Worcester Polytechnic Institute

In 2022, Worcester Polytechnic Institute's tuition was $56,000 a year.

In 2022, tuition increased 2.49%–from $54,640 the prior year. On average, college tuition goes up about 3% every year.

If this makes attending the college of your dreams feel scary, remember, the "sticker price" of tuition does not give you enough information to determine the actual cost of attending any given college. Many students owe much less than the total tuition after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts are applied. And, student loans can make theprice of collegefeel more doable until you've finishing school and found a job.

Does Worcester Polytechnic Institute Offer In-State and Out-of-State Tuition?

Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a private, nonprofit institution, so it has the same tuition for residents of Massachusetts as it does for residents from other states.

Public colleges and universities receive funding from the state government. These institutions offer reduced tuition for those who qualify as Massachusetts residents.

Choosing a college where you qualify for the reduced tuition offered to state residentscan drastically reduce the total cost of attending college. Be sure to check your state's eligibility criteria for in-state tuition. Every state has its own rules about what makes someone eligible for in-state tuition. Most states require students to have resided in the state for a certain period of time before qualifying. There may be additional requirements too, depending on where you live.

Explore other Massachusetts colleges

Tuition for International Students at Worcester Polytechnic Institute

WPI has the same tuition for international students as for those from out of state.

International students are not eligible for loans or grants from the U.S. government, but may qualify for private or school-specific grants, scholarships, and other funding opportunities.. International students with need may be eligible for the following types of financial support at WPI:

•WPI-specific scholarships

International students without financial need may be eligible for merit-based institutional scholarships.

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Worcester Polytechnic Institute Room, Board, Fees, and More

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In addition to tuition, room and board, books, transportation and fees are also costs it consider when planning for college. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at WPI.

House and Food Costs at WPI

Room and board at WPI is $16,544 a year. This includes the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, plus a dining plan that enables you to eat in the WPI's on-campus cafeterias and dining halls. Students who live off campus but would like to be able to eat in the campus dining can opt-in for a meal plan. The cost of board-only is $9,482.

Meal-plan costs may vary depending on how many meals are included in the plan you choose.

How Much Do Books Cost at WPI?

First-year students are sometimes surprised by how much books and supplies cost–and not in a good way. The real cost of books depends on the courses you take and the textbooks, computer programs, or other materials are required.. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy books from students who have already taken the course.

Yearly Fees

Most schools charge some yearly fees to help cover the cost of facilties, like the library, gym and computer labs.

There may be optional fees associated with participating in certain activities, like joining a fraternity or sorority, or participating in sports or other extracurriculars. Most colleges have resources so that those with financial need to find ways to lower or eliminate these costs.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Transportation costs at WPI

The cost of getting around in college can really vary. Will you take a subway, car or an airplane to get to school? Will you need to pay to park on-campus? Is the campus easy to get around on foot? Do you own a car, or are you planning to use public transportation? All of these factors can drastically impact your estimated cost of transportation. Keeping in mind, first-year students are not allowed to park a car on campus.

Where are a college is located can also have a big effect on transportation costs. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the other hand getting around in a city might be pricey, but cities may offer more buses, trains or low-cost flight options to actually get to school. The Worcester Polytechnic Institute campus is located in a suburban setting in Massachusetts, near Boston.

Other Costs

When estimating your budget for college, be sure to factor in personal expenses, like entertainment, clothes, furnishings and toiletries.

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The Full Cost of Attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute

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Now, let’s do a rundown of all of the costs associated with college, to get a better estimate of what is really costs to go to WPI.

Total Cost of WPI

What will the cost of attending WPI be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2022 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition	$56,000
Room and Board	$16,544
Board Only	$7,062
Other expenses	$1,200

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus	$75,840
Off-Campus	$66,358

The breakdowns above provide a good estimate of the total cost of attendance before financial aid and scholarships. Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.

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Financial Aid at Worcester Polytechnic Institute

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The majority of WPI undergrads use financial aid to finance their education. In 2022, 2,627 of the 5,224 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. WPI meets 72% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $31,414 a year.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans	$24,941
State Loans	$5,854
WPI-Specific Loans	$6,281
Private Loans	$0

Most Common Loans for WPI Students
Federal Loans	57%
State loans	6%
Institutional Loans	28%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on WPI financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2022, WPI awarded 2,618 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $69.7 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $47.53 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Net Cost of Worcester Polytechnic Institute

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for WPI students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at WPI was $31,414 in 2022. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of WPI seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus	$44,426
Off-Campus	$34,944

What will attending WPI really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families understand the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the WPI's net cost calculator on their website.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

WPI offers an Installment Payment Plan, which allows students to pay tuition in a series of smaller chunks instead of one lump sum.

Does Worcester Polytechnic Institute Offer Tuition Waivers?

Schools sometimes waiver tuition for certain groups, to make attending more affordable. Some colleges offer tuition waivers for employees and their family members, underrepresented students, or military students. Even if you qualify for a waiver, other expenses and fees are the responsibility of the student.

WPI has some full or partial tuition waivers available for: - Employees or Children of Employees

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.

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Learn More About Worcester Polytechnic Institute

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