Colleges and Universities in Worcester: So Many Choices!
Students will not have to venture far to score a top-notch higher education at one of the region's 12 colleges and universities.
Students can choose to stay in the region after high school, thanks to 12 easy-to-access colleges and universities in Worcester, MA, and the surrounding communities.
In 2023, about 37,000 students were enrolled in higher education institutions in the region. Even more convenient, the transition from high school to college is easier because of dual enrollment opportunities offered by Worcester Public Schools in partnership with several institutions. Here’s a look at the colleges and universities in Worcester and the region.
In This Article
Anna Maria College
Located in Paxton, the private Catholic college is divided into six academic schools: Business, Education, Fire & Health Sciences, Humanities, Justice & Social Sciences and Visual & Performing Arts. About 1,500 undergrad and grad students attend Anna Maria College.
Assumption University
Assumption University offers 35 majors and 49 minors. The university has five on-campus schools: Business, Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Liberal Arts & Sciences and Nursing. With an enrollment of 2,000 undergraduate students, students at Assumption come from more than 33 states and 11 countries.
Clark University
Featured on the Princeton Review list of Best Schools for Making an Impact and listed by U.S. News & World Report as among the 10 best higher education institutions in the state, Clark University is a liberal arts and research university with 46 majors in biology, physics, sociology, psychology, interactive media and game development, management, and theatre arts. About 3,800 students are enrolled at Clark.
College of the Holy Cross
The beautiful Holy Cross campus is registered as an arboretum, and the college has won several national awards for its landscaping. The Princeton Review named the college as one of the world’s most environmentally responsible colleges in its 13th annual “Guide to Green Enrollment.” The U.S. News & World Report has also ranked Holy Cross among the top liberal arts colleges in the U.S. With an enrollment of about 3,000 students, Holy Cross offers 28 majors. Its alumni include Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and Dr. Anthony Fauci, the recently retired director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
Located in North Grafton, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University is the only college of veterinary medicine in New England. The school offers master’s degrees in animals & public policy, conservation medicine and infectious disease & global health. The school awards doctoral degrees in veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences.
Framingham State University
More than 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students attend Framingham State. The university offers 39 majors and has five colleges: Arts & Humanities, Business, Education, Social & Behavioral Sciences, and Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics.
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Headquartered in Boston and with a campus in Worcester, MCPHS offers programs focusing on the health sciences and pharmacy. The university has several course studies, including acupuncture, dental hygiene, health care business, medical imaging, nursing, occupational therapy, optometry, pharmacy, and physical therapy.
Nichols College
Located in Dudley, Nichols College specializes in a business curriculum that allows students to earn certificates, bachelor’s degrees, and master’s degrees. Two undergraduate degrees are available in business administration and the arts, while two graduate degrees are a master of business administration (MBA) and a master of science (MS).
Quinsigamond Community College
Celebrating its 60th birthday in 2023, QCC serves about 13,000 students annually through its Credit and Non-Credit/Workforce Training divisions. In total, QCC offers 115 associate degrees and certificate programs. With an average student age of 25, the college offers one of the lowest tuition rates in the region at $205 per credit for Massachusetts residents.
UMass Chan Medical School
Located in Worcester, the UMass Chan Medical School is one of five University of Massachusetts campuses. It is consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the leading medical schools in the nation for primary care education. The university’s research enterprise received approximately $291 million in federal and private research grants and contracts in fiscal year 2022.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Ranked among America’s Most Innovative Colleges by U.S. News & World Report, Worcester Polytechnic offers more than 50 degree programs, such as the arts and humanities, engineering, management, social sciences, and technology. Around 6,000 students are enrolled at the university, including 5,200 undergrads. The university’s most well-known alumnus is Robert Goddard, who graduated in 1908 and is often referred to as the “Father of Modern Rocketry.”
Worcester State University
Founded in 1874 as a teacher training institute, Worcester State now offers more than 80 undergraduate majors and minors along with 39 graduate programs. Enrollment includes more than 5,300 undergrad and grad students, and degrees offered range from global studies to communication sciences disorders.
Get to Know Worcester
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