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Worcester State University

Worcester State University is a public campus in Worcester proper — federal locale codes class it as urban.

What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$9,035

family income
under $30k

$10,061

$30–48k

$12,665

$48–75k

$17,378

$75–110k

$19,939

over $110k

Average net price

$13,3812023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at Worcester State University has wandered from 2008 to 2023 — up to $19,113 at the peak — but ends near where it began, at $13,381.

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$13,434
2009	$12,125
2010	$13,483
2011	$14,059
2012	$16,550
2013	$16,429
2014	$17,495
2015	$19,113
2016	$18,836
2017	$18,580
2018	$16,761
2019	$16,555
2020	$13,627
2021	$15,325
2022	$14,738
2023	$13,381

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$22,8742024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at Worcester State University rose from $15,146 (2009) to $22,874 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$15,146
2010	$16,003
2011	$17,217
2012	$18,188
2013	$18,494
2014	$18,252
2015	$19,482
2016	$20,892
2017	$20,920
2018	$20,923
2019	$21,788
2020	$21,539
2021	$18,674
2022	$20,795
2023	$21,586
2024	$22,874

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition (in-state vs out-of-state)

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition — data
Year	In-state	Out-of-state
2000	$2,508	$8,528
2001	$2,573	$8,653
2002	$2,962	$9,156
2003	$4,123	$10,203
2004	$4,579	$10,659
2005	$5,079	$11,159
2006	$5,539	$11,619
2007	$5,864	$11,944
2008	$6,170	$12,250
2013	$8,157	$14,237
2014	$8,557	$14,637
2015	$8,857	$14,937
2016	$9,202	$15,282
2017	$9,532	$15,612
2018	$10,161	$16,241
2019	$10,161	$16,241
2020	$10,586	$16,666
2021	$10,586	$16,666
2022	$10,786	$16,866
2023	$11,286	$17,366

IPEDS Published price 2000–01 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

Worcester State University reports published tuition by residency: $11,786 in-state versus $17,866 out-of-state — a $6,080 gap that makes state lines part of the decision. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

Worcester State University reports 3,930 undergraduate students. Enrollment is a headcount, not a measure of teaching access.

61.5% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at Worcester State University within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

61.5%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at Worcester State University rose from 37% (entered 1991) to 61.5% (entered 2018).

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1991 cohort	37%
1992 cohort	32.5%
1993 cohort	33.8%
1994 cohort	30.2%
1995 cohort	35.3%
1996 cohort	35.6%
1997 cohort	40.5%
1998 cohort	43.2%
1999 cohort	43.5%
2000 cohort	36.9%
2001 cohort	43.9%
2002 cohort	46.9%
2003 cohort	44.4%
2004 cohort	45.1%
2005 cohort	46.9%
2006 cohort	51%
2007 cohort	48.8%
2008 cohort	53.1%
2009 cohort	50.9%
2010 cohort	55.8%
2011 cohort	55.4%
2012 cohort	56.8%
2013 cohort	57.6%
2014 cohort	58.6%
2015 cohort	60.9%
2016 cohort	58.9%
2017 cohort	55.5%
2018 cohort	61.5%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 1997 and 1998 (FY1997/98)	$12,364	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (FY1998/99)	$11,000	$5,403
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	$9,725	$4,322
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	$9,201	$4,121
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	$9,385	$4,951
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	—	$5,375
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$10,324	$5,250
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$10,750	$4,951
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$9,775	$5,139
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$11,542	$5,311
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$13,224	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$16,813	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$17,500	$5,821
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$18,678	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$18,829	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$19,479	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$19,949	$8,750
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$19,500	$11,905
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$19,334	$10,251
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$20,000	$7,629
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$20,000	$8,750
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$19,500	$8,750

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$50,233

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$53,751

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$60,624

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

Worcester State University admitted 4,537 of 5,156 applicants in Fall 2024. The 88% rate describes that application pool.

88%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $11,286 in-state tuition · 2023–24 3,930 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Test-optional (considered) · Fall 2024

400SAT range (section 25th/75th sums): 1026–12831600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

Worcester State University reported scores as considered but not required for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. For Worcester State University’s enrolled SAT submitters, Reading and Writing was 533–665 and Math was 493–618 (25th–75th percentiles). The section-percentile sums 1026–1283 are not composite-score percentiles. These are not admission cutoffs.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
SAT Reading & Writing	533	595	665
SAT Math	493	555	618

25th / 75th: a quarter of enrolled submitters scored below the first number, a quarter above the second. These are not cutoffs.

Only students who submitted scores are counted — at test-optional schools, many enrolled students aren't in this table.

Percentiles are among enrolled students who submitted scores (Fall 2024 admissions cycle).

In the Fall 2024 cycle, Worcester State University received 5,156 applications and admitted 4,537 (88%), with 756 enrolling.

