WPI: the complete school report for parents
WPI puts the most weight on course rigor and GPA. The academic record does most of the work. It does not consider the interview, so there is no interview to prepare for. With a 61.9% admit rate and 60% of enrolled students at a 4.0 GPA or above, the transcript is the entry ticket and scores are optional but help when they are strong.
WPI is officially Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Admissions figures below come from its 2025-2026 Common Data Set (see the source), with the admission-factor grid re-read from that file on 2026-10-21.
Is WPI a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places WPI against the figures above. No account needed.
What does WPI actually weigh in admissions?
WPI rates 2 of the 18 factors "Very Important": course rigor, GPA. It does not consider 3 of them at all. Every college reports these weights in section C7 of its Common Data Set; below is WPI's 2025-2026 answer, read from the grid in its own file.
| Factor | How WPI rates it |
|---|---|
| course rigor | Very Important |
| GPA | Very Important |
| test scores | Considered |
| the essay | Considered |
| extracurricular activities | Important |
| recommendations | Important |
| personal qualities | Important |
| talent | Considered |
| class rank | Important |
| demonstrated interest | Considered |
| the interview | Not Considered |
| legacy | Considered |
| first-generation status | Considered |
| geography | Considered |
| state residency | Not Considered |
| volunteer work | Considered |
| work experience | Considered |
| religious affiliation | Not Considered |
Does WPI consider how hard my child’s courses were?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors. The senior-year schedule should keep its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten.
Does WPI consider GPA?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors.
Does WPI consider SAT or ACT scores?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does WPI consider the application essay?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does WPI consider extracurricular activities?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does WPI consider recommendation letters?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does WPI consider character and personal qualities?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does WPI consider a special talent or ability?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does WPI consider class rank?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does WPI consider demonstrated interest?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does WPI consider an interview?
No. WPI does not consider it. There is no interview to prepare for.
Does WPI consider legacy status?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor. It can act as a tiebreaker but will not carry a weak application.
Does WPI consider being first-generation?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor. Say so on the application; it is read as context.
Does WPI consider where we live?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does WPI consider state residency?
No. WPI does not consider it.
Does WPI consider volunteer work?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does WPI consider work experience?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does WPI consider religious affiliation?
No. WPI does not consider it.
What GPA do admitted students actually have?
60% of enrolled students had a 4.0 GPA or above. , reported for 3.9% of the entering class. This is the school’s own distribution, not an estimate from its admit rate.
| High school GPA | Share of enrolled students |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 60% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 19% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 15% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 4% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 2% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 0% |
| 2.00–2.49 | 0% |
What is the WPI waitlist really like?
WPI offered a place on its waiting list to 2,293 applicants and 980 accepted one. 460 were ultimately admitted. That is 46.9% of those who waited.
Is transferring in easier than applying as a freshman?
WPI admitted 79.8% of 248 transfer applicants, against 61.9% of first-year applicants. The two routes are similarly competitive here.
When do we apply, and does timing change the odds?
WPI reports its early rounds below.
| Regular application deadline | Not reported |
|---|---|
| Decisions released | April 1 |
| Reply / deposit deadline | May 1 |
| Early Decision offered | Not reported |
| Early Action offered | Not reported |
| Application fee | $0 |
| Fee waiver available | Not reported |
| Deferred admission offered | No |
What does my child need to take in high school?
WPI requires 10 academic units. A college-preparatory program is required. A GED is accepted.
| Subject | Required | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 years | Not stated |
| Mathematics | 4 years | Not stated |
| Science | 2 years | 4 years |
| of which lab science | 2 years | Not stated |
| Foreign language | Not stated | 2 years |
What will WPI actually cost us?
Families pay an average of $43,071 a year at WPI after grants and scholarships. The published price is not what most families pay. The university reports meeting 80.8% of demonstrated need on average.
59% of WPI graduates borrow, leaving with an average of $23,446 in debt, which the federal data puts at about $286 a month in repayment. WPI’s net price calculator gives your own figure.
Does a degree from WPI pay off?
Graduates earn a median $103,470 ten years after entering, and $85,038 at six years. 93% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years. 92% are actively paying down their loans three years in.
$148,489 to $72,494, depending on the major. Median earnings five years out at WPI:
| Major | Median earnings, 5 years | Graduates a year |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $148,489 | 199 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $105,931 | 87 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $102,711 | 132 |
| Chemical Engineering | $100,777 | 92 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $100,164 | 274 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | $98,303 | 64 |
| Civil Engineering | $97,994 | 54 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $85,313 | 21 |
| Biology, General | $82,976 | 47 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $72,494 | 6 |
College Scorecard, by field of study.
Will my child actually graduate?
95% of first-years return for a second year. 83% graduate within four years and 90% within six (2019 cohort). The rate holds up across income: 83.0% of Pell-grant recipients graduate within six years against 90.0% of everyone else, a gap of 7.0 points.
How big are the classes?
66% of class sections have fewer than 20 students, while 2% have 100 or more. The student-faculty ratio is 13:1, and 83% of faculty are full-time. Accredited by New England Commission on Higher Education.
What is life at WPI like?
5,461 undergraduates, 51% of first-years from out of state. 96% of freshmen live in university housing, falling to 44% across all undergraduates. Greek life is small: 21% of men join a fraternity and 31% of women a sorority. 13% of students are the first in their family to attend college, and the median family income is $76,076.
How is WPI ranked?
WPI is ranked #73 (tie) in National Universities by U.S. News & World Report (Best Colleges 2027). That is up from #84 a year earlier.
| Program list | Position |
|---|---|
| Best Undergraduate Engineering ProgramsAt schools whose highest degree is a doctorate | #57 (tie) |
| Business Programs | #176 (tie) |
| Computer Science | #65 (tie) |
Source: U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027. Only lists that rank WPI are shown; a program missing here may simply not be ranked by U.S. News, which says nothing about its quality.
What this means for your student
- Course rigor is rated Very Important here, so the senior-year schedule should hold its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten.
- 60% of enrolled students are at a 4.0 GPA or above. Below that line the rest of the application has to carry real weight.
- The waitlist is live but thin: 460 of 980 who waited were admitted, about 47%.
- Its highest-earning major returns $148,489 five years out against $72,494 at the other end, a gap wider than the one between most schools.
- See where your student actually stands: calculate their GPA and compare it against the distribution above.
Common questions about WPI
What GPA do you need for WPI?
60% of enrolled students at WPI had a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
Does the WPI waitlist move?
980 students accepted a place on the WPI waiting list and 460 were admitted in the 2025-2026 cycle.
What do WPI graduates earn?
WPI graduates earn a median $103,470 ten years after entering, and 93% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years.
Other schools families compare with WPI
Where these numbers come from
Admissions figures: WPI’s 2025-2026 Common Data Set, published here, factor grid re-read from it on 2026-10-21. Earnings, debt, net price and graduation rates: College Scorecard (2022-2023). Unreported values show as “Not reported”.