The Campus Experience
Classroom Conversations Make a Difference Clubs, Activities & Events
Housing & Food Athletics Internships Study Abroad Explore Massachusetts
At Fitchburg State, each major and minor is designed to grow your understanding of real-world challenges, so you’ll be prepared for a rewarding career.
As a freshman and sophomore, you can choose a major right away or choose to explore your options. Either way, our Career Services and Advising Center and your advisor are here to guide you from semester one...to final-exam-done.
APPLIED SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Tech./Engineering, Sec. Ed. Initial Teacher Lic. (5-12)
Technology/Engineering Education Industry Training
BIOLOGY*
Biology, Secondary Ed. Initial Teacher Licensure (8-12)
Biotechnology
Environmental Biology
Health Sciences
Neuroscience and Behavior
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION*
Accounting Entrepreneurship
Information Systems Management
Management
Marketing
CHEMISTRY*
Biochemistry
Chemistry, Secondary Ed. Initial Teacher Licensure (8-12)
COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA
Film and Video Production
Graphic Design*
Photography*
Public Relations, Social Media, and Advertising Production*
Technical Theater* Theater*
COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS (CIS)
Cybersecurity
CRIMINAL JUSTICE*
Criminal Justice: Police Program (4+1 Police Program)
DIGITAL MEDIA INNOVATION*
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION*
Early Childhood Ed. Initial Teacher Licensure (PreK-2)
Early Education and Care
ECONOMICS*
International Business and Economics
EDUCATIONAL STUDIES
ELEMENTARY EDUCATION*
Elementary Education Initial Teacher Licensure (1-6)
ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY
Architecture
Electronics Engineering Technology
Energy Management Engineering Technology
Manufacturing Engineering Technology
ENGLISH STUDIES
English, Middle/Sec. Ed. Initial Teacher Lic. (5-12) Literature*
Professional Writing*
ENVIRONMENTAL & EARTH SCIENCE*
EXERCISE & SPORTS SCIENCE
Clinical Exercise Physiology
Fitness and Wellness
MATHEMATICS*
Applied Mathematics
Mathematics, Middle/Sec. Ed. Initial Teacher Lic. (5-8) (8-12)
NURSING
BS in Nursing***
LPN to BS in Nursing Bridge Program
RN to BS in Nursing (100% online)
OCCUPATIONAL/VOCATIONAL EDUCATION (100% online)
POLITICAL SCIENCE*
American Government/Law
International Politics
PRE-PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS
LECOM Early Acceptance Programs**
Pre-Athletic Training
Pre-Dental
Pre-Law
Pre-Law with UMass Dartmouth (3+3 joint program)**
Pre-Medical
Pre-Occupational Therapy
Pre-Physical Therapy
Pre-Physician Assistant
Pre-Veterinarian
PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE*
PUBLIC HEALTH SCIENCE*
Environmental Public Health
Public Health Practice
Strength Training and Conditioning
GAME DESIGN*
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT*
COMPUTER SCIENCE
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
DATA ANALYTICS
DEAF STUDIES
DIGITAL MEDIA INNOVATION
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH
GEOGRAPHIC SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY*
HISTORY*
History, Middle/Sec. Ed. Initial Teacher Lic. (5-12)
HUMAN SERVICES*
INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES
Fine and Performing Arts
General Sciences Initial Teacher Licensure (5-8)
Humanities
Pre-Law
SOCIOLOGY*
SPECIAL EDUCATION*
Mod. Disabilities Ed. Initial Teacher Lic. (PreK-8)
Severe Disabilities Ed. Initial Teacher Lic. (All levels)
UNDECLARED/ PRE-MAJOR
* May be taken as a major or minor.
** Special circumstances apply. Contact Admissions.
*** Not accepting transfer students
HONORS
INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
MATHEMATICS
NEUROSCIENCE, BEHAVIOR, AND COGNITION
PHOTOGRAPHY
PROFESSIONAL WRITING
WOMEN, GENDER, AND SEXUALITY STUDIES
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
English Studies
School of Arts and Sciences
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
Engineering Technology
School of Business and Technology
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
Nursing
School of Health and Natural Sciences
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
Education
School of Education
A Fitchburg State University professor is a professor with experience in their field.
Unlike professors at large research universities, who may leave the instruction to teaching assistants, Fitchburg State professors are here to change lives.
In the real world, anything can happen on any given day. With their help, you’ll be ready.
The raw materials are right here, so you can learn by doing...and do what you learn.
It could be a single line in a book. It might be something a professor says in class.
Fitchburg State gets you thinking in a whole new way. It sets you on a path of growth until, four years later, you leave with a better understanding of the world around you — and how to make a difference in it.
Every problem has a solution. Every conflict has a peaceful resolution. Every disease has a cure waiting to be found.
There are stories waiting to be told, new business ideas ready to take hold, and communities yearning to grow.
Whatever it is, Fitchburg State will help you figure it out, and that’s a big deal to employers. (According to LinkedIn, 85% want recent graduates with excellent problem-solving skills.)
The world needs you.
Children need teachers and counselors. Patients need nurses, mental health professionals, and scientific advances. Consumers want the best products, the most informative and entertaining media, and tech that makes their lives better and easier. Communities need leaders in criminal justice, politics, public health, business, the environment, human rights, and — well, you name it.
What do you need?
A passion for making a difference and the knowledge and experience Fitchburg State will help you acquire.
Fitchburg gives back on campus and off.
The Falcon Community Outreach Center was established to help organizational charities empower people to build a better community and maximize collaboration between Fitchburg State, the surrounding community, and its constituents.
At the Falcon Bazaar Necessity & Food Pantry, located in Hammond Hall, students, staff, and faculty donate food and items like toothpaste and shaving cream so that every member of our community can thrive.
You can even donate a dining hall meal as part of the Falcon Swipe It Forward initiative.
We travel to help others too. Students who participate in Alternative Spring Break work with Habitat for Humanity to build homes for people in need.
Come here for the classes. Fall in love with campus and community.
Join a club, play intramural sports, or check out events like on-campus movies, concerts, and art gallery openings.
There’s something to do every day, everywhere on campus.
Alpha Phi Delta
Alpha Sigma Tau ASEZ
Associated General Contractors (AGC)
Basketball Club
Billiards Club
Biology & Chemistry Club
Black Student Union (BSU)
Campus Ambassadors Christian Fellowship (CACF)
Card and Board Game Club
Cheerleaders
Coed Ice Hockey Club
Computer Science Club
Criminal Justice Club
Dance Club
Education Club
Falcon Friends
Feminist Conversations
Filmmakers Society
First Love
Fitchburg Activities Board (FAB)
Fitchburg Anti Violence Education (FAVE)
Fitchburg Finches
Fitchburg Smash Club
Fitchburg State Choirs
Gamer’s Arts & Anime Club (GAA Club)
Gay Straight Alliance (GSA)
Greek Council
Habitat for Humanity
Harry Potter Alliance
Improv Club
Kappa Delta Pi (Education Honors Society)
Lambda Pi Eta (Communications Honor Society)
Latin American Student Organization (LASO)
Media Content Creators Club (MCCC)
Minecraft Club
Model UN
Musical Theater Club
Order of Omega
Outdoor Adventure Club
Panhellenic
Phi Sigma Sigma
Pokemon Society
Rescue Squad
Role Playing Guild
Sigma Beta Delta (Business Honors Society)
Sigma Pi
Sigma Sigma Sigma
Sigma Tau Gamma
Student Government Association (SGA)
Student Nurses Association (SNA)
Tau Upsilon Alpha (Human Services Honor Society)
WXPL
We stand up for each other and the causes we believe in.
We make our voices heard for the environment, social justice, diversity, and freedom of expression.
Fitchburg State Residence Halls put you steps away from classes and everything else campus has to offer, like the library, the Athletic and Recreation Center, on-campus employment opportunities, and special events.
Plus, your friends are right there with you.
Some halls offer Residential Living Communities which bring people together based on their lifestyle or major — like the Health Professions, Honors, LGBTQIA+, Teach Today, E-Sports, and Nursing Residential Living Communities.
For students that choose to commute, campus life provides you with many opportunities.
Students who live on campus complete more credit hours and earn a higher grade point average. They also report higher satisfaction with their college experience.
Fitchburg State Falcons are very active, with 17 NCAA Division III varsity teams competing in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference and beyond.
