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Worcester Polytechnic Institute: Sanford Riley Hall, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

College · Catholic life on campus

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

  • LocationWorcester, MA
  • Type and sizePrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 7,353 students
Official website
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Worcester Polytechnic Institute is not a Catholic college. This rating measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes.

Catholic life at Worcester Polytechnic Institute is served by PiCatholic, the WPI Catholic Campus Ministry, which the Diocese of Worcester lists by that name. The ministry lists a priest chaplain, a Sunday Mass on campus at Olin Hall 107, weekday Mass at The Abode, weekly confession, and Monday adoration. Its pages list the Catholic Newman Club, a FOCUS team, retreats, and Bible studies.

Mass, confession, and adoration

Confirm with the parish

Mass 2

  • Sunday12:30 PMOlin Hall 107
  • Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday5:15 PMThe Abode

Confession 2

  • Sunday12:00 PMOlin Hall 107 · Listed as 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM, before Sunday Mass.
  • Monday6:00 PMThe Abode · Listed as 6:00 PM to 6:45 PM; also available upon request.

Adoration 1

  • Monday5:45 PMThe Abode · Listed as 5:45 PM to 6:45 PM after Mass. Overnight adoration is listed once a term.

Times come only from official parish, chaplaincy, or school pages, and can change with the season. Last verified Oct. 12, 2026.

Sources for these times (1)
  1. PiCatholic Campus Ministry | Mass Timespicatholic.org · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Sunday: 12:30pm at Olin Hall 107 Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: 5:15pm at the Abode”
    The ministry lists a Sunday Mass at 12:30 PM in Olin Hall 107 and weekday Mass at 5:15 PM at The Abode on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
    “Sunday: 12:30pm at Olin Hall 107 Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: 5:15pm at the Abode”
    The ministry lists a Sunday Mass at 12:30 PM in Olin Hall 107 and weekday Mass at 5:15 PM at The Abode on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
    “Sunday 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM at Olin Hall 107”
    A Sunday confession time is listed from 12:00 to 12:30 PM in Olin Hall 107.
    “Monday 6:00 PM to 6:45 PM at the Abode”
    A Monday confession time is listed from 6:00 to 6:45 PM at The Abode.
    “Monday 5:45 PM to 6:45 PM Abode after Mass”
    Monday adoration is listed from 5:45 to 6:45 PM after Mass at The Abode.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches1 mi2 mi3 miOur Lady of Fatima: 0.7 mi1Cathedral of Saint Paul: 0.9 mi2St. Bernard's Church: 1.0 mi3Saint Johns Catholic Church: 1.2 mi4Our Lady of Czestochowa Church (Polish): 1.7 mi5Chapel of the Holy Spirit: 1.8 mi6Worcester Polytechnic Institute (campus)N1 mi
CampusCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. Our Lady of Fatima — 0.7 mi
  2. Cathedral of Saint Paul — 0.9 mi · 38 High Street, Worcester
  3. St. Bernard's Church — 1.0 mi
  4. Saint Johns Catholic Church — 1.2 mi · 44 Temple Street
  5. Our Lady of Czestochowa Church (Polish) — 1.7 mi · 34 Ward Street, Worcester
  6. Chapel of the Holy Spirit — 1.8 mi

Within 3 miles, as mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The map may be incomplete. Confirm with the parish or diocese.

Catholic life scorecard

Each line is one thing we looked for. A check means yes, a half means partly, a dash means no. “Not enough information” means official sources did not say.

BCatholic life on campus: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.

Catholic life on campus

83 of 100 points on what we could document.

