Worcester, MA · Clery Act 2023 · Private Nonprofit

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

According to the U.S. Department of Education's Clery Act filings, this profile covers campus safety, crime statistics, fire-safety data, and peer comparison for this 7,353-student campus.

2.99
Incidents / 1k students
#2,253
Rank of 3,050
#56
MA rank
7,353
Enrolled students

Data updated June 2026

The verdict

Worcester Polytechnic Institute reports 2.99 on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students, ranking #2,253 of 3,050 ranked U.S. campuses - with more reported incidents than 74% of ranked campuses its size.

2.99
incidents / 1,000 students
#2,253
of 3,050 ranked nationally
74%
report fewer incidents than this campus
16
on-campus incidents, 2023

Safety score = reported on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is safer).

Reporting-period change

What changed in 2023

+4 reported incidents

Worcester Polytechnic Institute increased from 12 to 16 reported on-campus incidents between the 2022 and 2023 reporting years in the U.S. Department of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey.

This is a change in reported incidents, not a measure of individual safety. Enrollment, reporting practice, and category coverage can affect the count.

See national reporting-year changes

Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a Private Nonprofit institution located in Worcester, MA, enrolling approximately 7,353 students. Clery Act data spanning 2021–2023 records 38 total on-campus incidents across all reported crime categories. Within MA, it ranks #56 by safety score. Verify with the U.S. Department of Education Clery Act database →

With 7,353 enrolled students, this campus sits in the mid-sized institution bracket, which shapes how raw incident counts should be interpreted.

The most frequently reported category at Worcester Polytechnic Institute is "Burglary" with 21 cumulative incidents across the reporting window. Compared to 5 peer institutions of similar enrollment size in MA averaging 0.76 incidents per 1,000 students, Worcester Polytechnic Institute reports 293% more incidents per student.

Fire safety data covers 1 reporting year for on-campus residential facilities, logging 7 total fires. Arrests and disciplinary actions span 9 category-year records, covering liquor law violations, drug law violations, and weapons possession on-campus. No Department of Education Clery Act enforcement actions are recorded against this institution.

Safety Score

2.99 /1K students

incidents per 1,000 enrolled

National Rank

#2253

See peer comparison

State Rank (MA)

#56

within state peers

Incidents (2023)

16

across 11 crime categories

Where Worcester Polytechnic Institute sits among ranked U.S. campuses

On-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 students, every ranked campus with 2,000+ students

3 safer than 26% of 1,807 ranked campuses

0–1: 874 ranked campuses (48%). Below this entry. 1–2: 281 ranked campuses (16%). Below this entry. 2–3: 186 ranked campuses (10%). This entry sits in this band. 3–4: 135 ranked campuses (7%). Above this entry. 4–5: 84 ranked campuses (5%). Above this entry. 5–6: 71 ranked campuses (4%). Above this entry. 6–7: 36 ranked campuses (2%). Above this entry. 7–8: 37 ranked campuses (2%). Above this entry. 8–9: 103 ranked campuses (6%). Above this entry. This campus 0 9 every ranked campus, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more ranked campuses. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Education, Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act) · 2023

Safety percentile vs. peers

Worcester Polytechnic Institute percentile rank 26.1%
National median

Higher percentile = safer than more peers. Rank #2253 out of 3,050 ranked institutions (enrollment >= 500) in the OPE Campus Safety Survey.

Reporting density vs peer median

Worcester Polytechnic Institute reports 293% more incidents per student than the median of 5 peer institutions.

Academic & Financial Profile

Tuition & Costs

In-State Tuition
$60,965
Out-of-State Tuition
$60,965
Avg Net Price
$43,071
Median Debt
$27,000
Pell Grant Recipients
12%
How does this cost rank in MA? →

Admissions

Acceptance Rate
60%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate
89%
Retention Rate
94%
Median Earnings (6yr)
$85,038
Median Earnings (10yr)
$103,470
Loan Repayment (3yr)
96%

Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard. Methodology.

