn $76,500, ranking among the top 5% nationally, indicating that WPI delivers exceptional mobility outcomes for students from lower-income backgrounds who gain admission.
Approximately 28.7% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, reflecting both strong preparation for advanced education and immediate workforce entry in high-demand technical fields.
Computer Science.
201 graduates
Mathematics and Statistics, Other.
10 graduates
Industrial Engineering.
30 graduates
Electrical and Electronics Engineering.
100 graduates
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other.
26 graduates
Worcester Polytechnic Institute offers 12 bachelor's degree programs with federal earnings data, reflecting focused program offerings in engineering and related technical fields. Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering ranks #1 nationally, graduating 95 students with median earnings of $85,340 and a perfect value score of 100.0.
Computer Science ranks #38 nationally and #6 in Massachusetts, producing 201 graduates with median earnings of $124,359 and a value score of 79.8. Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering ranks #14 nationally and #2 in Massachusetts, graduating 100 students with median earnings of $88,871.
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services ranks #2 nationally and #2 in Massachusetts, with 26 graduates earning $89,485. Civil Engineering ranks #21 nationally and #1 in Massachusetts, graduating 49 students with earnings of $85,859.
The largest program is Mechanical Engineering with 262 graduates earning $83,729, representing 25.3% of all graduates with earnings data.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Rose-Hulman Institute Of Technology Higher acceptance rate (14.3 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | IN | 73% | $101,253 | Compare |
Suny Maritime College Higher acceptance rate (20 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | NY | 79% | $95,951 | Compare |
Harvard University Same state (36 miles away) with nearly identical earnings; same institution type | MA | 3% | $101,817 | Compare |
Boston College Same state (33 miles away) with nearly identical earnings; same institution type | MA | 16% | $103,937 | Compare |
Northeastern University Same state (37 miles away) (earnings difference: 10.6%); same institution type | MA | 6% | $92,538 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adelphi University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#445 ranked) | NY | 78% | $75,482 | #445 | Compare |
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This is the Worcester Polytechnic Institute hub overview page. For comprehensive institutional data including detailed charts and metrics, visit the full analysis at /school/worcester-polytechnic-institute/analysis.
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