Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) is a private learning institute located in Worcester, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1865 and is the third oldest private, technological university in the United States. WPI was founded just a few years after the American Civil War at a time when the nation was at the brink of a great period of industrial growth and technological innovation. Its founders, John Boynton and Ichabod Washburn were prominent industrialists who wanted to establish a school that would produce a new breed of engineers, scientists and entrepreneurs that would be valuable in ushering in the new era. Thus, WPI with its innovative approach to education and research was born.
Today, WPI is primarily focused on undergraduate education even as it embarks on its long-term goal of expanding its graduate and research programs. Accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, WPI offers its students bachelor’s, master’s or Ph.D. programs in science, engineering, technology, management, the social sciences, and the humanities and arts. It is also involved in a number of cutting-edge research endeavors in the fields of biotechnology, fuel cells, information security, materials processing, and nanotechnology.
WPI is also a leader in distance education with 30 years of experience tucked under its belt. Through its Advanced Distance Learning Network (ADLN), it has delivered distance education to graduate students around the world, providing the same high-quality education it extends to on-campus students. Degree programs can be taken entirely online or in combination. The decision is left to each student.
Graduate programs available online include business programs, engineering courses, and programs on system dynamics. Tuition and fees rates are the same for both online and on-campus courses. Financial aid is extended to qualified students.