But that’s not all.
Falcons are cheerleaders, mascots, Recreation and Athletics student employees, gym rats, yogis, pickup soccer players, and members of groups like the Billiards, Chess, and Basketball Clubs.
Picture this: you’re throwing your graduation cap in the air on graduation day — and you already have real world experience. Score one for you and your career!
Your advisor can match you with internship opportunities in your field at proven companies and organizations. Current and recent Fitchburg State students have interned at places like ESPN, the Boston Celtics, Bruins, and Red Sox, Mass State Police, Silver Lining Entertainment, and WWLP Springfield.
You could be next!
FableVision Studios (Boston and Dedham, MA)
MA State House
MA State Police
MA Trial Courts
Michael Indresano Photography
The Mill (New York)
Mill Valley Film Group (Sausalito, CA)
Myriad Pictures
Nantucket Police Dept. (Community Service Officer)
National Geographic (TV)
NBC Marketing (New York, NY)
New City Theater (NY)
New England Aquarium
NFL Films
Nickerson PR
Panavision
PARMA Recordings
Portland Conv. and Visitors Bureau (Portland, ME)
Princess Cruise Lines
PUMA
PURE Theatre (Charleston, SC)
Radical Media (Los Angeles, CA)
Sesame Street Workshop (New York, NY)
Seven Hills
Silver Lining Entertainment (Los Angeles, CA)
Skydance Films (Hollywood, CA)
SONY Music
Sterilite Corporation
Tricky Fast Studios
Turner Broadcasting
United Way Youth Venture
VOX Media
Warner Bros. Games (Boston, MA)
The Washington Center (Washington, DC)
WCVB-TV Chronicle
MA Executive Office of Public Safety and Security
WGBH/PRI's The World
WWLP-Springfield
Study Abroad
College is all about expanding your horizons. No wonder so many students study abroad through university exchange programs in Italy, Germany, China, or Japan and provider-led programs in dozens of other countries.
Some Fitchburg State courses even include travel abroad as part of class instruction, with scholarships available for students. In 2023, students in the Luxury Brand Management course traveled with Professor Scapparone to Milan, Italy to study marketing and production of major luxury brands like Prada, Lamborghini, etc. Other class groups went to Peru for Geological Sciences, Japan for Game Design, and Spain for an Education program.
Talk about a central location.
In Central Massachusetts you’re close to shopping, dining, movies, nightlife, and outdoor activities like hiking and skiing. The city of Fitchburg has great restaurants and cultural attractions like the Fitchburg Art Museum.
Everything else is a short car or train ride away in cities like Boston, Worcester, and Lowell, or the great outdoors in Western Massachusetts. Even New Hampshire’s ski areas and coastal cities and towns are about an hour away.
Our community is here for you today through graduation day, and all the days of your career.
Low tuition + financial assistance
Our commitment to making a Fitchburg State education affordable is evident in our annual cost—among the lowest in the state university system for fulltime on-campus students and we offer generous financial aid packages. Last year we offered more than $43 million in financial assistance to offset our already affordable annual costs.
Here’s how to put yourself in the best position to receive financial aid:
1. Apply for need-based financial aid via the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at fafsa.gov. We recommend submitting FAFSA applications by March 1 to meet our priority deadline.
2. Check out our merit-based scholarships at fitchburgstate.edu. There are dozens of types, but you only need to apply once. Once you apply for admission you’ll automatically be considered for merit-based scholarships.
The right support not only meets your needs — it meets you right where you are. At the centrally located Hammond Hall, students can access:
• Academic Coaching and Tutoring Center: Everything you need to succeed in class, from academic coaching to peer tutoring and mentoring
• Disability Services: Get the right accommodations for your academic, medical, and mobility needs
• TRIO: Eligible students have access to unique opportunities such as the Student Support Squad, additional academic advising, and cultural and community experiences
• Center for Diversity and Inclusiveness: Our welcoming campus includes safe spaces that amplify diverse voices, anti-racism trainings, and enhanced transparency and communication across all student experiences
• Student Development: Get aligned with your choice of more than 85 clubs and organizations
• Career Services and Advising: Get help deciding on a major and career path, then get help finding a job before and after graduation
• Residential Living Communities, where living and learning come together
• Inclusivity and respect are emphasized throughout campus by our students, faculty, and staff
• Students’ physical wellbeing is supported on campus via Recreation Services, Community Health Connections, and Counseling Services
• Resources and programs provided by Veterans Services include a dedicated lounge and study space, a Peer Mentor Program, Counseling Services, and Veterans Socials
Career counseling and alumni connections
Planning for life after college doesn’t start senior year. We’ll help you plan for it from day one.
