loading 6,000+ schools…

Compare Boston College vs Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Chestnut Hill, MA · Worcester, MA

Boston CollegeWorcester Polytechnic Institute
Cost
Price after aid (average)$41,704/yr$43,071/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$4,284/yr$24,018/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$19,000$27,000
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$7,304/yr$24,452/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$13,112/yr$32,350/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$19,999/yr$37,753/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$60,308/yr$49,716/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$201/mo$286/mo
Room & board (on campus)$18,916/yr$18,386/yr
Room & board (off campus)$15,658/yr$18,386/yr
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$1,250/yr$1,200/yr
Other living costs (on campus)$2,300/yr$1,200/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$89,493/yr$78,679/yr
Tuition (in-state)$70,702/yr$60,965/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$70,702/yr$60,965/yr
Students with Pell Grants13%12%
Students taking federal loans30%52%
Getting in
Students who get accepted16%60%
SAT range (middle 50%)1440–1540No data reported
SAT average1507No data reported
ACT range (middle 50%)33–35No data reported
ACT sections (middle 50%)English 34–35 · Math 30–34No data reported
Admissions data fromFall 2023Fall 2023
Applications received36,06911,809
Students accepted5,6456,908
Students who enrolled2,3351,360
Accepted students who enroll41%20%
Enrolled who sent SAT scores28%No data reported
Enrolled who sent ACT scores16%No data reported
High-school GPARequiredOptional (considered if sent)
High-school transcriptRequiredRequired
EssayRequiredRequired
Recommendation lettersRequiredRequired
Class rankOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
College-prep programRequiredRequired
Demonstrated competenciesOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
Work experienceOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
English proficiency testRequiredRequired
Other admission testsOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
Legacy consideredOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
SAT/ACT policyOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate91%90%
Freshmen who come back96%94%
Typical earnings 10 years in$103,937/yr$103,470/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$68,220–$161,815$77,738–$129,699
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)91%89%
White students graduating93%91%
Black students graduating83%78%
Hispanic students graduating91%85%
Asian students graduating88%92%
Typical earnings 6 years in$85,717/yr$85,038/yr
Earn more than a HS grad90%92%
Graduate on time86%84%
Pell students who graduate88%85%
First-gen students who finish91%86%
Low-income students who finish90%80%
Students who transfer out7.2%No data reported
Typical earnings 8 years in$89,620/yr$100,553/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsBusiness, Management & Marketing 23% · Social Sciences 18% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 14%Engineering 58% · Computer & Information Sciences 22% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 7%
Most popular programBusiness, Management & Marketing — 23% of degreesEngineering — 58% of degrees
2nd most popular programSocial Sciences — 18% of degreesComputer & Information Sciences — 22% of degrees
3rd most popular programBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 14% of degreesBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 7% of degrees
4th most popular programPsychology — 11% of degreesMulti/Interdisciplinary Studies — 4% of degrees
5th most popular programCommunication & Journalism — 8% of degreesVisual & Performing Arts — 2% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Law — $117,864/yrBusiness Administration, Management and Operations — $147,168/yr
Degrees in STEM23%91%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment10,0855,447
Students per professor10 : 113 : 1
Graduate students5,1182,026
Average professor pay$18,131/mo$13,376/mo
Full-time professors61%83%
Fully onlineNoNo
Accredited byNew England Commission on Higher EducationNew England Commission on Higher Education
Median family income$103,007$114,021
SettingCity (small)City (midsize)
LocationChestnut Hill, MAWorcester, MA
RegionNew EnglandNew England
Founded18631865
Public or privatePrivate (nonprofit)Private (nonprofit)
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationDoctoral Universities: Very High Research ActivityDoctoral Universities: High Research Activity
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students6.5%6.4%
Men48%67%
Women52%33%
White students57%64%
Black students5.3%2.7%
Hispanic or Latino students13%8.5%
Asian students11%13%
Two or more races5.1%3.6%
Other / not reported2.4%1.9%
Special typeReligiously affiliatedNone
First-generation students13%13%
Part-time students2.7%2.2%
Students age 25+2%0.7%
Spent on teaching per student$27,008/yr$21,636/yr
Endowment$3.9B$682.7M
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusYes — dorms on campus
Beds in campus housing7,6072,628
Required to live on campusNoNo
Room charge (campus housing)$10,470/yr$9,800/yr
Meal plan charge$8,005/yr$7,458/yr
Meal plan offeredYesYes
Meals per weekVaries by week19 meals/week
Academic calendarSemesterSemester
Religious affiliationRoman CatholicNo data reported
Federal designationNoneNone
Study abroadYesYes
Undergraduate researchNoNo
ROTCYes — Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air ForceYes — Army, Navy, Air Force
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditNoNo
Credit for life experienceYesNo
Online classesYesYes
Whole degrees onlineNoNo
Weekend & evening classesYesNo
Teacher certificationYesYes
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyYesYes
Job placement for graduatesYesYes
On-campus day careYesNo
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesNoNo
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolYesYes
Credit for military trainingYesNo
Student veteran organizationYesNo
Tuition payment planYesYes
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionNoNo
Prepaid tuition planYesYes
Athletics
Athletics data from2024-252024-25
College sports levelNCAA Division I-FBSNCAA Division III with football
Football teamYesYes
Varsity teams2716
Student athletes801549
Athletic scholarships$27.1M$0
Athletics budget$142.1M$5.9M
Athletics revenue$142.1M$5.9M
Recruiting spend$2.5M$66,509

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.