Quad
Worcester Polytechnic InstituteWorcester, MA · Private nonprofit

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Computer Science (21% of graduates). 13 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 50% of colleges. 83% of faculty are full-time. Spends $21,636 a year on instruction per student.

Most popular majors

1,298 bachelor's degrees, 2024–25 graduates

The top 5 programs account for 60% of graduates; 35 programs in 13 fields awarded at least one.

  1. Computer Science 11.070121% 269
    Graduates in this field earn $134,208 4 years out
  2. Mechanical Engineering 14.190117% 222
    Graduates in this field earn $97,308 4 years out
  3. Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering 14.050110% 134
    Graduates in this field earn $92,806 4 years out
  4. Electrical and Electronics Engineering 14.10016.4% 83
    Graduates in this field earn $109,386 4 years out
  5. Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering 14.42015.5% 72
    Graduates in this field earn $111,103 4 years out

Fastest-growing field: Computer science, 11% → 22% of graduates since 2014–15 (281 graduates in 2024–25).

Source:IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field), 2014–15 to 2024–25About the data(built 2026-10-12; CPI retrieved 2026-10-12)

Bachelor's degrees awarded July through June, by federal program name (), which can differ from what the college calls a major. A double major counts once, under the ; its other field is a . Earnings are College Scorecard's median for graduates of the program's broader field (), 4 years after completion; see Top-earning majors below.

Top-earning majors here

By earnings 4 years after completion

  1. Computer Science$134,208 4 yrs out

    1 year after completion: $93,888

    4 years after completion$134,208
    National median: $107,009Above typical

    4 years out, Pell: $125,536 · Non-Pell: $127,664(an older graduating class than the figure above — see the (i) for why)

    Median federal debt: $27,000 · 421 graduates, two most recent years combined

  2. Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering$111,103 4 yrs out

    1 year after completion: $85,340

    4 years after completion$111,103
    National median: $101,649Above typical

    Median federal debt: $27,000 · 200 graduates, two most recent years combined

  3. Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$109,386 4 yrs out

    1 year after completion: $89,897

    4 years after completion$109,386
    National median: $100,647Above typical

    4 years out, Pell: $88,996 · Non-Pell: $93,948(an older graduating class than the figure above — see the (i) for why)

    Median federal debt: $26,887 · 164 graduates, two most recent years combined

  4. Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering$105,171 4 yrs out

    1 year after completion: $75,218

    4 years after completion$105,171
    National median: $98,207Above typical

    4 years out, Pell: Too few graduates to report · Non-Pell: $85,829(an older graduating class than the figure above — see the (i) for why)

    Median federal debt: $27,000 · 123 graduates, two most recent years combined

  5. Industrial Engineering$101,554 4 yrs out

    1 year after completion: $77,994

    4 years after completion$101,554
    National median: $98,442About typical

    Median federal debt: $26,254 · 44 graduates, two most recent years combined

Bachelor's programs only, among graduates who received federal financial aid and were working (not enrolled in school) in the measurement year.

Students per faculty member vs. every college13 to 1
13 to 1
← Fewer students per facultyfewer students per faculty member than 50% of 1,892More students per faculty →

The college also reports 13 to 1 in its Common Data Set (6,778 students, 509 faculty).

Not the average class size: faculty also teach graduate students and do research, and large lectures can sit alongside small seminars.

Class sizes

66%

of classes have fewer than 20 students; 10% have 50 or more

Under 20 students 20 or moreStudents per class section
Undergraduate class sections by number of students
StudentssectionsShare
2–995954%
10–1920512%
20–2924714%
30–391267%
40–49533%
50–991498%
100+372%

This counts class sections, not students: a lecture of 300 is one section, so a student is more likely to sit in a large class than the share of sections suggests. Labs and discussion sections are counted separately and left out here.

Programs & curriculum

  • Accelerated program
  • Cross-registration
  • Distance learning
  • Double major
  • English as a Second Language
  • Independent study
  • Internships
  • Liberal arts/career combination
  • Student-designed major
  • Teacher certification
  • Study abroad
  • Undergraduate research

Requires coursework in physical education, humanities, math, a natural science, and social science.

Full-time faculty83%
National median: 67%Above typical
Average faculty salary

$120,869

9-month equated, all ranks combined. Pay tracks local cost of living as much as a college's generosity.

Spending and endowment

Fiscal 2023–24. Compared only against other private nonprofit colleges: public and private colleges report finances on different accounting forms that aren't comparable.

Instruction spending per student$21,636
$21,636
← Lessmore than 88% of 1,199More →
Endowment per student$95,168
$95,168
← Lessmore than 77% of 1,065More →

Sources:IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field), 2024–25 graduates;College Scorecard Field of Study data, most recent release;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D), Fall 2024;IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks), Fall 2024;College Scorecard, Fall 2024;IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures, 2023–24;Worcester Polytechnic Institute Common Data Set 2024–25, Fall 2024;Worcester Polytechnic Institute Common Data Set 2024–25, 2024–25;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)