Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Location: Worcester, MA (suburban, college town)
Size: 5,224 students
Avg percent need-met: 79%
Acceptance rate: 60%
Middle 50% ACT: 29-33 **Test Blind**
Middle 50% SAT: 1320-1450 **Test Blind**
Small, innovative, and undergraduate-oriented, WPI is anything but a stodgy technical institute. The WPI Plan is hands-on project-based, and takes a humanistic view of technical studies. WPI emphasizes teamwork instead of competition, and their global focus is unique for a technical school. About half of the students take part in some sort of international experience before graduating.
Popular majors / known for: Engineering and computer science
Academic approach: Research university with project-based learning guided by the WPI Plan; students are encouraged to explore real-world applications and implications of their work in a global context
Fun fact / campus tradition: Each year, the freshman and sophomore classes compete in a series of contests to win the coveted Goat’s Head Trophy, a bronze statuette of their mascot
Check out campus photos here!
Similarity to MIT
Also a STEM-focused technical institute
Students have a lot of research opportunities and access to a ton of labs with the newest software
Application Details
RD deadline: February 15th
Early Action deadline: November 1st, January 15th
Supplemental essays: Yes
Application fee: $0
On Common App: Yes
CSS profile: Required, due February 15th
Interviews: Not considered
School also featured in: Tech/Computer Science