Worcester State University
Worcester, Massachusetts · Public · 88.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 77/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Worcester State University earns a 77 ROI score in the Strong Value tier - a solid result for a Massachusetts public university with in-state tuition of $11,786 and an average net price of $13,381. The 3,930-student school in Worcester admits 88% of applicants. Earnings reach $41,000 six years out and $60,624 at ten years, with a 7.6-year payback period. The completion rate of 61.5% is a concern - about 38% of enrolled students do not finish. Registered Nursing (62 graduates, $75K starting) and Biotechnology (16 graduates, $70K starting) are the strongest-performing programs. The school's low cost base means students with high-earning programs can still achieve reasonable returns despite modest starting salaries. About 30% of students receive Pell grants. Worcester's location in Massachusetts' second-largest city gives students access to the large Worcester healthcare and education job market.
Worcester State University scores in the top 16% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
Worcester State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $11,786/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $17,866/yr |
| Average net price | $13,381/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $53,524 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $60,624 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $41,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $207 |
| Estimated payback period | 7.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 61.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 3,930 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $11,786/year ($17,866/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $13,381/year, or roughly $53,524 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $8,793/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $19,679/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $19,500, which works out to about $207 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($41,000) and comes to 0.48, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $8,793 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $9,629 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $9,540 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $13,658 |
| $110,001+ | $19,679 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $8,793 per year at Worcester State - about $35,000 for four years. The school's role in serving first-generation and working-class students is reflected in these numbers. Combined with strong nursing salaries, this is a viable path for low-income Massachusetts students targeting healthcare careers.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30-48k bracket pays $9,629 per year and the 48-75k bracket pays $9,540 - nearly identical and low. The 75-110k bracket rises to $13,658. The pricing structure is flat across middle-income ranges, which benefits all middle-income families. A family at $70,000 income pays about $9,540/year.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $19,679 per year. For high-income Massachusetts families, this is an affordable option but one where the outcomes ceiling is modest. Worcester State's value proposition is strongest for cost-constrained families.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Worcester State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $57,244 | C |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $66,405 | C+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $65,588 | C |
| Biology | $68,459 | C+ |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | $63,505 | C |
| Teacher Education | $52,337 | C+ |
| Registered Nursing | $92,133 | B |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $55,273 | C+ |
| Communication and Media Studies | $50,511 | C |
| Sociology | $47,754 | D |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing (62 graduates) shows $75,249 one-year earnings and $92,133 at four years, with a 0.357 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B grade. Nursing salaries in Massachusetts are high due to strong labor market conditions, union contracts at major hospital systems, and high cost of living. Starting at $75K in Worcester while paying $13,381 average net price creates a strong return. The 0.357 debt ratio is manageable. This is the clearest high-value program at the school and the most financially defensible choice for students entering Worcester State.
Biotechnology
Biotechnology (16 graduates) shows $70,124 one-year earnings and $90,565 at four years, with a 0.315 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B+ grade. The Massachusetts Route 128 biotech corridor - home to Moderna, Biogen, and dozens of biopharma companies - creates strong demand for entry-level research associates and quality control scientists. A Worcester State biotechnology degree at $13,381 net price, landing graduates at $70K starting, is a financially sensible path for students interested in the life sciences. The small graduate cohort (16) means the school is not saturating the market.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (144 graduates) is the school's largest program, showing $46,660 one-year earnings and $66,405 at four years, with a 0.491 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C+ grade. Four-year earnings near $66K show some progression. The credential is functional, not exceptional.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 73.6% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 77.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 71.6% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 74.9% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Worcester State University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 88.0% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 493-618 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 533-665 |
| Enrollment | 3,930 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 30.0% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,308 |
At 88% admission rate and broad SAT ranges (493-618 Math, 533-665 Reading), Worcester State is a non-selective public university. This data does not include ACT ranges.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester State University (this school) | 77 | $13,381 | $60,624 |
| University of Wisconsin-Platteville | 75 | $16,032 | $61,760 |
| Salisbury University | 74 | $17,743 | $61,515 |
| SUNY Old Westbury | 71 | $11,282 | $58,526 |
| Bridgewater State University | 59 | $16,383 | $57,466 |
| Fitchburg State University | 58 | $14,262 | $53,874 |
Who Thrives Here
Worcester State admits with SAT 493-618 (Math) and 533-665 (Reading). The wide ranges and 88% admission rate reflect an accessible school serving first-generation and working-class Massachusetts students. About 30% receive Pell grants. Students who succeed here are often local, practical-minded, and focused on healthcare, education, or applied sciences. The campus completion rate (61.5%) signals that students need external support systems to finish.
Transfer Pathways
Worcester State has established articulation agreements with Massachusetts community colleges. Transfer students from MassBay, Quinsigamond, and other state community colleges can enter with junior standing in many programs. The school's accessible admission rate and low net price make it a practical transfer destination for Massachusetts community college students completing their associate degrees.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, Worcester State University pays off. You'd pay about $13,381 a year after aid ($53,524 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $60,624 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 7.6 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings.
Median debt of $19,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $41,000 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Worcester State University: Common Questions
Is Worcester State University worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Worcester State University pays off. It scores 77/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $13,381 a year after aid ($53,524 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $60,624 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 7.6 years to earn back.
How much does Worcester State University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $13,381 a year, or roughly $53,524 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Worcester State University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $60,624 ten years after enrolling, roughly $18,824 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Worcester State University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 7.6 years for Worcester State University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Worcester State University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $19,500, against average earnings of $41,000 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Worcester State University?
The six-year graduation rate is 61.5%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.