WPI vs. TESC

Deciding between Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Thomas Edison State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • WPI Worcester, MA
  • TESC Trenton, NJ
  • Setting
  • WPI Midsize City
  • TESC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • WPI 7,584
  • TESC 7,544
  • Type
  • WPI Private 4 Year
  • TESC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • WPI
  • TESC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • WPI -
  • TESC -
  • Status
  • WPI Non-profit
  • TESC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • WPI
  • TESC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • WPI $60,965
  • TESC $6,838
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • WPI $60,965
  • TESC $8,856
  • Room & Board
  • WPI $18,386
  • TESC $5,170
  • Average Net Price
  • WPI $47,372
  • TESC -
  • Average Grant Aid
  • WPI $31,545
  • TESC $0
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • WPI 100%
  • TESC 0%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • WPI 12,559
  • TESC -
  • Admitted
  • WPI 7,555
  • TESC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • WPI 60.2%
  • TESC Open
  • Enrolled
  • WPI 18.1%
  • TESC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • WPI
  • TESC
  • Typical ACT score
  • WPI
  • TESC
  • Average High School GPA
  • WPI 3.9
  • TESC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • WPI A
  • TESC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • WPI Unavailable
  • TESC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • WPI Low
  • TESC
  • ACT Range
  • WPI
  • TESC
  • SAT Range
  • WPI
  • TESC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • WPI Test-free
  • TESC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • WPI Feb 15, 2027
  • TESC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • WPI 13:1
  • TESC 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • WPI
    • Engineering (61%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • General Studies (5%)
    • Business (4%)
  • TESC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (27%)
    • General Studies (24%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Health Professions (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • WPI 76%
  • TESC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • WPI $82,700
  • TESC $57,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • WPI 92%
  • TESC 53%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • WPI $27,000
  • TESC $10,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • WPI $279
  • TESC $111

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • WPI 68%
  • TESC 59%
  • % Women
  • WPI 32%
  • TESC 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • WPI Medium
  • TESC High
  • HBCU
  • WPI No
  • TESC No
  • % White
  • WPI 63%
  • TESC 52%
  • % Asian
  • WPI 5%
  • TESC 4%
  • % Black
  • WPI 2%
  • TESC 15%
  • % Hispanic
  • WPI 8%
  • TESC 9%
  • % Native American
  • WPI 0%
  • TESC 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • WPI 0%
  • TESC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • WPI 3%
  • TESC 2%
  • % International
  • WPI 12%
  • TESC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • WPI 6%
  • TESC 15%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • WPI 48%
  • TESC -
  • % Out-of-State
  • WPI 48%
  • TESC -

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • WPI Yes
  • TESC No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • WPI No
  • TESC No
  • Meal Plan
  • WPI Yes
  • TESC No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • WPI No
  • TESC No
  • Daycare Facility
  • WPI No
  • TESC No

Comparable Facts

Compare Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, MA with Thomas Edison State University in Trenton, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute is larger than TESC based on total student enrollment (7,584 students vs. 7,544 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute is located in Worcester, MA (Midsize City setting); Thomas Edison State University is in Trenton, NJ (Small City setting).
  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Thomas Edison State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Worcester Polytechnic Institute 13:1; Thomas Edison State University 20:1.

WPI vs. TESC Cost Comparison

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

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Thomas Edison State University are 71.9% lower than at Worcester Polytechnic Institute ($5,170 vs. $18,386).
  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute is 791.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than TESC (about $54,127 more per year; $60,965.00 vs. $6,838.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 588.4% higher at WPI than at Thomas Edison State University (about $52,109 more per year; $60,965.00 vs. $8,856.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Worcester Polytechnic Institute than at Thomas Edison State University (100% vs. 0%).

WPI vs. TESC Admissions comparison

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

  • Thomas Edison State University reports an open admissions policy.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WPI - Test-free; TESC - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WPI Feb 15, 2027.

WPI vs. TESC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WPI and TESC? 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).

  • Graduates from Worcester Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $24,900 more per year than TESC graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,700 vs. $57,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Thomas Edison State University graduates have a $16,250 lower median loan debt than WPI graduates ($10,750 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, TESC graduates have an estimated $168 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WPI graduates ($111 vs. $279).
  • More WPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former TESC students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 53%)

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.