  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic campus ministry serving this campus (Catholic center, campus ministry, or chaplaincy)Yes
    Sources (2)
    1. College Campus Ministry | Diocese of Worcesterneworcester.org/college-campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “College Campus Ministry Click below to check out some of the various College Campus Ministry programs around the Diocese! WPI”
      The Diocese of Worcester lists WPI among its college campus ministry programs.
    2. Donate | WPI Catholic Campus Ministryneworcester.org/wpi-give · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “WPI Campus Ministry Cathedral of St. Paul 38 High St. Worcester MA 01609”
      The diocese lists the WPI Campus Ministry mailing address at the Cathedral of St. Paul, 38 High Street, Worcester.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Dedicated Catholic center or chapel on or next to campusNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Priest chaplain assigned to campus ministryFull-time priest chaplain (Fr. Alfredo Porras is listed as Chaplain.)
    Sources (2)
    1. Contact | PiCatholic Campus Ministrypicatholic.org/contact · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Fr. Alfredo Porras, '13 Chaplain (774) 312-6684”
      Fr. Alfredo Porras is listed as the Chaplain of the WPI Catholic Campus Ministry.
    2. Support | PiCatholic Campus Ministrypicatholic.org/support · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “The Diocese of Worcester helps significantly by providing a priest chaplain and other resources”
      The Diocese of Worcester provides a priest chaplain for the ministry.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Weekday Mass at the campus ministry1–4 weekdays (Weekday Mass is listed Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at The Abode (4 weekdays).)
    Sources (1)
    1. PiCatholic Campus Ministry | Mass Timespicatholic.org · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Sunday: 12:30pm at Olin Hall 107 Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: 5:15pm at the Abode”
      The ministry lists a Sunday Mass at 12:30 PM in Olin Hall 107 and weekday Mass at 5:15 PM at The Abode on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Sunday Mass at the campus ministry or a campus chapelOne weekend Mass (One weekend Mass is listed: Sunday at 12:30 PM in Olin Hall 107.)
    Sources (1)
    1. PiCatholic Campus Ministry | Mass Timespicatholic.org · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Sunday: 12:30pm at Olin Hall 107 Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: 5:15pm at the Abode”
      The ministry lists a Sunday Mass at 12:30 PM in Olin Hall 107 and weekday Mass at 5:15 PM at The Abode on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Scheduled confession at the campus ministryWeekly or more often
    Sources (1)
    1. PiCatholic Campus Ministry | Confessionpicatholic.org · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Sun: 30 minutes before Sunday Mass Mon: during Adoration.”
      Confession is listed on Sundays before Mass and on Mondays during adoration.
      “Monday 6:00 PM to 6:45 PM at the Abode”
      A Monday confession time is listed from 6:00 to 6:45 PM at The Abode.
      “Sunday 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM at Olin Hall 107”
      A Sunday confession time is listed from 12:00 to 12:30 PM in Olin Hall 107.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic student groups and missionary outreach (e.g., FOCUS, Saint Paul's Outreach, Knights of Columbus, Bible studies)Two or more (The Catholic Newman Club is a student organization, and FOCUS serves WPI through a student missionary team.)
    Sources (3)
    1. Contact | PiCatholic Campus Ministrypicatholic.org/contact · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Catholic Newman Club Student organization”
      The Catholic Newman Club is listed as a student organization of the ministry.
      “FOCUS Team Becca-Joy Root Missionary, Team Director (651) 274-4908”
      The ministry lists a FOCUS team at WPI, led by a team director.
    2. Catholic Newman Club | PiCatholic Campus Ministrypicatholic.org/catholic-newman-club · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “The Catholic Newman Club is a student organization that seeks to walk with the Lord and with one another”
      The Catholic Newman Club is a student organization on the WPI campus.
    3. Campuses | FOCUSfocus.org/about/campuses · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Worcester Polytechnic InstituteSaint Francis University”
      FOCUS lists Worcester Polytechnic Institute among the campuses it serves.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Formation programs (retreats, OCIA/RCIA, service, small groups)Two or more kinds (Two kinds are listed: retreats (fall and spring) and small-group Bible studies.)
    Sources (2)
    1. Class Gift | PiCatholic Campus Ministrypicatholic.org/classgift · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “This includes support for things like the fall and spring retreats, trips to SEEK, and the presence of FOCUS missionaries.”
      The ministry supports fall and spring retreats, trips to SEEK, and FOCUS missionaries.
    2. New Students | PiCatholic Campus Ministrypicatholic.org/newstudent · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Our missionaries would love to include you in their weekly meetings, and they try to work with your schedule!”
      FOCUS missionaries at WPI hold weekly meetings that include Bible studies.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic church within walking distance (computed from OpenStreetMap)Within 1 mile of campusComputed from OpenStreetMap church locations.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Published weekly schedule of Mass, confession, and adoration6 to 11 times a week (8 weekly times documented: 5 Mass, 2 confession, 1 adoration.)Computed from the verified Mass, confession, and adoration times listed on this page (each day a time is offered counts once).

