Founded in 1865 in Worcester, Mass., Worcester Polytechnic Institute is one of the nation’s first engineering and technology universities. Today WPI is a midsize research university centered on engineering, science, technology, and mathematics, with strong academic programs in the arts and humanities, the social sciences, and business. Its 14 academic departments offer more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, leading to the BA, BS, MS, MEng, MBA, and PhD. Quirky traditions, like the annual Pi Day festivities or celebrating the birthday of its mascot, Gompei the goat, foster a sense of community.
WPI’s 35,000+ alumni are located throughout the U.S. and in more than 100 countries. WPI alumni have been responsible for many world-changing innovations, among them the liquid-fueled rocket; stainless steel; the airbag safety system; and the Area Rule, which made supersonic flight practical.
For nearly 150 years, the WPI motto, Lehr und Kunst (Theory and Practice), has honed