Fitchburg State University

Fitchburg, MA · NortheastQuad's selectivityOpen

Known forTest-optional heavy

Website Admissions Apply Visit Financial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

9 in 10 applicants admitted

Fitchburg State admits about 9 in 10 applicants (87%). That puts it in the "Open" tier, more selective than 30% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

87%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityOpen

Applied

4,582

Admitted

3,983

Yield

14%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

1060–1230

10001600

Applications +20% since fall 2014 · admit rate 72% → 87%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 2,752 undergrads, where 33% receive Pell Grants, a typical share compared to other colleges.

2.8K

undergrads · larger than 66% of colleges

Diversity index

0.61

Pell Grant

33%

about the median

First generation

36%

above the median

Midsize suburbNCAA D-III · Massachusetts State College Athletic AssociationROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research

More diverse · index 0.43 → 0.61 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (18% of graduates). 11 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 68% of colleges. 49% of faculty are full-time. Spends $11,112 a year on instruction per student.

11 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 68% of colleges

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $19,152 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $5.1K less than the national median. The 92% who received grants paid $15,340 on average; the other 8% paid the full sticker price of $28,871 in-state / $34,951 out-of-state.

36%

$19.2K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $5.1K below the national median

Full price, in-state: $28,871 a year; tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid: Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes

Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 36% of full price

Federal loans

47%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits

Cost falling · −17% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $53,874 ten years after enrolling, more than at 50% of colleges; 58% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.4 years of that salary.

58%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$53.9K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$24.2K

≈ $257/month for 10 years

Retention

69%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 57% → 55% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 6% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 17%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 20% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 72% to 87%.

Cost
Falling
−17% after inflation
Applications
Growing
+20%
Selectivity
Less selective
admit rate 72% → 87%
Diversity
More diverse
index 0.43 → 0.61

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

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4.6K undergrads

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Worcester State University

88% admit · SAT 1089 · 3.9K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso Northeast

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Eastern Connecticut State University

83% admit · SAT 1165 · 3.4K undergrads

Similar scoresSimilar sizeAlso Northeast

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

1
IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
2
College Scorecard
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12
3
IPEDS Admissions survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
4
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
5
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
6
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
7
IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12
8
College Scorecard Field of Study data
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
9
IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
10
IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
11
Common Data Set
Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
12
IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12
13
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
14
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
15
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
16
IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
17
IPEDS Outcome Measures survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12
18
Fitchburg State University (2026)
Fitchburg State University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 165820 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything