Our Hometown

City of Worcester

Aerial image of city of Worcester Massachusetts

Worcester: It’s our first name.

WPI isn’t WPI without Worcester. It’s New England’s second-largest city, about 40 miles west of Boston, with over 35,000 college students across eight campuses, making for the best of both worlds: the charm of a college town in the middle of a bustling city.

But just like its pronunciation (it’s “Wuh-stah,” by the way—yes, the "r" is mysteriously silent), Worcester is more than meets the eye.

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Get Ready to Explore

Whether you’re a nature enthusiast (there are over 1,200 acres of parkland across the city) or a foodie (spend the day walking Shrewsbury Street for breakfast, lunch, and dinner), a sports fan (get those WooSox jerseys ready) or an arts aficionado (art museums, galleries, and venues are city staples, and festivals abound year round), Worcester’s got more than enough to keep your weekends booked. And with a population as diverse as things to do, Worcester is also a college town on the cutting edge. 

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Worcester: Where Great Minds Belong

Its position as a leader in the healthcare, higher education, life sciences, financial services, and IT industries makes it an ideal place for students to start cultivating their own next big things through solid careers, entrepreneurial opportunities, and other hands-on experiences.

A City Rooted in History

All this didn’t just appear out of thin air, either—Worcester’s a city rooted in history, from hosting the state’s first public reading of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 to the first-ever National Women’s Rights Convention in 1850, and it’s poised to make more. 

Like many former urban manufacturing hubs, Worcester has undergone a transformation in recent years. A renewed interest in the downtown area has brought new investment and construction, and today Worcester is a leader in healthcare, education, biotechnology, IT, and financial services––perfect for finding an internship, beginning a professional career, or launching a new business.

Did you know?

  • When WPI was founded in 1865, Worcester was a bustling manufacturing center known for producing textiles, wire products, and other goods.
  • The iconic “smiley face” was created in Worcester by native graphic artist Harvey Ball in 1963.
  • Frederick Law Olmstead, the famed architect of Boston’s Emerald Necklace and Central Park in New York City, designed Worcester’s Elm Park, which many consider to be America’s first public park.
  • The ballpoint pen, candlepin bowling, and Shredded Wheat were developed in Worcester.
  • Baseball's first-ever perfect game was thrown in Worcester, at the former Agricultural Fairgrounds, on June 12, 1880 by a Brown University student during a National League contest with Cleveland. 

 

Media Coverage

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The Academic Minute
Project-Based Learning: More is Better

The Academic Minute podcast featured WPI's Benefits of Project-Based Learning Week. In this episode, Kimberly LeChasseur, senior researcher and evaluation associate with the Morgan Teaching and Learning Center and the Center for Project-Based Learning at WPI, discusses a WPI alumni survey that shows when students are exposed to more project-based learning experiences, they increasingly develop valuable skills in a variety of areas.

The Academic Minute
Maximizing Learning through High-Impact Practices

The Academic Minute podcast explores the results of a WPI alumni survey. It finds that WPI's project-based curriculum provides strong preparation for students' lives and careers. Kris Wobbe, director of WPI's Center for Project-Based Learning, discusses how stacking high-impact practices over time can uniquely benefit students.

 

IIENetworker
WPI’s Pioneering Approach to Global Project-Based Learning

WPI’s distinctive global project-based learning is featured in the Spring issue of IIENetworker magazine from the Institute of International Education. Read to learn how our students apply their knowledge to authentic real-world problems at our global project centers, and how our alumni say this approach shaped them personally and professionally. The article by Kathleen Head, director of the Global Experience Office, and Krista Miller, assistant director of the Global Experience Office, details WPI’s project-based learning model, the Global Projects Program, and the Interactive Qualifying Project.

News

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