Worcester Polytechnic Institute
#801
QS Rank
46%
Acceptance rate
14.8%
Intl. students
$61,790
Tuition/yr
6,400
Enrollment
13:1
Student:Faculty
About Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Elite private research university in Worcester, MA. Top engineering and STEM programs.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) is a private research university founded in 1865 in Worcester, Massachusetts. It holds an R1 doctoral research designation, placing it among the 187 U.S. universities with the highest research activity and doctoral output, and offers more than 70 degree and certificate programs across four schools: Engineering, Arts & Sciences, Business, and Global.
WPI is best known for its project-based learning model, formalized as the WPI Plan, in which students complete real-world projects throughout their degree rather than only in a final capstone. The university is particularly strong in engineering, computer science, data science, robotics, and biomedical engineering. Its 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio supports hands-on mentorship, and the institution reports a 91% employment or graduate school placement rate within six months of graduation.
The campus spans Worcester, Massachusetts, the second-largest city in New England, and is roughly 45 miles west of Boston. WPI enrolls approximately 6,674 students in total, with about 80% at the undergraduate level. The university ranked #84 among U.S. National Universities in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report rankings.
World University Rankings
Campus & Location
MA
Suburban
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
All graduates from CRICOS-registered programs qualify for 12-month Optional Practical Training (OPT). STEM-designated programs (CS, Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, Sciences) qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension — 36 months total of US work authorisation.
For Nepali students
- WPI's core strengths in engineering, computer science, and data science align directly with the fields most pursued by Nepali students seeking U.S. STEM degrees, and nearly all of WPI's graduate programs qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, giving graduates up to three years of U.S. work authorization after graduation.
- Undergraduate tuition for 2025–2026 is approximately $61,790 per year, with all admitted students automatically considered for merit-based scholarships; WPI also offers a limited number of need-based grants to international students ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 annually, which can meaningfully reduce the sticker price for eligible Nepali applicants.
- WPI's acceptance rate of approximately 60% makes it more accessible than many comparable STEM-focused universities in the United States, lowering the application barrier for competitive Nepali students with strong secondary school records in science and mathematics.
- The university's project-based curriculum, including global off-campus project centers, gives Nepali students early professional experience and a portfolio of real engineering or research work, which strengthens graduate school and employer applications both in the U.S. and back in Nepal.
Admission requirements — Nepali equivalents
A rough translation of the published minimums for Nepali applicants:
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