WPI recruits, selects, and enrolls first year and transfer students who are the best match for our dynamic and distinctive educational offerings. Our admissions professionals review all students holistically taking into account each student’s qualitative and quantitative materials within their specific context.
Selection for admission to WPI is based upon many factors including, but not limited to, academic preparation, grades, trends in academic performance, the personal essay, recommendations, co-curricular and extracurricular activities. Candidates are allowed to submit supplemental material that they believe is relevant to the admissions committee’s evaluation of their application.
Visiting
WPI offers in-person and virtual opportunities for students to explore campus, and engage with students and faculty including:
Daily information sessions & tours (weekdays & select Saturdays)
Virtual online campus tour
Fall Open Houses (for prospective & applying students)
Accepted Student Days (for accepted students)
Visit www.wpi.edu/+visit for more information or to register for visit or event.
Admissions Office Hours
The admissions office is open Monday – Friday 8:30am–5:00pm throughout the academic year. Summer hours (mid-May through the end of August) are 8:00am–4:00pm.
Contact Information
Phone: (508) 831-5286
Email: admissions@wpi.edu
Admissions Requirements
The basic academic requirements for first-time first-year applicants include:
- Four years of English
- Four years of math (including pre-calculus)
- Two years of lab science
- Other application requirements for the evaluation process include:
- Official high school transcript
- Recommendations from a teacher and a School or College counselor
- A personal essay
- Early Decision Agreement (for candidates who select the Early Decision application plan)
WPI is a test blind university. SAT and ACT scores will not be considered in the admission process.
International students whose first language is not English are required to submit TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo scores.
Applying to WPI
WPI is a member of the Common Application, and the Common Application is the exclusive method by which first year candidates apply to WPI. All first year candidates must complete their application no later than February 1 for consideration.
Application deadlines*:
Early Action: November 1
Early Decision I: November 1
Early Action Round II: January 5
Early Decision II: January 5
Regular Decision: February 1
Notification deadlines*:
Early Action: late January
Early Decision I: mid December
Early Decision II: mid February
Early Action Round II: late February
Regular Decision: late March
*Dates are subject to change. Visit www.wpi.edu/admissions/undergraduate for the most up-to-date information regarding deadline and notification dates.
Financial Aid
Students applying for financial aid must check the appropriate box on the application for admission to be considered for financial aid. Financial aid candidates should submit the College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile Application and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which are available online at www.cssprofile.org and www.studentaid.gov. For all admission applicants, these forms should reach the WPI Office of Student Aid & Financial Literacy by the same deadline dates listed above for Admission applications. Financial Aid is available for U.S. citizens and/or permanent residents of the U.S. A limited amount of need-based financial aid is available for International Students. In order to apply for need-based assistance, international students must complete the international CSS Profile online at www.cssprofile.org.
Notification
All candidates for admission will receive an online acknowledgment of the receipt of their application. Admissions decisions are available exclusively through WPI’s online portal and are not mailed to applicants. Decisions will be available to all applicants no later than April 1.
Decision to Matriculate
Accepted first year candidates must inform the college by 11:59 PM on May 1 of their decision to matriculate and submitting a $500 non-refundable tuition deposit. Students admitted under an Early Decision plan will have 30 days to submit their $500 non-refundable enrollment tuition deposit. Any deposits mailed in must be post-marked on or before May 1. WPI reserves the right to return deposits received after this date.
Admissions Terms and Conditions
Please note that WPI's offer of admission and your subsequent matriculation at WPI is contingent upon the following terms and conditions.
Matriculation for the purposes of these terms and conditions is defined as the earlier of a student’s arrival on campus or WPI’s first day of classes for the term/semester.
WPI reserves the right to revoke your offer of admission any time prior to your matriculation at WPI if:
- You do not graduate or do not receive a diploma at the end of the academic year.
- You have misrepresented any part of your admissions application, including but not limited to any behavioral or disciplinary issues and academic dishonesty.
- You experience a drop in grade performance during the remainder of the academic year.
- Information that comes to the attention of WPI that is deemed unacceptable by WPI.
Transfer Students
WPI welcomes applications from full- and part-time transfer students from accredited two- and four-year institutions. WPI looks for candidates with demonstrated strength in math, science, and computer or engineering coursework; transfer admission to WPI is highly competitive. WPI's minimum academic requirement for transfer admissions consideration is that candidates be enrolled in or recently completed precalculus and one college-level laboratory sciences at the time of submitting an application. However, please note it is the preference of the WPI admissions committee that the candidate complete calculus 1 and two college-level laboratory sciences at the time of submitting an application. While not required, successful transfer candidates have typically completed at least one full year of college (post high school graduation) by the time of intended enrollment, and have earned grades of Bs or better. Transfer candidates must be in good academic and disciplinary standing at all institutions in which they have been an enrolled student.
Applicants should be aware of the accelerated pace of WPI’s academic calendar, which consists of four, seven-week terms instead of two semesters. A full-time course load is defined as three courses per term with classes meeting four or five days per week, while a part-time course load may not exceed three total courses per semester. A minimum of 8 units of work (or 72 credits) is the residency requirement for all students. Additionally, candidates should be aware that undergraduate classes are only offered during the day.
