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Worcester State University

Worcester State University

Worcester, MA · City · 3,930 students
Website Common App Forbes ranking Scorecard
Application deadlines: Check the admissions site
$13,381
Average net priceYour net price
In-state
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
58%
Graduation rate
54% typical
$60,624
Earnings 10 years on
$55,177 typical
88%
Acceptance rate
82% typical · not scored
Accredited by New England Commission on Higher Education
About

Worcester State University is a high-value public institution best known for its top-tier undergraduate and graduate programs in nursing, education, business administration, and the health sciences. Set on a leafy 58-acre campus in Massachusetts' second-largest city, the university fosters a welcoming, close-knit community with a balanced mix of residential and commuter students who actively participate in NCAA Division III Lancers athletics and undergraduate research. Worcester State stands out for its formal state designation as a "Civic Learning" institution, which seamlessly embeds hands-on community engagement, internships, and social responsibility into the academic curriculum. Additionally, as a member of the Higher Education Consortium of Central Massachusetts, students enjoy the unique advantage of cross-registering for courses and accessing resources at neighboring institutions like WPI and the College of the Holy Cross.

Wikipedia:Worcester State University (WSU) is a public university in Worcester, Massachusetts, United States. The fourth largest of the Commonwealth’s nine Universities, WSU enrolls over 4800 undergraduates and nearly 900 graduate students in more than 80 undergraduate majors and minors and 32 graduate programs.

Location
Worcester, MA, 01602-2597 · City campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
ORH · Worcester
2 mi away
Open in Google Maps
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
In-stateOut-of-state
Tuition & fees$11,786$17,866
Housing & food (on campus)$14,307$14,307
Books & supplies$1,368$1,368
Cost of attendance$22,874$37,443
Average net price$13,381Not published
Out-of-state prices
Tuition & fees$17,866
In-state: $11,786
Housing & food (on campus)$14,307
Books & supplies$1,368
Cost of attendance$37,443
In-state: $22,874
Average net priceNot published
In-state: $13,381
Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: www.worcester.edu
How it’s made up · out-of-state
Tuition$7,050
Fees$11,824
Housing$9,624
Food$5,848
Books & supplies$1,200
Personal expenses$1,194
Transportation$710
Total published by the school$37,443
Net price by family income · in-state students
$0–30k
$8,793
$30–48k
$9,629
$48–75k
$9,540
$75–110k
$13,658
$110k+
$19,679
Grants from the school
54% of first-years get a grant from the school, averaging $2,463
Source: College Navigator (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS)
Merit aid
Awarded without financial need. Students with financial need can get merit awards too; they're counted as need-based aid.
Average award$2,715
First-years who got one111
Source: Worcester State University's Common Data Set — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
58%
Within 4 yrs
48%
Back for yr 2
78%
Transferred
24%
Pell students: 54.2% · others: 65.4% 
8 yrs after starting
61% graduated · 25% transferred · 1% still enrolled · 13% left or unknown
Earnings
6 yrs after entry$50,233
10 yrs after entry$60,624
Debt
Median at graduation$19,500
Monthly payment$207
Middle 50% owe$5.5k–$22.5k
90th percentile$28,500
Green marks a figure above the typical Master's (larger programs): 54% graduate within 6 yrs, $55,177 earned 10 yrs after entry.
Admissions
Getting in
Admit rate
88%
Test policy
Test optional
SAT average
1150
R 533–665 · M 493–618
ACT midpoint
24
SAT middle 50%: 1026–1283
40080012001600
Admitted students
Admit rate: men 86.7% · women 88.7% 
Yield: 16.7% of admitted students enroll 

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Essay prompts

If Worcester State University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body
Gender
Men 40%Women 60%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
16 : 1
Pell grant
30%
First-gen
36%
Family income
$54,212
Independent
22%
Veterans
1%
Age at entry
22.0
Part-time
14%
Where first-years come from
In state (MA)
93.1%
Out of state
5.6%
International
1.3%

Most out-of-state first-years from: CT 12 · NJ 5 · NY 5 · RI 5 · NH 3

Race & ethnicity
White
59%
Hispanic
19%
Black
10%
Asian
6%
Two or more
3%
Non-resident
2%
Unknown
2%
Varsity sports
NCAA Division III with football
  • Baseball
    Men's
  • Basketball
    Men's · Women's
  • Cross Country
    Men's · Women's
  • Field Hockey
    Women's
  • Football
    Men's
  • Golf
    Men's · Women's
  • Ice Hockey
    Men's · Women's
  • Lacrosse
    Women's
  • Soccer
    Men's · Women's
  • Softball
    Women's
  • Track and Field (Indoor)
    Men's · Women's
  • Track and Field (Outdoor)
    Men's · Women's
  • Volleyball
    Women's
Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings, all programs
After 6 yrs
$50,233
After 10 yrs
$60,624
Psychology, General154
Business Administration, Management and Operations144
Criminal Justice and Corrections83
Biology, General66
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions65
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods63
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing62
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities47
Communication and Media Studies44
Sociology35
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services34
History30
Computer and Information Sciences, General27
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions25
English Language and Literature, General24
Natural Resources Conservation and Research18
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$26M
Full-time faculty
47%
Faculty salary
$10,308/mo
Teaching spend
$9,709
per student
Federal loans
44%
Classification
Carnegie type
Master's (larger programs)
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, selective admissions

Wondering if Worcester State University is the right fit for you?

omhu builds a personalized college list — reach, match, and safety schools — tailored to your profile, grades, and goals. Get financial aid estimates, scholarship guidance, and deep dives on every school.

Personalized reach / match / safety list
Financial aid & net cost estimates
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Scholarship search