Grades come from the documented indicators under the published rubric. “Not enough information” does not mean the school lacks it.

Strengths

  • A priest is listed as the campus Chaplain, and the Diocese of Worcester provides the chaplain.
    Sources (2)
    1. Contact | PiCatholic Campus Ministrypicatholic.org/contact · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Fr. Alfredo Porras, '13 Chaplain (774) 312-6684”
      Fr. Alfredo Porras is listed as the Chaplain of the WPI Catholic Campus Ministry.
    2. Support | PiCatholic Campus Ministrypicatholic.org/support · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “The Diocese of Worcester helps significantly by providing a priest chaplain and other resources”
      The Diocese of Worcester provides a priest chaplain for the ministry.
  • The Catholic Newman Club and a FOCUS team are listed as active groups.
    Sources (2)
    1. Contact | PiCatholic Campus Ministrypicatholic.org/contact · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Catholic Newman Club Student organization”
      The Catholic Newman Club is listed as a student organization of the ministry.
      “FOCUS Team Becca-Joy Root Missionary, Team Director (651) 274-4908”
      The ministry lists a FOCUS team at WPI, led by a team director.
    2. Campuses | FOCUSfocus.org/about/campuses · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Worcester Polytechnic InstituteSaint Francis University”
      FOCUS lists Worcester Polytechnic Institute among the campuses it serves.
  • Mass is listed on campus on Sundays and at The Abode on weekdays, with confession and adoration.
    Sources (1)
    1. PiCatholic Campus Ministry | Mass Timespicatholic.org · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Sunday: 12:30pm at Olin Hall 107 Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: 5:15pm at the Abode”
      The ministry lists a Sunday Mass at 12:30 PM in Olin Hall 107 and weekday Mass at 5:15 PM at The Abode on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
      “Monday 6:00 PM to 6:45 PM at the Abode”
      A Monday confession time is listed from 6:00 to 6:45 PM at The Abode.
      “Monday 5:45 PM to 6:45 PM Abode after Mass”
      Monday adoration is listed from 5:45 to 6:45 PM after Mass at The Abode.

Concerns

  • The listed weekday Mass is four days a week.
    Sources (1)
    1. PiCatholic Campus Ministry | Mass Timespicatholic.org · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Sunday: 12:30pm at Olin Hall 107 Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: 5:15pm at the Abode”
      The ministry lists a Sunday Mass at 12:30 PM in Olin Hall 107 and weekday Mass at 5:15 PM at The Abode on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
  • The listed weekend Mass is one Sunday Mass.
    Sources (1)
    1. PiCatholic Campus Ministry | Mass Timespicatholic.org · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Sunday: 12:30pm at Olin Hall 107 Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: 5:15pm at the Abode”
      The ministry lists a Sunday Mass at 12:30 PM in Olin Hall 107 and weekday Mass at 5:15 PM at The Abode on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

The Catholic center

PiCatholic (WPI Catholic Campus Ministry)

    Source: neworcester.org, verified Oct. 12, 2026

    Catholic clubs and student life

    8 groups and regular activities · 1 on campus, 1 off campus, 6 location not published

    Retreats 2

    • Trips to SEEKOff campus
      Trips the ministry supports to the SEEK conference.
      picatholic.org
    • Fall and spring retreats
      Retreats the ministry supports each term.
      picatholic.org