Transfer Admissions & Financial Aid
The WPI Transfer Application is available online at www.wpi.edu/+transfer. The fall entrance application deadline is May 15 with the review process typically beginning in late March each year. The spring entrance application deadline is November 15 with the review process beginning as soon as possible in October. Students are notified of an admissions decision on a rolling basis. Accepted transfer students for the spring semester will be required to enroll by December 15. Accepted transfer students for the fall semester will be required to enroll by June 30.
In addition to submitting the WPI Transfer Application, transfer applicants should provide their official college transcripts for each post-secondary institution attended, a final official high school transcript with proof of graduation, and one letter of recommendation. Students offered admission and enrolling should be aware that the WPI Conduct Record Release Form will be required prior to matriculation from any prior colleges/universities attended. International transfer applicants must also submit English translations and course-by-course evaluations from a current NACES member for all non-US transcripts, proof of English Language Proficiency, and Proof of Financial Ability (if accepted to WPI) demonstrating funding for the total cost of education and living expenses (an I-20 will not be issued without this form).
Additional detailed information about the transfer application process as well as a link to the WPI Transfer Application can be found at www.wpi.edu/+transfer.
Transfer students may be eligible for need-based scholarship and loan funds from a variety of sources including WPI, the federal government, and some state government agencies. Need-based financial assistance is not available for part-time candidates or for international (non-U.S. citizen) transfer students. More information about the need-based aid process as well as transfer scholarship opportunities are available at www.wpi.edu/+finaid.
Transfer Agreements & Transfer Credit
WPI currently holds formal articulation agreements with specified programs of studies at Quinsigamond Community College (QCC) in Worcester, MA. However, WPI will grant appropriate transfer credit from any accredited two-year or four-year institution.
WPI will offer a transfer credit evaluation post admission to the university for transfer students, and after the May 1 enrollment deadline for incoming first year students (typically beginning in mid-May). Admitted transfer students and enrolled first year students should follow the WPI transfer credit guidelines, policy and procedure available at www.wpi.edu/+transfercredit. This site also includes a list of transfer equivalencies to date based on previously requested course reviews. The Transfer Admissions team coordinates the process with WPI faculty who evaluate the coursework to determine credit eligibility. Each academic department at WPI reviews courses under their program, and provides a decision to the Transfer Admissions team. Admissions communicates any credit review updates to the student, the WPI Registrar’s Office and to WPI Academic Advising. In general, courses that are the academic equivalent of a WPI course with a grade of a C or better will be considered for transfer credit, with many academic departments requiring a B or better. College-level and lab-based chemistry and biology, calculus, calculus-based physics with lab, engineering science, and many social science and humanities and arts courses are typically considered eligible for transfer credit. For most coursework to be eligible for a transfer credit review, the coursework must be completed on a college campus taught by college instructors. Some online coursework may be eligible and is determined as part of the official course review process by evaluators. Early college, early entrance programs, or college coursework provided in partnership with a college or university but offered at the high school taught by high school teachers are not eligible for credit at WPI, with the exception of Project Lead The Way (PLTW). Online coursework is also typically not eligible, but is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Additional courses that are not transferable include pre-calculus, non-calculus based physics or engineering science, and computer courses in BASIC.
Humanities & Arts Requirement for Transfer Students
As part of the WPI Plan, all WPI students must complete the Humanities and Arts Requirement. As such, all transfer students should review their humanities and arts coursework accepted for transfer credit at WPI and plan with the Humanities and Arts Department’s coordinator for transfer students to determine next steps towards the completion of the HUA Requirement. All transfer students entering WPI with fewer than two units of humanities and arts credit must complete thematically related work in humanities and arts. This will include an inquiry seminar or practicum to the extent that the overall humanities and arts credit totals two units. The HUA Requirement is considered fulfilled for transfer students who have completed the equivalent of two units of humanities and arts work prior to their matriculation at WPI. A Completion of Degree Requirement form (or CDR) must be submitted once the HUA Requirement has been satisfied. This form can obtained through the WPI Registrar’s Office, and will be completed by the Humanities and Arts Department coordinator for transfer students. For those transfer students who have satisfied the HUA Requirement based on work completed at their previous institution(s) and who submit the approved CDR form to the WPI Registrar’s Office will have this information posted to their student account. This process normally takes place prior to or during the first term of full-time enrollment at WPI.
International Students
The presence of international students serves as a means of strengthening the knowledge and understanding of foreign countries and cultures and is highly encouraged and supported at WPI. Programs and support services for international students and exchange programs are given high priority. As an institution of higher learning, WPI is dedicated to international education.
International (non-immigrant) applicants must provide proof of English language proficiency. English language proficiency may be demonstrated by the official results of:
- TOEFL (Test of English as a Second Language)- recommended score of 90 with no sub-score below 20
- IELTS (International English Language Testing System) recommended score of 7.0 or higher with no band below 6.5
- Duolingo - recommended score of 125
- Pearson's Test of English - recommended score of 61