In 1874, Worcester Normal School was founded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a teacher-training school. The school started offering Bachelor of Science in Education degrees in 1921. In 1932, the name was changed to Worcester State Teachers College and relocated to its present location on Chandler Street. The university offered its first graduate degree, the Master of Science in Education, in 1952. In 1963, its name was changed to Worcester State College since it had transitioned to include studies in liberal arts and sciences. In July 2010, both the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate voted to grant the school state university status and change its name to Worcester State University. The measure was signed into law by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick on July 28, 2010. In January 2010, the University was divided into two schools - the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the School of Education, Health and Natural Sciences. The School of Humanities and Social Sciences comprises the departments of Business Administration and Economics, Communication, Criminal Justice, English, History and Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Urban Studies, Visual and Performing Arts, and World Languages. The School of Education, Health and Natural Sciences comprises the departments of Biology, Chemistry, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Computer Science, Education, Health Science, Mathematics, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, and Physical and Earth Sciences.

Worcester State, a public metropolitan institution of higher learning located in a culturally vibrant region of the Commonwealth, affirms the principles of liberal learning as the foundation for all advanced programs of study. Worcester State offers programs in the traditional liberal arts and sciences disciplines, while maintaining its historical focus on teacher education. It has expanded its offerings with professional degree programs in biomedical sciences, business, and the health professions. Through its curricula, Worcester State addresses the intellectual and career needs of the increasingly diverse citizenry of central Massachusetts. Worcester State is dedicated to offering high quality, affordable undergraduate and graduate academic programs and to promoting the lifelong intellectual growth, global awareness, and career opportunities of its students. To this end, Worcester State values teaching excellence rooted in scholarship and community service; cooperates with the business, social, and cultural resources of Worcester County; collaborates with other institutions of higher learning in the region; and develops new programs responsive to emerging community needs.

Tyler Boudreau, Class of 1997, is an American author who writes about his experiences in the Marine Corps and in the Iraq War, especially the impact the war had on himself and the other Marines. Boudreau served for twelve and a half years of active duty in the United States Marine Corps. Lieutenant General Kevin T. Campbell (ret.), Class of 1973, was the commanding general of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command; commanding general of the Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense; and interim commanding general of the U.S. Army Cyber Command. He assumed command of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command on December 18, 2006, replacing Lieutenant General Larry J. Dodgen. He retired from the Army in 2011. Mark J. Carron, (attended), member of the Mass. House of Representatives (served 1999 - 2007) John Dufresne is an American author of French Canadian descent born in Worcester, Massachusetts. He graduated from Worcester State College in 1970 and the University of Arkansas in 1984. He is a professor in the Master of Fine Arts Creative Writing program of the English Department at Florida International University. Mary Fell, Class of 1969, is an American poet and academic. Daniel Garvey, Class of 1973, is an American academic and administrator. He is president of Prescott College in Arizona. Raymond Mariano, better known as Ray Mariano, Class of 1973, is the current Executive Director of the Worcester Housing Authority. Prior to his service as Executive Director of the WHA, Ray served as Mayor of Worcester, Massachusetts. Brian Skerry, Class of 1985, is a photojournalist who works all over the world, mainly with National Geographic.

Urban, 58 acres (0.2 km�)