Worcester State University

Public · Moderately Selective · MA

Photo: WillJayPA (CC BY-SA 4.0)

School data & stats

TypePublic

LocationMA · Northeast

SettingUrban

Undergrads3,930

Student:faculty16:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate47.7%

6-yr grad rate61.5%

Drop-out rate21.9%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$12k

Out-of-state tuition$18k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity41.4%

Gender diversity60.4%

International2%

Identity—

Overview

Worcester State is a public university in Worcester, Massachusetts, part of the state university system, offering a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programs at a public-tuition price point in a city that hosts nearly a dozen colleges. It draws heavily from central Massachusetts, with many students commuting from nearby towns while a meaningful residential population lives on campus. The identity is practical rather than prestige-driven: a solid public option for students focused on career preparation over name recognition.

Academics

Nursing, education, and the health sciences, including occupational therapy and communication sciences disorders, are the strongest and most recognized programs, drawing students from across the region for clinical placements at Worcester's hospitals. Business and criminal justice also enroll heavily. Class sizes tend to be small for a public university, with a teaching-focused faculty rather than a research-first orientation.

Campus & student life

The campus sits on the residential west side of Worcester, a quieter setting than the city's downtown core, with traditional New England-style buildings and green space. Athletics compete in Division III, and campus life reflects a mix of commuters and residential students rather than one dominant pattern. Worcester itself offers access to a dense cluster of other colleges and a growing downtown.

Getting in

Admission is not highly selective and the process is straightforward rather than essay-intensive, with emphasis on high school preparation and readiness for the specific program applied to, particularly for competitive tracks like nursing.

After graduation

Graduates tend to stay regional, taking jobs with Worcester-area hospitals, school districts, and employers across central Massachusetts; the university's ties to local health systems support strong placement for nursing and allied-health graduates specifically.

worcester.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate88%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 1026–1283

Test policyoptional

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying