Worcester Polytechnic Institute

What is the cost of studying for a year at Worcester Polytechnic Institute?

WPI is a private institution, so its published undergraduate tuition does not differ for Massachusetts residents and out-of-state students. For 2024-25, the reported full-time undergraduate tuition was $59,700, with $1,065 in required fees. Those are billed educational charges, not a complete estimate of what a student might spend.

• 2024-25 full-time undergraduate tuition and required fees: $60,765.
• Reported typical room and board for an academic year: $18,900.
• Reported books and supplies estimate: $1,200.

Together, those three reported categories total $80,865. That is an illustrative sum, not a complete official cost of attendance: transportation, personal expenses, and individual housing or meal choices can change the total. Students living at home may have a different budget, while the cost of an off-campus project may add travel expenses. Graduate tuition and part-time charges follow different schedules.

Published price is also different from net price after grants and scholarships. In the reported aid figures, the average grant award was $30,806, but an average does not describe every student's award. Average net price also varied by family-income group; for families in the $0-$48,000 bracket, the reported figure was $24,452. Those averages reflect the students included in the measure and should not be used as a personal quote.

Eligible students may finance attendance through federal and state grants, WPI scholarships and grants, federal loans, and, where applicable, military or veterans' education benefits. Applicants should follow WPI's current financial-aid instructions, including the FAFSA and any additional form required for institutional need-based aid, and compare the resulting offer with a full annual budget. Grants reduce price; loans must generally be repaid.

What are the work-study opportunities at Worcester Polytechnic Institute?

WPI students can pursue part-time employment and career-development opportunities, but Federal Work-Study, an ordinary campus job, and an internship serve different purposes. Federal Work-Study is a need-based federal aid program: an eligible student earns wages by working in an approved job, rather than receiving the entire award as an upfront tuition discount.

Students should check their financial-aid offer for Work-Study eligibility and use WPI's student-employment resources to find openings. A Work-Study award does not itself guarantee a position, and a student without that award may still qualify for other campus jobs. Work hours must fit academic and project commitments, particularly during WPI's shorter terms.

For career planning, WPI's career services include individual counseling, résumé and interview support, employer events, job-search resources, and alumni networking opportunities. Internships are not a university-wide graduation requirement. Students seeking field-specific experience should distinguish a paid job or internship from an academic project and ask how, if at all, it earns degree credit.