WPI vs. NEC

Comparable Facts

Compare Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, MA with New England College in Henniker, NH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute is larger than NEC based on total student enrollment (7,584 students vs. 3,275 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute is located in Worcester, MA (Midsize City setting); New England College is in Henniker, NH (Distant Rural setting).
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. New England College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Worcester Polytechnic Institute 13:1; New England College 8:1.

WPI vs. NEC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WPI or NEC? 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 New England College than WPI ($27,398 vs. $47,372).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at New England College are 4.7% lower than at Worcester Polytechnic Institute ($17,526 vs. $18,386).
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute is 45.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than NEC (about $19,027 more per year; $60,965.00 vs. $41,938.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 45.4% higher at WPI than at New England College (about $19,027 more per year; $60,965.00 vs. $41,938.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Worcester Polytechnic Institute than at New England College (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by New England College students is 1.7% larger than aid received by Worcester Polytechnic Institute students ($32,095 vs. $31,545).

WPI vs. NEC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WPI or NEC? 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 NEC and WPI.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WPI - Test-free; NEC - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: WPI Feb 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman WPI students have a 1.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at NEC (2.81).
• NEC has a higher acceptance rate (92.1%) than WPI (60.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.1% at WPI vs. 8.8% at NEC.

WPI vs. NEC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WPI and NEC? 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 New England College's (38%).
• Graduates from Worcester Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $43,300 more per year than NEC graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,700 vs. $39,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, New England College and WPI graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, New England College and WPI 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 NEC students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 54%)

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.