Study in Worcester, The United States

About Worcester

Worcester, in central Massachusetts, is the second-largest city in New England after Boston. Clark University describes it as a hub for biotech, higher education, health care and the arts. For a student it offers the services of a mid-sized American city, several universities within a short distance of each other, and a rail link to Boston.

Students choose Worcester mainly for its universities: an engineering and technology institute with a long tradition of project work, a research university that began as a graduate school, and smaller liberal arts institutions. All four universities are classed by College Navigator as being in a midsize city.

Studying in Worcester

This directory lists four universities in Worcester. Teaching is in English.

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) is a private technological university founded in 1865 on the principle that students learn best by applying classroom theory to real-world problems. Its degrees are built around hands-on, team-based projects. It has 7,584 students, 5,558 of them undergraduates, and a student-to-faculty ratio of 13 to 1, and it awards degrees up to the research doctorate.
• Clark University was founded in 1887 by Jonas Gilman Clark as the first all-graduate school in the United States. Today it is a small research university with a liberal arts core, with 3,925 students (2,266 undergraduates) and a ratio of 8 students per faculty member.
• Worcester State University is a public liberal arts and sciences university with 5,745 students, 4,868 of them undergraduates, and a ratio of 16 to 1.
• Assumption University is a private, Catholic institution with 2,037 students (1,713 undergraduates) and a ratio of 11 to 1.

Student numbers and ratios are from College Navigator, the US Department of Education's college database.

Admission and student visa

International students usually need an F student visa to study at an accredited college or university. After admission, the university's international student office sends a Form I-20 (or a DS-2019 for J exchange programmes), which you present when you apply for the visa. According to EducationUSA, the academic year typically runs from September to May, and international students may work on campus up to 20 hours a week in their first year.

Cost of living for students

College Navigator gives these tuition and fees for 2024-25:

• WPI: $60,965, plus $18,386 for on-campus food and housing
• Clark University: $58,867, plus $12,500 for on-campus food and housing
• Assumption University: $51,356
• Worcester State University: $17,866 at the out-of-state rate, which applies to students from outside Massachusetts, plus $14,307 for on-campus food and housing

Fees have risen every year since 2021-22 at the private universities, so check the current figure on each university's site.

Getting around and daily life

Worcester Union Station is on the MBTA Commuter Rail network to Boston. One-way commuter rail fares range from $2.40 to $13.25 depending on the zone, and tickets and monthly passes are sold at the station's fare machines. Worcester has cold winters and warm summers: NOAA's 1991-2020 normals for Worcester Regional Airport give an average of 24.7 °F (about −4 °C) in January and 70.8 °F (about 21.5 °C) in July.

Frequently asked questions

Which universities are in Worcester?

This directory lists Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Clark University, Worcester State University and Assumption University.

Is Worcester close to Boston?

Yes. Worcester Union Station is served by the MBTA Commuter Rail, which runs to Boston.

How much does a year at a Worcester university cost?

For 2024-25, tuition and fees ranged from $17,866 at Worcester State University (out-of-state rate) to $60,965 at WPI, according to College Navigator. On-campus food and housing adds between about $12,500 and $18,400.

What is the weather like in Worcester?

Winters are cold, with a January average of 24.7 °F (about −4 °C), and summers are mild to warm, with a July average of 70.8 °F (about 21.5 °C).