Acceptance rate

88%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	57.6%
Fall 2002	53.3%
Fall 2003	51.1%
Fall 2004	57.5%
Fall 2005	59.6%
Fall 2006	55.8%
Fall 2007	53.3%
Fall 2008	54.2%
Fall 2009	59%
Fall 2010	64.7%
Fall 2011	65.4%
Fall 2012	68.1%
Fall 2013	60.6%
Fall 2014	61.3%
Fall 2015	68.6%
Fall 2016	70.6%
Fall 2017	76.3%
Fall 2018	77.8%
Fall 2019	80.8%
Fall 2020	81%
Fall 2021	89.3%
Fall 2022	87.7%
Fall 2023	89.9%
Fall 2024	88%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

1026–1283Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	870	1090
Fall 2002	870	1070
Fall 2003	900	1090
Fall 2004	900	1080
Fall 2005	910	1100
Fall 2006	920	1110
Fall 2007	910	1100
Fall 2008	900	1100
Fall 2009	930	1110
Fall 2010	920	1100
Fall 2011	920	1100
Fall 2012	900	1090
Fall 2013	920	1110
Fall 2014	890	1100
Fall 2015	925	1110
Fall 2016	910	1110
Fall 2020	1000	1190
Fall 2021	1030	1193
Fall 2022	1015	1220
Fall 2023	1008	1280
Fall 2024	1026	1283

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

22–29Fall 2022 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	18	24
Fall 2002	20	23
Fall 2003	17	21
Fall 2004	17	23
Fall 2005	17	21
Fall 2006	18	21
Fall 2007	20	24
Fall 2008	18	23
Fall 2009	19	23
Fall 2010	19	24
Fall 2011	19	24
Fall 2012	19	23
Fall 2013	20	24
Fall 2014	19	25
Fall 2015	20	25
Fall 2016	21	26
Fall 2020	21	29
Fall 2021	23	24
Fall 2022	22	29

IPEDS Fall 2001–2022, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

3,930Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at Worcester State University has wandered from Fall 2002 to Fall 2024 — up to 5,063 at the peak — but ends near where it began, at 3,930.

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	4,047
Fall 2003	3,982
Fall 2004	3,858
Fall 2005	3,964
Fall 2006	3,958
Fall 2007	4,020
Fall 2008	4,077
Fall 2009	4,211
Fall 2010	4,395
Fall 2011	4,775
Fall 2012	4,808
Fall 2013	5,033
Fall 2014	5,063
Fall 2015	5,049
Fall 2016	4,891
Fall 2017	5,035
Fall 2018	4,996
Fall 2019	4,919
Fall 2020	4,648
Fall 2021	4,271
Fall 2022	4,025
Fall 2023	3,963
Fall 2024	3,930

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

78%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at Worcester State University has held near 78% from Fall 2003 to Fall 2023.

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2003 cohort	71%
Fall 2004 cohort	75%
Fall 2005 cohort	74%
Fall 2006 cohort	76%
Fall 2007 cohort	76%
Fall 2008 cohort	77%
Fall 2009 cohort	75%
Fall 2010 cohort	80%
Fall 2011 cohort	78%
Fall 2012 cohort	80%
Fall 2013 cohort	82%
Fall 2014 cohort	77%
Fall 2015 cohort	78%
Fall 2016 cohort	80%
Fall 2017 cohort	79%
Fall 2018 cohort	79%
Fall 2019 cohort	80%
Fall 2020 cohort	73%
Fall 2021 cohort	75%
Fall 2022 cohort	77%
Fall 2023 cohort	78%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2003–2023

More about Worcester State University

Faculty pay at Worcester State University averages $123,696 a year, annualized from reported monthly pay. Carnegie classes Worcester State University as a primarily residential campus of 3,930 undergraduates — and 78.1% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

Worcester State University's SAT section-percentile sums are 1026–1283 — their midpoint is below the MA four-year benchmark. These are not total-score percentiles. Put your own practice estimate on Worcester State University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How Worcester State University compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

Worcester State University88%

Massachusetts median70.3%

National median76.8%

Tuition (in-state)

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

Worcester State University$11,786

Massachusetts median$46,700

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

Worcester State University's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

Worcester State University$60,624

Massachusetts median$62,832

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

Worcester State University, Massachusetts and national reference values
Metric & basis	Worcester State University	Massachusetts median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	88%	70.3%	76.8%
Tuition (in-state)Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$11,786	$46,700	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$60,624	$62,832	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For Worcester State University, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

Worcester State University federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 22 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing	$92,133
Computer and Information Sciences, General	$92,068
Biotechnology	$90,565
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions	$74,386
Biology, General	$68,459
Business Administration, Management and Operations	$66,405
Criminal Justice and Corrections	$65,588
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions	$63,505
Economics	$62,138
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services	$58,126
Mathematics	$57,434
Psychology, General	$57,244
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities	$55,273
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other	$54,245
History	$53,455
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods	$52,337
Communication and Media Studies	$50,511
Urban Studies/Affairs	$48,387
Sociology	$47,754
English Language and Literature, General	$43,416
Geography and Cartography	$41,054
Visual and Performing Arts, General	$39,037

These 22 fields listed for Worcester State University measure earnings after completion. The $60,624 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 11 additional Worcester State University fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does Worcester State University report?

Worcester State University's enrolled submitters had SAT section-percentile sums of 1026–1283 in Fall 2024. These are not total-score percentiles or a GPA requirement.

What is Worcester State University's acceptance rate?

88% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 4,537 admitted from 5,156 applicants.

How much does Worcester State University cost?

In-state tuition is $11,786; out-of-state students pay $17,866. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.

What earnings data does Worcester State University report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $60,624. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in Massachusetts

Wentworth Institute of Technology — 91.2% admitted
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth — 90.6% admitted
Salem State University — 95.9% admitted
College of Our Lady of the Elms — 85.3% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.