Fitchburg State University is a public four year institution founded in 1894 in Fitchburg Massachusetts. Originally known as the State Normal School in Fitchburg, the school has taken on various names throughout its history, including State Teacher's College at Fitchburg, State College at Fitchburg and Fitchburg State College. Fitchburg State College became Fitchburg State University when the Massachusetts State Legislature voted to grant it University status in 2010.
Academics
Fitchburg State University offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses for its students. The school believes in providing a liberal arts education to its students in order to produce well rounded, analytical individuals. Fitchburg requires fulltime students to have four classes per semester, and requires five classes per semester to graduate a within four years. The length of graduate programs may vary, and some offering are available through online courses.
Some programs offered include:
- Business Administration
- Criminal Justice
- Economics
- Human Services
- Mathematics
- Psychological Science
- Sociology
Admissions and Financial Aid
Students interested in applying to Fitchburg State University must have a competitive GPA, 3.0 or higher, or a GPA between 2.0 and 2.99 and exceptionally high SAT scores. Students who meet the admissions criteria should complete and submit the application in total and await review and response from the university. Admissions requirements for transfer students and adults may vary.
Financial aid is available to eligible students. Students interested in determining eligibility for financial aid should contact or visit the Fitchburg State University financial aid office.
Athletics
The Fitchburg Falcons participate in the NCAA Division III.
Athletic programs offered:
- Baseball/Softball
- Basketball
- Soccer
- Football
- Ice Hockey/Field Hockey
Additionally, FSU offers intramural sports for students within the school to participate and play against one another. The sports offered change year after year but have included such sports as Flag Football, Kickball, Ultimate Frisbee, and Dodgeball alongside more traditional sport offerings.
Admission Requirements & Details
The admissions information below may provide a better idea of the students Fitchburg State accepts. The details may include admissions application requirements and recommendations, as well as any AP college credits that may be transferred.
College Credits Accepted
- Dual Credits
- Life Experience Credits
- AP Course Credits
Student Enrollment
The total student enrollment at Fitchburg State University is about 6,600. The student body is made up of 65% undergraduate students and 12% graduate students.
Estimated Costs & Financial Aid
The average "out of pocket" cost of attendance, after any grants and scholarships are considered, is around $12,800. To calculate a more personalized cost visit the net price calculator. There is also a $25 application fee for students applying to the school. The figures listed below are for informational purposes only and do not represent current or future tuition, fees, and expenses.
Tuition & Fees Information
- Annual tuition range estimates:
- In-State Tuition: $970-$1,200
- Nonresident Student Tuition: $7,100-$8,460
- Part-time students are charged:
- In-State: $410-$500 per unit
- Out-of-State: $670-$800 per unit
Financial Aid Details
The table listed below helps break down the types of financial aid students receive and the percent receiving aid, as well as the average amount of aid per student per year.
| Percent of Students | Average Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Any Financial Aid | 90% | - |
| Receiving Grants & Scholarships | 69% | $6,225 |
| Receiving Student Loans | 78% | $6,689 |
Academics & Student Services
Student Services
To support students and graduates, Fitchburg State University may provide student services like those listed below:- Online classes
- Remedial courses
- Career path counseling
- Employing students to lower education costs
- Assisting students to find work
Graduation Rates
The overall graduation rate of Fitchburg State is close to 50%.
| Number of Year to Graduate | Percent of Entering Class |
|---|---|
| Students Graduating in 4 Years | 20% |
| Graduating in 5 Years | 24% |
| Graduating in 6 Years | 6% |
Specialized Programs & Accreditations
- Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) Program
- * Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (since 2001)
- Nursing (MSN, DSN) Program
- * Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (since 2001)
- Elementary and Secondary School Teacher Education Program
- * Accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (since 1995)
Intercollegiate Athletics
Fitchburg State University is a Member of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), with many of the sports being in the NCAA Division III (with football) classification. The most popular sports played are listed below:
- Baseball (Massachusetts State College Ath Assoc)
- Basketball (Massachusetts State College Ath Assoc)
- Field Hockey
- Football (New England Football Conference)
- Ice Hockey
- Lacrosse
- Soccer
- Softball
- Track and Field, Indoor
- Track and Field, Outdoor
- Track and Field, X-Country
Programs Offered
The program list below is organized by areas of study. The programs that have a link will direct you to the program's profile page where you can learn more about education requirements and career pathways.
Get more information about the programs offered by Fitchburg State University by clicking the request information to the right.
(C) Certificate or Award | (A) Associate's | (B) Bachelor's | (M) Master's Degree | (D) Doctorate (PhD,...)
Architecture
- Architectural Technology (B)
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Biology (B)
Business and Marketing Studies
- Business Administration (B, M)
- Human Resources (M)
- Accounting (M)
Communications and Journalism
- Communications (B, M)
- Multimedia (B)
- Health Communication
Computer and Information Sciences
- Computer Science (B, M)
- Computer (B)
- Web Design (C)
- Computer Programming
Education
- Curriculum and Instruction (M)
- Special Education (B, M)
- Elementary Education (B, M)
- Trade and Industrial Teacher Education (B, M)
- Early Childhood Education (B, M)
- Educational Leadership and Administration (C, M)
- Guidance Counselor (M)
- Secondary Education (M)
- Middle School Teacher (B, M)
- Art Teacher Education (M)
- English and Language Arts Teacher Education (B, M)
- Technology Teacher Education Teacher Education (B, M)
- Mathematics Teacher Education (B)
- Science Teacher (M)
- History Teacher Education (B, M)
- Secondary School Administration (C, M)
- Education
- Elementary and Middle School Administration
- Reading Teacher and Literacy Specialist
- Social Science Teacher Education
- Technical Teacher Education
- Biology Teacher Education
Engineering Technology
- Industrial Technology (B)
- Plastics Engineering Technology (C)
English Language and Literature
- English (B, M)
- Creative Writing (B)
Ethnic Cultural and Gender Studies
Family and Consumer Sciences
- Facilities Planning and Management (B)
Health and Clinical Professions
- Nursing (B)
- Mental Health Counseling (M)
- Nursing Practice (C, M)
- Marriage and Family Therapy
History
- History (B, M)
Interdisciplinary Studies
- Interdisciplinary Studies (B, C)
- Behavioral Science (C)
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Mathematics and Statistics
- Math (B)
Physical Sciences
- Geology (B)
Psychology
- Psychology (B, C)
- Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics (B)
- Counseling Psychology
Public Administration and Social Services
Recreation and Fitness Studies
Security and Protective Services
- Criminal Justice (B)
Social Sciences
- Sociology (B)
- Political Science (B)
- Economics (B)
- Geography
Visual and Performing Arts
- Cinematography And Film (B)
- Design and Visual Communications (B)
- Photography (B)
- Drama and Theatre Arts (B)
- Theatre Design and Technology (B)
- Arts Management (C)
- Game Design
Other 4-Year Public Colleges
The list of schools below have been selected by researching which schools offer similar programs to Fitchburg State University.
- Worcester State College in Worcester, MA (22 miles away)
- Framingham State College in Framingham, MA (27 miles away)
- University of New Hampshire at Manchester in Manchester, NH (32 miles away)
- Keene State College in Keene, NH (34 miles away)
- Granite State College in Concord, NH (44 miles away)
Also, check out our college lists below, which can help students compare schools to one another:
- Get a list of all the colleges in Massachusetts
- Compare other Massachusetts state universities