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About

  • Recognition and Accreditation

    Worcester State University is proud to have received national and regional acclaim for our sound academics, community service, green initiatives, and more.
     

    Best in Northeast 2013  

    Princeton Review Best Northeastern College
    16 years consecutively, 2005-2020

    Princeton Review Best Value College (Public)
    2014, 2013, 2007
    Best Value 2014  

    Princeton Review Most Environmentally Responsible College
    2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2011, 2010

    President’s Community Service Honor Roll for Higher Education
    2014, 2013, 2012, 2009, 2008

    2014 Green College  

    U.S. News & World Report Best Regional University, 1st Tier (North)
    2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2011

    Worcester’s Best College
    Worcester Magazine Annual Readers’ Poll
    2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2007, 2006, 2002

    Best of Worcester 2014  

    A Best ROI University
    Payscale.com  

    Landmark Readers Choice logo 2015  

    Best Place to Attend a Local College
    The Landmark’s Annual Readers’ Choice Award
    2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009

    Ranked #7 Least Expensive School in New England
    WCVB-TV Channel 5 Boston ranked Worcester State as the seventh least expensive for tuition and fees in New England, based on a 2014 report published by the U.S. Department of Education. WCVB used the information to compile a list of the 40 most cost effective higher education institutions.

    Best-College-or-University-in-Central-Massachusetts  

    Best College or University in Central Massachusetts
    1st Place - Telegram & Gazette Reader's Poll
    2017, 2016
     

    One of the Safest Colleges in America
    BackgroundChecks.org ranked Worcester State one of the 50 Safest Colleges in America in 2016 and 2015.

    A Best College in Massachusetts
    BestColleges.com has recognized Worcester State as one of Massachusetts' best colleges.

    A Best College for Your Money
    Money magazine has recognized Worcester State as one of the country's best colleges for educational quality, affordability, and alumni success in 2017 and 2018.

  • New England Commission on Higher Education
    Our 10-year reaccreditation by the New England Commission on Higher Education, Inc. (NECHE), formerly the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), in 2012 demonstrates that we meet or exceed its criteria for institutional quality. The chair of NECHE’s Commission on Institutions of Higher Education observed: “We are heartened to learn of WSU’s commitment to student success as evidenced by the recent establishment of the Center for Service Learning and Civic Engagement, expanded academic governance structures, plans to increase full-time faculty by 15 over the next three years, and an increase of retention rates to an average of 60% over the last four years, up from 37% five years ago.” View full report.
    Carnegie Foundation Community Engagement Classification
    Carnegie Foundation - Elective Community Engagement ClassificationWe received the Carnegie Foundation for Advancement of Teaching’s elective Community Engagement Classification in 2015, making us 1 of 25 colleges and universities in Massachusetts with this recognition. According to the Carnegie Foundation, this “is an evidence-based documentation of institutional practice to be used in a process of self-assessment and quality improvement.” WSU was selected based on our voluntary submission of “data and documentation of important aspects of our mission, identity, and commitments” to community engagement.
    Communication Sciences and Disorders Department
    Our Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program, which is offered by our Communication Sciences and Disorders Department, is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard #310, Rockville, MD, 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700.
    Education Department
    Our Education Department's teacher-training program is accredited by Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. The program has met CAEP's rigorous standards for preparing competent K-12 classroom teachers.
    Nursing Department
    Our baccalaureate and master’s degree nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. This affirms that the programs meet rigorous academic and professional standards, and are of the highest caliber and continually improving students’ outcomes. It recognizes us for effectively preparing nurses to make an impact in their profession.
    Occupational Therapy Department
    The Occupational Therapy Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number, c/o AOTA, is (301) 652-AOTA, and its web address is https://acoteonline.org/. The Program received a 10-year reaccreditation in 2010-2011 and the next visit is scheduled for Spring 2021.
    School Psychology Graduate Program
    Our School Psychology graduate program, which is offered by our Education Department, is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists Accreditation Board. This recognition is an important indicator of quality graduate education in school psychology, comprehensive content, and extensive and properly supervised field experiences and internships, as judged by trained national reviewers.