    Clubs and groups 2

    • Catholic Newman ClubOn campus
      Student organization of the WPI Catholic Campus Ministry that organizes events during the academic year.
      picatholic.org, picatholic.org
    • FOCUS at WPI
      Catholic collegiate outreach with a student missionary team serving WPI, with weekly meetings and Bible studies.
      focus.org, picatholic.org, picatholic.org

    Faith formation 1

    • Bible Studies
      Weekly Bible study meetings led by FOCUS missionaries.
      picatholic.org

    Liturgy and prayer 1

    • Rosary over Zoom
      Mondays at 8:15
      Weekly rosary prayed over Zoom.
      neworcester.org

    Other 1

    • Saint Albert the Great Association
      Nonprofit organization of alumni, parents, and supporters of the WPI campus ministry.
      neworcester.org

    Social life 1

    • College Catholic Nights and social events
      Fridays and Saturdays
      Social events hosted by the Catholic Newman Club.
      neworcester.org

    Everything listed is published by the school, its campus ministry, or the parish. Ask the campus minister what’s happening this semester.

    Catholic campus ministry

    Sources (3)
    1. College Campus Ministry | Diocese of Worcesterneworcester.org/college-campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “College Campus Ministry Click below to check out some of the various College Campus Ministry programs around the Diocese! WPI”
      The Diocese of Worcester lists WPI among its college campus ministry programs.
    2. PiCatholic Campus Ministry | Mass Timespicatholic.org · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Sunday: 12:30pm at Olin Hall 107 Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: 5:15pm at the Abode”
      The ministry lists a Sunday Mass at 12:30 PM in Olin Hall 107 and weekday Mass at 5:15 PM at The Abode on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
    3. Donate | WPI Catholic Campus Ministryneworcester.org/wpi-give · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “WPI Campus Ministry Cathedral of St. Paul 38 High St. Worcester MA 01609”
      The diocese lists the WPI Campus Ministry mailing address at the Cathedral of St. Paul, 38 High Street, Worcester.

    Reach out

    Contact details for Fr. Alfredo Porras (Chaplain) and 1 official social and news channels are available to signed-in users.

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    Academic Excellence

    AAcademic Excellence: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
    93 of 100
    From federal data, on fixed published scales.

    Each measure counts for the share shown.

    • Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.90%
    • First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.94%
    • Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.Not reported
    • Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.13 to 1
    • Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$21,636

    Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.

    Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))

    Cost and value

    Federal data, shown separately. Cost, debt, and earnings are never part of any grade.

    Undergraduate students
    Fall enrollment (IPEDS)
    		5,453
    Total students7,353
    Average net price (per year)
    After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid
    		$43,071
    Cost of attendance (per year)$78,679
    Median federal debt at graduation$27,000
    Graduation rate
    First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
    		90%
    First-year retention94%
    Median earnings 10 years after entry$103,470
    Admission rate60%
    Students receiving Pell grants12%

    Value index: 56 / 100 (how it’s computed)

    Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
    College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.

    Local Church

    Diocese of Worcester

    The Most Reverend Robert J. McManus, Bishop of Worcester

    Formal address: “Your Excellency”

    Source: usccb.org, verified Oct. 7, 2026.

    Diocese determined from the county, using the diocese’s county list (Wikipedia). Confirm with the diocese.

    About this school’s data

    Questions families ask

    Is Worcester Polytechnic Institute a Catholic college?
    No. Worcester Polytechnic Institute is not a Catholic college. Catholic School Compass rates the Catholic life on its campus instead. Catholic students are served by WPI Catholic Campus Ministry (PiCatholic).
    What is Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s Catholic Life Score?
    86 out of 100 (grade B). It measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes, together with academics.
    Where is Mass celebrated at Worcester Polytechnic Institute?
    Mass is listed at Olin Hall 107 and The Abode. Days and times are on this page; please confirm with the parish or campus ministry before you go.
    Is Worcester Polytechnic Institute Compass Recommended?
    Yes. Worcester Polytechnic Institute meets the Compass Recommended standard for Catholic life on campus.

    Reviews

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