A college's ethnic diversity is indicated by the student body's equal inclusion of students from different backgrounds . Students at WPI are primarily White with a small Foreign Resident population. The school has medium racial diversity. 37% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.
| Race | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| White |
63%
|
| Black |
2%
|
| Hispanic |
8%
|
| Asian |
5%
|
| American Indian / Alaskan |
0%
|
| Hawaiian / Pacific Islander |
0%
|
| Two or more races |
3%
|
| International |
12%
|
| Race Unknown |
6%
|
There are 81% more male students than female students enrolled at Worcester Polytechnic Institute with a gender ratio of 64% men to 36% women. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, WPI has a lower gender diversity than other US colleges and is less inclusive of females.
| Gender | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
64%
|
| Women |
36%
|
| Gender | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
4,703
|
| Women |
2,605
|
WPI serves a low number of students outside of Massachusetts, with 45 percent of the student body residing in-state.
| Origin | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| In State |
45%
|
| Out of State |
47%
|
| Foreign |
7%
|
| Unknown Location |
0%
|
10% of students can be considered low-income as indicated by their receipt of Federal Pell Grant Aid.
| Segment | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Students Over 25 Years Old | 1.2% |
| Part time Undergrads | 2.2% |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=168421 IPEDS survey data for Worcester Polytechnic Institute.