Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a private research university in Worcester, Massachusetts, founded in 1865. The institution combines science, engineering, technology, mathematics, business, and the humanities and arts, and it is known for a project-based academic model that requires students to apply classroom learning to real problems. Its curriculum includes the Interactive Qualifying Project, which connects science and technology with societal needs, and the Major Qualifying Project, a capstone experience completed in the student’s field of study. WPI serves undergraduate and graduate students and operates with a global project network that places student teams at off-campus project centers in the United States and abroad. The university’s academic structure includes four schools: Arts & Sciences, Engineering, Business, and Global. Research and education at WPI span areas such as robotics, advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, health technologies, and sustainability, linking faculty scholarship with industry and community challenges. The university also has a defined access and affordability agenda. WPI participates in programs such as the FIRST Scholarship for students involved in FIRST robotics and meets full demonstrated financial need for domestic undergraduate students. Its campus is located in Worcester, part of central Massachusetts, and the university positions experiential learning, interdisciplinary problem solving, and global engagement as core elements of its mission. Through degree programs, research centers, and project work with external partners, Worcester Polytechnic Institute prepares students for technical leadership and for work that connects innovation with public and organizational needs.