Applicants, Acceptance Rate, Yield Trends at WPI

23.47%

Applicants - since 2015

11.61%

Acceptance Rate

The average acceptance rate at WPI over the past 10 years is 53.16%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 60.16%.

The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 21.70%, and the 2025 yield is 18.08%. Overall, the yield has decreased by 18.31% from 2015 to 2025.

The number of WPI applicants increased by 6.35% (750 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 23.47% overall.

Key Takeaways: WPI Admission Metrics

Acceptance Rate Overview

The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 60.16%, showing a decreasing selectivity trend. This suggests that WPI is admitting a higher proportion of applicants, which may indicate either an increase in application quality or a strategic enrollment decision by the institution.

Yield Rate & Enrollment Patterns

The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 18.08%. The declining yield trend suggests that a lower percentage of admitted students are choosing to enroll at WPI. This pattern may reflect increased competition from peer institutions, changing student demographics, or shifts in institutional enrollment strategy.

Application Volume & Admission Trends

For the 2025 admission cycle, WPI received approximately 12,559 applications, admitted 7,555 students, and enrolled 1,366 students. The rising application volume trend indicates that WPI is attracting an increasing number of prospective students over time. This growth in applications typically reflects enhanced institutional visibility, improved marketing initiatives, or increasing perceived value in the higher education market.

Acceptance Rate Changes

WPI 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at WPI over the past decade show a relatively stable trend, with fluctuations in both directions. The average acceptance rate over this period is 53.16%, while the most recent rate stands at 60.16%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.

For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 60.16%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 48.71% and for women is 65.11%.

The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at WPI have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).

YearTotalMenWomen
2015-16 48.55% 45.14% 58.55%
2016-17 48.44%
-0.10%
44.74%
-0.39%
59.16%
0.61%
2017-18 48.49%
0.04%
43.05%
-1.69%
64.39%
5.23%
2018-19 41.59%
-6.89%
37.51%
-5.54%
53.08%
-11.30%
2019-20 49.37%
7.77%
44.26%
6.75%
62.83%
9.75%
2020-21 59.05%
9.68%
55.74%
11.48%
67.50%
4.67%
2021-22 60.00%
0.95%
54.00%
-1.74%
77.00%
9.50%
2022-23 57.48%
-2.52%
50.69%
-3.32%
74.19%
-2.81%
2023-24 58.50%
1.02%
53.95%
3.27%
69.43%
-4.77%
2024-25 60.16%
1.66%
58.04%
4.09%
65.01%
-4.42%
Average 53.16% 48.71% 65.11%
Worcester Polytechnic Institute Acceptance Rate Trends Over Time - Historical Admission Rate Data Visualization Chart

Admission Yield (Enrollment Rate) Changes

WPI has demonstrated a decline in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has decreased from 22.13% in 2015 to 18.08% in 2025, representing a 18.31% decrease. The 10-year average yield stands at 21.70%, reflecting weakening enrollment performance.

The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at WPI from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has decreased by 18.31% over this period.

YearTotalMenWomen
2015-16 22.13% 21.26% 24.11%
2016-17 22.09%
-0.05%
21.08%
-0.18%
24.29%
0.18%
2017-18 22.44%
0.35%
19.22%
-1.86%
28.75%
4.46%
2018-19 28.99%
6.55%
25.32%
6.11%
36.28%
7.53%
2019-20 22.82%
-6.17%
21.05%
-4.28%
26.10%
-10.18%
2020-21 19.45%
-3.37%
18.57%
-2.47%
21.29%
-4.81%
2021-22 21.01%
1.56%
19.00%
0.42%
24.99%
3.70%
2022-23 20.31%
-0.70%
22.27%
3.28%
17.01%
-7.98%
2023-24 19.69%
-0.62%
21.28%
-0.99%
16.72%
-0.29%
2024-25 18.08%
-1.61%
19.51%
-1.77%
15.17%
-1.55%
Average 21.70% 20.86% 23.47%
Worcester Polytechnic Institute enrollment rate trends chart showing historical yield changes from 2015 to 2025

Applicants, Admitted, and Enrolled Headcount Changes

Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 11,053, the average number of admitted is 5,911, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 1,258.

The number of WPI applicants increased by 6.35% (750 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 23.47% overall.

The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at Worcester Polytechnic Institute from 2015 to 2025.

YearApplicantsAdmittedEnrolled
2015-16 10,172 4,938 1,093
2016-17 10,468
2.91%
5,071
2.69%
1,120
2.47%
2017-18 10,331
-1.31%
5,009
-1.22%
1,124
0.36%
2018-19 10,584
2.45%
4,402
-12.12%
1,276
13.52%
2019-20 10,645
0.58%
5,255
19.38%
1,199
-6.03%
2020-21 11,269
5.86%
6,654
26.62%
1,294
7.92%
2021-22 11,092
-1.57%
6,655
0.02%
1,398
8.04%
2022-23 11,599
4.57%
6,667
0.18%
1,354
-3.15%
2023-24 11,809
1.81%
6,908
3.61%
1,360
0.44%
2024-25 12,559
6.35%
7,555
9.37%
1,366
0.44%
Average 11,053 5,911 1,258
Worcester Polytechnic Institute - 10 Year Applicants, Admissions, and Enrollment Trends Chart

Compare Acceptance Rate Change to Similar Colleges

The following table compares Worcester Polytechnic Institute' acceptance rate to similar schools.

20242025Change %
Worcester Polytechnic Institute58.50%60.16%2.84%
Boston University11.11%10.85%2.40%
Northeastern University5.22%5.65%-7.61%
Harvard University3.65%3.45%5.80%
Boston College16.43%15.65%4.98%
Tufts University11.49%10.13%13.43%

Ratings & Review

Share your experiences and thoughts about Worcester Polytechnic Institute. It will be a great help to applicants and prospective students!