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RPI Clark University Holy Cross RIT Stevens Northeastern Worcester State University UMass Purdue BU UConn Western New England University| Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Cumberland University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
WPI | CU | ||
| Location | Worcester, MA | Lebanon, TN | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 7,353 | 3,072 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | ||||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wpi.edu | cumberland.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WPI | CU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $57,960 | $26,640 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $57,960 | $26,640 | ||
| Room & Board | $18,072 | $10,360 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $47,799 | $17,669 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $28,005 | $23,749 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 95% | 100% |
Admission |
WPI | CU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 11,809 | 2,788 | ||
| Admitted | 6,908 | 1,868 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 58.5% | 67% | ||
| Enrolled % | 19.7% | 36% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.9 | 3.3 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | ||||
| SAT Range | ||||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Feb 15, 2026 |
Academics |
WPI | CU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 18:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
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Outcomes |
WPI | CU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 76% | 34% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $82,700 | $39,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 92% | 60% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $21,729 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $224 |
Diversity |
WPI | CU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 17% | 8% | ||
| % Women | 8% | 6% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 63% | 63% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 12% | ||
| % Hispanic | 8% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 0% | ||
| % International | 12% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 6% | 16% |
Students |
WPI | CU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 44% | 88% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 49% | 8% | ||
Campus |
WPI | CU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute is larger than than CU based on total student enrollment (7,353 students vs. 3,072 students)
WPI vs. CU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WPI or CU?
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute is 117.6% more expensive to attend than CU for in-state tuition ($57,960.00 vs. $26,640.00)
- Out of state tuition is 117.6% higher at WPI than Cumberland University ($57,960.00 vs. $26,640.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Cumberland University than WPI ($17,669 vs. $47,799)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cumberland University are 74.4% lower than costs at Worcester Polytechnic Institute ($10,360 vs. $18,072)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Cumberland University than Worcester Polytechnic Institute (100% vs. 95%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Worcester Polytechnic Institute students is 17.9% larger than aid received Cumberland University ($28,005 vs. $23,749)
WPI vs. CU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WPI or CU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CU or WPI .
- Accepted freshman WPI students have a 0.6 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at CU (3.3)
- CU has a higher acceptance rate (67%) than WPI (58.5%)
WPI vs. CU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WPI or CU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between CU and WPI.
- The graduation rate at WPI is higher than Cumberland University (76% vs. 34%)
- Graduates from Worcester Polytechnic Institute earn on average $42,800 more per year than CU graduates after ten years. ($82,700 vs. $39,900)
- Cumberland University students graduate with a $5,271 lower median federal student loan debt than WPI graduates. ($21,729 vs. $27,000)
- CU graduates are paying $55 less per month on federal student loans than WPI graduates. ($224 vs. $279)
- More WPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CU students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 60%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/