Westfield State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Westfield, Massachusetts. It enrolls 3,615 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNew England Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
66/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes39
Value73
Affordability59
Selectivity26
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 81.4%, Westfield State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
81.4%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Westfield State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
6.4 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Westfield State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $16,721 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$16,721
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
33%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
51%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$12,179
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$18,259
Room & Board (on-campus)
$14,018
Room & Board (off-campus)
$13,979
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,381
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,652
Total Cost of Attendance
$27,649
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$10,751
$30,001 – $48,000
$11,517
$48,001 – $75,000
$14,199
$75,001 – $110,000
$18,201
Over $110,000
$23,286
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,75110%percentile
$5,71025%percentile
$22,457Medianpercentile
$26,26175%percentile
$27,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $15,750
↓ $6,707
No Pell $15,000
↓ $7,457
Dependent students $16,533
↓ $5,924
Independent students $11,193
↓ $11,264
Female students $16,235
↓ $6,222
Male students $14,501
↓ $7,956
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,735, less than completers ($22,457), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
61% of full-time students who enrolled at Westfield State University graduate within six years, and 72% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
61%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
72%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Westfield State University earn a median of $57,346 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$57,346
Earning > $25K
82%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$41,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$57,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$44,500
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$50,200
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$49,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $15,200, about 27% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
13.9 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 89% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Westfield State University is home to 3,615 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 31% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
3,615
Part-Time
12%
First-Generation
31%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 68.2%2,465
Hispanic 15.5%561
Black 6.8%246
Other 3.2%115
Asian 2.4%87
International 1.1%38
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Westfield State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbWestfield, Massachusetts
Housing
Mostly residential2,396 beds on campus
Adult Learners
12%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Westfield State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
57 distinct programs across
21 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Westfield State University is 15:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$13,228
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$13M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$71,384
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
196 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
99
51%
$80,608
Associate Professors
59
30%
$66,743
Assistant Professors
29
15%
$55,935
Instructors
9
5%
$50,125
Pros & Cons of Westfield State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Westfield State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, Westfield State University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Westfield State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Westfield State University.
Is Westfield State University hard to get into?
Westfield State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 81.4%.
What is the acceptance rate at Westfield State University?
Westfield State University has an acceptance rate of 81.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Westfield State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Westfield State University is $16,721 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Westfield State University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $57,346 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $16,721 per year. That's roughly 3.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Westfield State University known for?
Westfield State University is best known for its programs in Criminal Justice, Liberal Arts, Social Work. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Westfield State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Westfield State University are $57,346, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Westfield State University accredited?
Yes. Westfield State University is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Westfield State University?
Westfield State University enrolls 3,615 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Westfield State University?
Westfield State University graduates 61% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Westfield State University a public or private college?
Westfield State University is a Public institution.
Where is Westfield State University located?
Westfield State University is located in Westfield, Massachusetts.
What programs does Westfield State University offer?
Westfield State University offers 57 distinct programs. The most popular include Criminal Justice, Liberal Arts, Social Work.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Westfield State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Westfield State University is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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