Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI): Rankings, Cost, Programs, Placements

The scholarships at Worcester Polytechnic Institute is bifurcated into two categories: Merit-based & Need-based.

Merit-based: WPI offers competitive academic merit-based scholarships to first-year applicants based on academic performance in high school, leadership, extracurricular involvement and community service. IB Diploma graduates with a Diploma score of 40 or greater admitted to WPI are guaranteed an academic merit-based scholarship worth a minimum of $25,000. All applicants for admission are automatically considered for merit scholarships. No additional applications are required.

Need-based: WPI offers a limited number of need-based scholarships to international students. Since WPI has limited funds available, only a portion of the admitted international students are awarded an international scholarship each year. The awards vary in amount but typically range from $5,000 to $25,000. These awards are renewed each year provided the student remains in good academic standing. WPI does not guarantee to meet applicants' full financial need. International scholarships are based upon financial need, the student's academic profile, and any special talents or experiences that the student will bring to WPI. Since no award amounts are greater than the cost of tuition, families are expected to contribute a minimum of $22,000 for living and travel expenses to the total cost of attendance at WPI. Also since funding is limited, families who have the financial resources to fund the entire cost of attendance should not apply for financial aid. WPI maintains a need-aware admissions process for international (non-immigrant) applicants. It is possible to receive an award that is a combination of a merit-based scholarship and an international scholarship; however, WPI offers very few combined awards. It is important to note that combined awards never exceed the cost of tuition. In order to apply for an International Scholarship, students must complete the CSS Profile at the time of application. 

There was an increase in the average starting salary of bachelor’s degree pass outs as compared to 2019. The salary recorded for 64.5% of bachelor’s students who had a job in 2020 was $72,951. For the master’s and PhD degree graduates, the salaries were $86,017 and $100,200 respectively. As per Forbes, the 10-year median salary for WPI graduates is $135,500.

Yes, the Worcester Polytechnic Institute allows students to work along with studying. Students can work up to 20 hours a week during the regular academic year. During vacations and summer holidays, students can work full-time, i.e., 40 hours. Students can also apply for jobs on-campus. Also, WPI allows international students to work part-time on campus. Positions are available in a variety of offices and services. The application process for many positions in competitive, and new students are encouraged to apply directly upon arrival at WPI. Student employees will typically earn $1,500 to $2,500 in an academic year.

Note: International students are advised to check the conditions of working in a foreign country on their study visa. They are also advised to confirm any specific instructions on the same from their respective departments and faculties. Under no circumstances should they be found compromising with the law and order of the country.

Students are advised to refer to the USA Study Visa Guide and F1 Visa Guide for further details.