Crime Statistics by Year

11 categories 3 reporting years on-campus only

Worcester Polytechnic Institute: on-campus incidents by year

Rising 60% (10 → 16 incidents)

81012141618 202120222023 10 16 ▲ +60.0%
Crime Type 202320222021
Aggravated Assault 011
Arson 002
Burglary 1470
Fondling 013
Incest 000
Motor Vehicle Theft 020
Murder / Non-Negligent Manslaughter 000
Negligent Manslaughter 000
Rape 214
Robbery 000
Statutory Rape 000

Source: US Dept US Dept of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey. Figures show on-campus incidents

Fire Safety

Year Fires Inj. Deaths Cat I Cat II
2023 7 0 0 0 0

Arrests & Disciplinary Actions

9 category-year records
Disposition26%47%27%ArrestsDisciplinary referralsNo action
9 reported records
Category Year Arrests Discipline
Drugs 2023 0 6
Liquor 2023 0 52
Weapons 2023 0 3
Drugs 2022 0 4
Liquor 2022 0 39
Weapons 2022 0 3
Drugs 2021 0 4
Liquor 2021 0 49
Weapons 2021 0 0

Worcester Polytechnic Institute vs peer institutions

Side-by-side safety scores for 3 peers of similar enrollment

Scores are incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is fewer).

Selected

MA

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

2.99 incidents / 1,000 students
National rank
#2,253
Enrollment
7,353
Data year
2023

Similar Institutions

Horry-Georgetown Technical College
Conway, SC · 7,353 enrolled
Safety Score 0.00
Monterey Peninsula College
Monterey, CA · 7,351 enrolled
Safety Score 0.14
Green River College
Auburn, WA · 7,361 enrolled
Safety Score 2.45
Pitt Community College
Winterville, NC · 7,371 enrolled
Safety Score 0.68
Southwest Minnesota State University
Marshall, MN · 7,324 enrolled
Safety Score 0.55

Closest by National Rank

Institutions ranked nearest Worcester Polytechnic Institute nationally (rank #2253), regardless of size or state.

Francis Marion University
Florence, SC
National Rank #2252
California College of the Arts
San Francisco, CA
National Rank #2254
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC
National Rank #2251
Maharishi International University
Fairfield, IA
National Rank #2255
Barnard College
New York, NY
National Rank #2250

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Worcester Polytechnic Institute safe?
Worcester Polytechnic Institute has a safety score of 2.99 (total on-campus incidents per 1,000 enrolled students) and ranks #2,253 nationally out of 3,050+ ranked institutions. Compare this with peer institutions for context.
What crimes are reported at Worcester Polytechnic Institute?
Aggravated Assault, Arson, Burglary, Fondling, Incest, and other categories, for calendar year 2023.
How does Worcester Polytechnic Institute compare to similar schools?
See the Similar Institutions section below for peers of similar enrollment in MA.
Does Worcester Polytechnic Institute have fire safety data?
Yes. Worcester Polytechnic Institute reports fire safety data for on-campus residential facilities, including total fires, injuries, deaths, and fire damage categories. 7 fires were reported in the most recent year.

Understanding Worcester Polytechnic Institute's Safety Profile

Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, MA enrolls 7,353 students and has a safety score of 2.99 incidents per 1,000 enrolled students , ranking #2253 nationally.

Reported incidents cover 2021 to 2023. On-campus incidents increased from 12 in 2022 to 16 in 2023.

Fire safety data covers on-campus residential facilities. 7 fires were reported in the most recent year.

What this means for you

Worcester Polytechnic Institute's 2.99 reported on-campus incidents per 1,000 students is a starting point for comparison, not a verdict on any student's safety.

Figures reflect the 2023 Clery Act reporting year as filed with the U.S. Department of Education.

Data sourced from the U.S. Department of Education, OPE Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act). See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCampus Editorial

Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal Clery Act source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.