Fitchburg State University
Fitchburg State University is a public research university in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, serving roughly 2,752 students. Admission is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of about 86.93% in federal reporting data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $53,874 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $11,346
- 2024 Average Net Price: $14,262 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 86.93% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 2,752 81.3% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 55.12%
- Average SAT Score: 1150
Fitchburg State University: what the data shows
Common questions about Fitchburg State University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Fitchburg State University?
Fitchburg State University is located in Fitchburg, MA (ZIP 01420-2697).
NCES locale classification: Rural distant.
Is Fitchburg State University public or private?
Fitchburg State University is a Public institution.
How much does Fitchburg State University cost?
Published tuition: $11,346 in-state, $17,426 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $14,262.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $10,204 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $11,199 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $11,540 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $15,571 |
| $110,001+ | $21,123 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $45,384.
How hard is it to get into Fitchburg State University?
Admission rate: 86.93%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1150 and midpoint ACT 22.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Fitchburg State University?
Total enrollment: 2,752 students.
About 81% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Fitchburg State University?
150%-time completion rate: 55.12%.
First-year retention: 69.5%.
What do graduates of Fitchburg State University earn?
Median earnings: $41,999 six years after entry; $53,874 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $24,239.
32.79% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Fitchburg State University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Other/Unknown Programs (1,972 completions)
- CIP 520201 (659 completions)
- Natural Resources Conservation and Research (201 completions)
- Computer Science (198 completions)
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research (137 completions)
- Educational Administration & Support (104 completions)
- Criminal Justice - Police Science (85 completions)
- CIP 131001 (82 completions)
- Communication and Media Studies (63 completions)
- General Psychology (48 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Fitchburg State University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 86.93%; completion rate 55.12%; median earnings $53,874 at 10 years; net price $14,262. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Costs
Tuition Costs
$11,346
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Fitchburg State University was $11,346.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$14,262
2024 Value
In 2024 Fitchburg State University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $14,262.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$57,048 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$14,262 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$45,384 4-Year In-State Tuition
$69,704 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional.
4-year total cost breakdown for Fitchburg State University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
32.79% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
46.76% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Fitchburg State University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Fitchburg State University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $8,985 | $15,065 | $12,849 |
| 2014 | $9,260 | $15,340 | $13,737 |
| 2015 | $9,935 | $16,015 | $13,923 |
| 2016 | $10,135 | $16,215 | $15,280 |
| 2017 | $10,155 | $16,235 | $15,672 |
| 2018 | $10,354 | $16,434 | $16,647 |
| 2019 | $10,610 | $16,690 | $16,001 |
| 2020 | $10,830 | $16,910 | $16,806 |
| 2021 | $10,830 | $16,910 | $16,324 |
| 2022 | $10,921 | $17,001 | $16,266 |
| 2023 | $11,046 | $17,126 | $15,432 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
86.93% Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1150
ACT Average: 22
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
81.3% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Fitchburg State University in 2024 is 2,752 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
69.5%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
37.59% 100% Completion Time
55.12% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 37.59% of students graduating from Fitchburg State University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Fitchburg State University.
Return on Investment
$24,239 Median Student Debt
$53,874 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
44.99% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
844.36% Return on Investment
4.5 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Fitchburg State University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 Programs Reporting Data
CIP 52.0201: 659 completions
Natural Resources Conservation and Research: 201 completions
Computer Science: 198 completions
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research: 137 completions
Educational Administration & Support: 104 completions
Criminal Justice - Police Science: 85 completions
CIP 13.1001: 82 completions
Communication and Media Studies: 63 completions
General Psychology: 48 completions
Other/Unknown Programs: 1,972 completions
Most popular programs at Fitchburg State University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Fitchburg State University graduates.
About
Fitchburg State University is a public institution located in Fitchburg, MA, offering 45 distinct degree programs across various academic disciplines. The institution enrolls approximately 2,752 students. The admission rate is 86.93%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1150. The institution maintains a 55.12% graduation rate. Approximately 32.79% of students receive Pell Grants.
Institution Type
Public
Location
Fitchburg, MA 01420-2697
Region: New England
Insights and Analysis
Fitchburg State University provides educational opportunities for students seeking higher education. Prospective students should carefully evaluate all factors including costs, outcomes, and program offerings when making their enrollment decisions.
FAQ
How much does Fitchburg State University cost?
Reported in-state tuition is $11,346 and average net price is $14,262 in the latest College Scorecard data.
How hard is it to get into Fitchburg State University?
The admission rate is 86.9% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data.
What test scores do students need for Fitchburg State University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Fitchburg State University reports midpoint SAT about 1150 and midpoint ACT about 22.
What do graduates of Fitchburg State University earn?
Median earnings are $41,999 six years after entry and $53,874 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Fitchburg State University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 55.1% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Fitchburg State University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $24,239.
How big is Fitchburg State University?
Total enrollment is about 2,752 students in the latest reporting year.
Is Fitchburg State University public or private?
Fitchburg State University is a public institution located in Fitchburg, MA.
Is Fitchburg State University an HBCU?
No. Fitchburg State University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Fitchburg State University a tribal college?
No. Fitchburg State University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Fitchburg State University a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Fitchburg State University does not meet that proxy (reported share 17.7%).
Is Fitchburg State University religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Fitchburg State University in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.