McDaniel College vs. WPI

Comparable Facts

Compare McDaniel College in Westminster, MD with Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute is larger than McDaniel College based on total student enrollment (7,584 students vs. 2,868 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• McDaniel College is located in Westminster, MD (Small Suburban setting); Worcester Polytechnic Institute is in Worcester, MA (Midsize City setting).
• McDaniel College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: McDaniel College 13:1; Worcester Polytechnic Institute 13:1.

McDaniel College vs. WPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, McDaniel College or WPI? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at McDaniel College than WPI ($24,497 vs. $47,372).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at McDaniel College are 29.4% lower than at Worcester Polytechnic Institute ($12,974 vs. $18,386).
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute is 17.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than McDaniel College (about $8,884 more per year; $60,965.00 vs. $52,081.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17.1% higher at WPI than at McDaniel College (about $8,884 more per year; $60,965.00 vs. $52,081.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at McDaniel College as at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by McDaniel College students is 29.1% larger than aid received by Worcester Polytechnic Institute students ($40,721 vs. $31,545).

McDaniel College vs. WPI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, McDaniel College or WPI? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between WPI and McDaniel College.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: McDaniel College - Test-free; WPI - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: WPI Feb 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman WPI students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at McDaniel College (3.64).
• McDaniel College has a higher acceptance rate (77.9%) than WPI (60.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.7% at McDaniel College vs. 18.1% at WPI.

McDaniel College vs. WPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for McDaniel College and WPI? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute's six-year graduation rate (76%) is higher than McDaniel College's (74%).
• Graduates from Worcester Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $29,300 more per year than McDaniel College graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,700 vs. $53,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Worcester Polytechnic Institute and McDaniel College graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Worcester Polytechnic Institute and McDaniel College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More WPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former McDaniel College students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 81%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.