WORCESTER—Worcester Polytechnic Institute is the only Worcester college to make LinkedIn’s first-ever Top 50 list of U.S. colleges—and for good reason. Graduates of WPI don’t just leave with a degree; they leave with a paycheck that outpaces most of their peers, with the Class of 2024 reporting an average starting salary of $80,294 within six months of graduation.
The ranking is based on exclusive LinkedIn data, measuring the career outcomes of millions of alumni nationwide. Metrics included job and graduate school placement rates, internship completions, and recruiter demand.
“LinkedIn’s Top Colleges list is additional proof of something we’ve long known and prioritized: that WPI offers students an incredibly valuable education,” WPI President Grace Wang said in the university’s announcement. She noted that more than 95% of graduates who responded to a survey said WPI’s project-based learning prepared them for their careers.
WPI’s average starting salary for the undergraduate Class of 2024 was $80,294 within six months of graduation, according to the university’s First Destination Outcomes data. That figure has consistently exceeded the national average.
The university’s approach requires all undergraduates to complete three long-term academic projects, often in teams with community or corporate partners on real-world challenges. According to WPI, 93% of alumni reported that these projects improved their ability to work on a team, and 88% said the experiences strengthened their character.
Amanda Laungani, director of WPI’s Heebner Career Development Center, said employers praise WPI graduates for “the confidence and capability to contribute immediately to their organizations as well as the extensive experience working in teams that allows our graduates to turn knowledge into impactful applications.”
The recognition from LinkedIn follows WPI’s March 2025 ranking by U.S. News & World Report as 18th in the nation for “colleges with the best return on investment,” citing an estimated $3.4 million ROI over 40 years in 2023 dollars.
“WPI is thrilled to be on LinkedIn’s Top Colleges list,” Wang said. “I believe our ranking is a recognition of the value and the transformative STEM education we offer students… our graduates are well positioned to thrive in life and in their careers.”
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