C+
Above Average
Score: 59/100
Overall (traditional)
C
Outcome Rating
51/100 · earnings-weighted

Worcester State University

4-Year Public
📍 Worcester, Massachusetts 01602
Worcester State University campus, Worcester, MA
Worcester State University campus, Worcester, MA. Photo: WillJayPA, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Outcomes
B
71/100
Affordability
C+
55/100
Resources
C
54/100
Experience
A
84/100
Prestige
D
36/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

5,611
Total Enrollment
56%
Graduation Rate
77%
Retention Rate
15.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
90%
Acceptance Rate
$14,307
Avg Net Price
🏠 Housing Market Near Worcester State University ▼

8% of first-year students live off campus and not with family (U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS). Upper-year students at most universities move off campus at much higher rates, so near-campus rental demand is typically larger than this figure suggests.

Avg Home Value
$461,509
Avg Monthly Rent
$2,334
1-Year Change
+3.9%

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at Worcester State University, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$60,624
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$50,233
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$19,500
Median debt at graduation
61.5%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
1,150
Average SAT
24
Median ACT
30%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 32% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 43rd percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (MA wage index 1.29). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at Worcester State University

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$75,249$92,133+4%#267 of 966#798$19,500
Computer and Information Sciences$54,477$92,068+-0%#173 of 459#299$20,500
Biotechnology$70,124$90,565+35%#1 of 13#3$17,455
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions—$74,386+33%#11 of 85#27$25,000
Biology$44,450$68,459+20%#118 of 841#338$21,043
Business Administration, Management and Operations$46,660$66,405-3%#505 of 1176#898$19,500
Criminal Justice and Corrections$41,132$65,588+18%#60 of 660#248$21,050
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions$37,345$63,505+22%#4 of 50#21$21,000
Economics$50,463$62,138-25%#345 of 368#360—
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services$34,142$58,126-1%#117 of 215#198$20,564
Mathematics$43,169$57,434-17%#271 of 309#298$23,750
Psychology$38,169$57,244+13%#159 of 1027#501$19,955
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$43,996$55,273+4%#175 of 476#349$17,500
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences$39,234$54,245-21%#52 of 61#59$24,938
History$38,028$53,455+5%#169 of 459#334$24,680
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$42,313$52,337+10%#154 of 680#529$20,297
Communication and Media Studies$34,235$50,511-10%#431 of 660#590$20,149
Urban Studies/Affairs—$48,387-23%#30 of 30#30—
Sociology$33,636$47,754-9%#345 of 462#435$22,500
English Language and Literature$33,022$43,416-11%#441 of 576#547$21,500
Geography and Cartography—$41,054-29%#116 of 117#117—
Visual and Performing Arts—$39,037-6%#46 of 68#62—

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The Worcester State University Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $461,509
  • Avg rent near campus: $2,334/mo — vs ~$977/mo campus room rate
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 01608 (8.0% cap, Worcester)

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🏆 Where Worcester State University Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

🥈
Clinical Nurse Specialist
of 2 schools
#9
Community Health Services/Liaison/Counseling
of 24 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $970 $7,050
Room $8,793
Board $4,630
Total Cost (On-Campus) $27,545 $33,625

Financial Aid

88%
Receive Any Aid
39%
Receive Pell Grants
61%
Take Out Loans
$14,307
Avg Net Price

Net Price by Family Income

Family Income Average Net Price
$0 - $30,000$9,035
$30,001 - $48,000$10,061
$48,001 - $75,000$12,665
$75,001 - $110,000$17,378
$110,001+$19,939

Student Demographics

5,611
Total Students
63%
Women
76%
Traditional Age (18-24)
8%
Off-Campus Renters

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 59%
Hispanic 16%
Black 8%
Asian 5%
Two or More 3%
Non-Resident 1%

🏠 Living Arrangements

On Campus 55%
Off-Campus (Renters) 8%
With Family 38%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~443 students need off-campus housing

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 59%
Hybrid (Some Online) 30%
Fully Online 11%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 76%
25-64 (Adult) 11%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Worcester State University?
Worcester State University has an acceptance rate of 90%. This indicates a less selective admissions process with good chances for qualified applicants.
How much does it cost to attend Worcester State University?
Tuition at Worcester State University is $970 for in-state students and $7,050 for out-of-state students . However, the average net price after financial aid is $14,307.
What is the graduation rate at Worcester State University?
The graduation rate at Worcester State University is 56%. This graduation rate is below average. Consider factors like program type and student demographics when evaluating.
Is Worcester State University a good school?
Worcester State University has a Repit College Score of 59/100 (Grade: C+). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (B): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (C+): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (C): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (A): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (D): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Worcester State University?
Worcester State University has a total enrollment of 5,611 students. Most students (76%) are traditional college-age (18-24).
Is there rental demand near Worcester State University?
Yes! Approximately 8% of students at Worcester State University live off-campus (not with family). That's roughly 443 students who need rental housing near campus.

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Worcester State University — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to Worcester State University

Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.

C+
Fitchburg State University
Fitchburg, MA · 6,296 students
C+
Salem State University
Salem, MA · 6,239 students
C+
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Boston, MA · 1,986 students
C+
University of Massachusetts-Boston
Boston, MA · 15,810 students
C+
Bridgewater State University
Bridgewater, MA · 9,550 students
C+
Westfield State University
Westfield, MA · 4,555 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology