Worcester State University

Worcester, MA · NortheastQuad's selectivityOpen

Known forTest-optional heavy

Website Admissions Apply Visit Financial aid

Updates

What changed

New and revised figures from the latest data releases, each with its year.

Published Oct 8, 2026

Fall 2025: middle 50% SAT Reading & Writing 507–620 (fall 2024: 533–665)Worcester State University Common Data Set 2025–26
Fall 2025: middle 50% SAT Math 460–590 (fall 2024: 493–618)Worcester State University Common Data Set 2025–26
Fall 2025: 3,879 undergraduates (fall 2024: 3,930)Worcester State University Common Data Set 2025–26
Entered fall 2024: 76% returned for a second year (entered fall 2023: 78%)Worcester State University Common Data Set 2025–26

Sources:Worcester State University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;Worcester State University Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Admissions · Fall 2025

9 in 10 applicants admitted

Worcester State admits about 9 in 10 applicants (88%). That puts it in the "Open" tier, more selective than 27% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

88%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityOpen

Applied

5,156

Admitted

4,537

Yield

17%

of admits enroll

Avg. GPA

3.41

SAT middle 50%

970–1200

8001600

Applications +24% since fall 2014 · admit rate 61% → 88%Over time

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

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 3,879 undergrads, where 30% receive Pell Grants, a typical share compared to other colleges.

3.9K

undergrads · larger than 73% of colleges

Diversity index

0.62

Pell Grant

30%

below the median

First generation

36%

above the median

Midsize cityNCAA D-III · Massachusetts State College Athletic AssociationROTCStudy abroad

More diverse · index 0.47 → 0.61 (to fall 2024) since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Business Administration and Management, General (20% of graduates). 16 students for every faculty member, more than at 72% of colleges. 47% of faculty are full-time. Spends $9,709 a year on instruction per student.

16 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 72% of colleges

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $20,436 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $3.8K less than the national median. The 80% who received grants paid $12,778 on average; the other 20% paid the full sticker price of $27,545 in-state / $33,625 out-of-state.

27%

$20.4K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $3.8K below the national median

Full price, in-state: $27,545 a year; tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid: Little need-based aid above $110K; aid thins out for families above that income
Merit aid: 6.3% · avg $2K; of first-years without need got merit aid

Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 27% of full price

Federal loans

44%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office

Cost falling · −21% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $60,624 ten years after enrolling, more than at 69% of colleges; 63% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.3 years of that salary.

63%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$60.6K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$19.5K

≈ $207/month for 10 years

Retention

76%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 53% → 61% 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 fell 8% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 21%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 24% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 61% to 88%.

Cost
Falling
−21% after inflation
Applications
Growing
+24%
Selectivity
Less selective
admit rate 61% → 88% (to fall 2024)
Diversity
More diverse
index 0.47 → 0.61 (to fall 2024)

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Frostburg State University

89% admit · 2.9K undergrads

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Washburn University

4.6K undergrads

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Central Washington University

91% admit · 7.8K undergrads

Similar selectivityAlso public

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University of Northern Colorado

86% admit · SAT 1070 · 5.6K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size

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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; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12
3
Worcester State University Common Data Set 2025–26
Worcester State University · Fall 2025; Fall 2027 applicants; Entered fall 2024; 2024–25; 2025–26; Fall 2026 entrants; Entered fall 2019; Fall 2026 cycle; Class of 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-05
4
IPEDS Admissions survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
5
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
6
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
7
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
8
IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12
9
College Scorecard Field of Study data
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
10
IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
11
IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
12
Common Data Set
Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · 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
IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12
19
Worcester State University (2026)
Worcester State University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 168430 · 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