WORCESTER—For Worcester students weighing the cost of college — and for educators looking to advance their own careers — a new partnership between Worcester Public Schools and Assumption University is intended to remove some of the financial and logistical barriers that often stand in the way.
Under an agreement called “Worcester Together,” Assumption University is offering an enhanced scholarship package to every WPS student admitted to the university for the 2026–27 and 2027–28 academic years, according to a joint announcement released Friday. The initiative also includes tuition discounts, fellowships and expanded internship placements aimed at strengthening ties between the district and the Worcester-based university.
The partnership is designed to increase access to higher education for city students while supporting workforce development within the school system, officials said.
Assumption University, a Catholic liberal arts institution located in Worcester, said the scholarship commitment reflects its strategic goal of making an Assumption education accessible to all qualified students who seek it. Worcester’s school officials said the agreement aligns with the district’s 2023–2028 strategic plan, Our Promise to the Future, which prioritizes college and career readiness and equitable access to educational opportunities.
In addition to student scholarships, WPS employees who meet admissions criteria are eligible for a 50% tuition discount on most graduate programs offered through Assumption’s School of Graduate Studies, including master’s degrees, certificates of advanced graduate studies and certificate programs. The discount does not apply to the university’s physician assistant or accelerated post-baccalaureate nursing programs.
“Assumption is proud to call Worcester home, and deeply values our partnership with Worcester Public Schools,” Assumption University President Greg Weiner said in the announcement. “This new initiative will strengthen that partnership and ensure that what is most important to both parties — educating young people and equipping them to pursue lives of meaning, leadership, and service — is always our top priority.”
Superintendent Brian Allen said the partnership creates a more direct and affordable bridge from Worcester classrooms to higher education while also investing in district staff.
“The Worcester Together partnership creates a seamless bridge from the Worcester Public Schools to our neighbors at Assumption University,” said Allen, “where our students and staff can take advantage of a more affordable pathway to higher education. Not only will this collaboration provide easier access to a university for our current students, it simultaneously invests in the professional growth of our staff and strengthens the foundation of our district and city.”
The agreement also establishes a Worcester Fellowship Program. Under that, certain selected WPS employees would be able to take graduate-level courses at Assumption for free in exchange for continuing to serve within the district.
As part of the partnership, Assumption expands opportunities for its undergraduate and graduate students to complete practicums and internships within Worcester Public Schools, an effort officials said is intended to address workforce needs while giving students hands-on professional experience.
Additional elements of the collaboration include campus visit days for Worcester high school students, college search and financial aid workshops for families, summer programming for high school students and joint professional development initiatives for educators.
District and university officials said more information will be shared with students and staff in the coming months about how to participate in the new programs.
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