Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) ranks 18th on the U.S. News & World Report list of “Colleges with the Best Return on Investment.”
The publication cites an estimate of the return on investment of a WPI education after 40 years as $3,408,000. After 10 years, the return on investment is estimated at $258,000. The figures are in 2023 dollars and were calculated using data from the 2021–22 academic year. WPI is one of five Massachusetts institutions to make the list.
“Being ranked in the top 20 for return on investment highlights the lasting value of a WPI education,” said WPI President Grace J. Wang. “Our students excel at mastering foundational knowledge and skills in their chosen fields, and the value of our project-based education is exceptionally high because it also teaches students how to develop new ideas and builds character, leading to a lifetime of changemaking and leadership.”
The ranking relies on data from Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce; the top-22 list was created by reviewing the center’s calculations of the return on investment at four-year colleges and universities that are ranked by U.S. News & World Report. The return on investment is a value metric that compares the cost of attendance to a student’s potential future earnings, using data on students’ median earnings and the average net price specific to each college or university. Essentially, the return on investment (ROI) measures a typical student’s projected earnings at a period in the future and subtracts their total estimated out-of-pocket costs to calculate a value.
Another measurement, using a separate data source than the one Georgetown used for its estimates, provides insight into more immediate impacts of a WPI education. WPI’s undergraduate Class of 2023 reported an average salary of $80,440 within six months after graduation, according to WPI First Destination Outcomes data. That compares to a national average of $63,721, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ First Destinations for the College Class of 2023 report.
The U.S. News & World Report recognition provides an additional proof point about the value of a WPI education, and it aligns with what alumni report: that the school has helped put them on a path to lifelong personal and professional success. A recent survey of more than 2,200 WPI alumni found that 95% said their project-based learning experience—which is central to the university’s approach to education—prepared them for their current career.
Projects are a hallmark of the WPI experience. The university’s curriculum requires students to conduct multiple academic and research projects that position students to learn how to work in teams, navigate uncertainty, and work with external partners—all important life skills that contribute to the value of a WPI education.
