Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) is a top-ranked technological university that is best-known for its engineering, computer science and game design programs. The school has more than 5,000 undergraduate students, and it operates on a unique seven-week quarter system, known as the WPI Plan.
Undergrads start their time at WPI in the Great Problems Seminar, a collection of courses that ease students into university life. Then, when students become upperclassmen, they combine theory with practice through two major projects. Small teams of students often work with a faculty member to research a specific problem and design a solution, typically during their junior year.
These projects take place in Worcester and at the school's 50-plus project centers located in 31 countries around the world. One such project was in Cape Town, South Africa, where students helped the Department of Human Settlements explore alternative building options.
Although the school has a relatively higher sticker price, almost every freshman receives scholarship money from the college. The school's program pays off with impressive results. Nearly 90% of students graduate within six years, and the median earnings for grads with a few years of experience on the job market are about $105,000.
