Quad

Head-to-head

Worcester State
U. Northern Colorado

Key differences

The biggest gaps between these schools, largest first.

  1. 1

    Worcester State grads earn $8.4K more ten years out than U. Northern Colorado's ($60,624 vs. $52,231)

    Median earnings, 10 yrs
  2. 2

    Worcester State graduates 5 pts more of its students than U. Northern Colorado (63% vs. 58%)

    Graduation rate
  3. 3

    Worcester State costs about $3.7K less per year on average than U. Northern Colorado ($20,436 vs. $24,183, all students)

    Average cost, all students
  4. 4

    Worcester State is more diverse (index 0.62 vs. 0.57)

    Diversity index
  5. 5

    U. Northern Colorado is a bit larger (5,598 vs. 3,879)

    Undergrads
  6. 6

    Worcester State has 4 pts more Pell recipients than U. Northern Colorado (30% vs. 26%)

    Pell Grant recipients

The shape of each school

Each axis is a national rank among 4-year colleges; further out = more of it.

SelectivityTest scoresSizePell shareFirst-genDiversity

Who's hardest to get into

U. Northern Colorado admits 86%, Worcester State 88%; Worcester State's yield is higher, at 17%.

Acceptance rate
Worcester State88%
U. Northern Colorado86%
Quad's selectivity
  • Worcester StateOpen
  • U. Northern ColoradoOpen
SAT middle 50%Axis 800–1600
Worcester State
970–1200
U. Northern Colorado
950–1190
How they read a recordfirst-years at 3.75+
  • Worcester StateRigor and GPA very important33%
  • U. Northern ColoradoGPA and school record required

Who's on each campus

U. Northern Colorado is a bit larger than Worcester State (5,598 vs. 3,879 undergrads); Worcester State has the larger Pell share.

Undergrads
Worcester State3.9K
U. Northern Colorado5.6K
Pell Grant share
Worcester State30%
U. Northern Colorado26%

Majors and faculty

Business Administration and Management leads at both; U. Northern Colorado has 14 students per faculty member to Worcester State's 16.

Students per faculty member
Worcester State16 to 1
U. Northern Colorado14 to 1
Most popular majorshare of graduates
  • Worcester StateBusiness Administration and Management, General20%
  • U. Northern ColoradoBusiness Administration and Management, General13%

What each costs

Worcester State costs about $3.7K less a year than U. Northern Colorado on average; U. Northern Colorado's grants cover the larger share of its price.

Average cost, all students
Worcester State$20.4K
U. Northern Colorado$24.2K
Aid generosity
Worcester State27%
U. Northern Colorado28%

What each pays off

Worcester State's former students earn more, a median $60.6K ten years after enrolling; both graduate more than 50% within six years.

Median earnings, 10 years
Worcester State$60.6K
U. Northern Colorado$52.2K
Graduation rate
Worcester State63%
U. Northern Colorado58%

How each has changed

Applications grew at both; both got less selective.

Applications, 10-year change
  • Worcester StateGrowing+24%
  • U. Northern ColoradoGrowing+42%
All the numbersEvery figure for these colleges in one table, with differences highlighted.
Sources for this comparisonEvery dataset and year behind the numbers in this comparison; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources:Worcester State University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;College Scorecard, most recent release;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;Worcester State University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Worcester State University Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D), Fall 2024;IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field), 2024–25 graduates;College Scorecard, 2023–24;Worcester State University Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2019;College Scorecard, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients), Entered fall 2018About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why