The Career Services and Advising Center, along with your advisor, can help you choose a major that aligns with your interests and goals. As you progress towards graduation, a Career Action Plan will help you target careers and jobs with specific courses and internships.
Handshake
When it’s time to apply for your first job, our online recruiting portal, Handshake, will connect you with employers and alumni in your field. In fact, Handshake is here for you for life — alumni use it to find jobs or switch careers years after graduation.
16 average class size
3.29
average high school GPA
75 minutes to Boston by train
47 % male
53% female
3.1K
undergrads
10K
15 minutes to Mount Wachusett of faculty hold doctorates or the highest degree in their field 96%
student clubs and organizations 85+ of freshmen live on campus 64% first generation college students 43% of new students at Fitchburg State transfer from other colleges 27%
The average cost to attend Fitchburg State is $2800 less than the average of 4 year colleges in the US $2800
Fitchburg State graduates earn an average of 10k more per year in their first job vs other 4 year college graduates
6 residential housing options graduate/ evening/ online 3.2K
Hey, you!
Interested in a campus visit? Ready to apply? How about a virtual tour or phone call with a member of our Admissions team?
Fitchburg State makes it easy!
Schedule a tour:
We’d love to share our beautiful campus with you.
Go to fitchburgstate.edu/visit to schedule a campus or department tour or access Saturday Information Sessions. You can also take a virtual tour!
Apply for financial aid:
Let’s keep it simple, shall we? Your only requirement is filling out the FAFSA application by March 1. You are not going it alone!
Our financial aid counselors are available to connect with you and answer all your questions about the FAFSA process.
Complete your application for admission:
Apply for undergraduate admission using our online application or the Common Application. Go to fitchburgstate.edu/apply. Once you apply for admission you’ll automatically be considered for scholarships.
Just reach out:
Have questions about our academic programs, campus experience, application process, or anything else?
Connect with our Admissions team at admissions@fitchburgstate.edu or 1-800-705-9692
Fitchburg State offers perhaps the most robust graduate school programming of all Massachusetts’ state schools, and much of it is available 100% online. Choose from online graduate programs in areas such as applied communication, criminal justice, special education, curriculum and teaching, history, and forensic nursing to name a few. On-campus programs include counseling as well as the MBA and computer science programs, which are offered both face-to-face or online.
In addition, all or part of many undergraduate and continuing education programs may be completed online, including an accelerated RN to BS in Nursing degree, and bachelor’s degrees in business administration, occupational education, and a customizable interdisciplinary studies bachelor’s degree.
Graduate and undergraduate certificate programs and certificates of advanced graduate study (CAGS) are also available, most of which are offered in a 100% online format.
Learn more at fitchburgstate.edu/gce
Adriana Padilla Salgado, ‘26, Elementary Education
Hometown: Fitchburg, MA
Why did you choose Fitchburg State?
I chose Fitchburg State because it was close to home and I knew many people who were going to attend as well. The community I saw during my orientation was one I truly wanted to be a part of and I am so glad that I made the choice to come here!
What clubs/organizations have you been involved with since you started at Fitchburg State and how has your involvement benefited you in your college experience?
Since I started here at Fitchburg State, I have been involved as a Fitchburg State social media ambassador, a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority, the Dance Club, and just recently became president of the K-Pop Club as well. My involvement has benefited me in my college experience as I always have something to do in our campus community, have established many connections, and have created many relationships with people I may have never met if I was not as involved.
What advice would you give a new student on how to get involved on campus?
The best advice I could give a new student wanting to get involved on campus would be to join the organizations that you are interested in, attend different campus events, and step out of your comfort zone. The friendships I have created here on campus happened because I stepped out of my comfort zone and attended events that I would have never done in the past.
What was your favorite experience during your first year at Fitchburg State?
My favorite experience during my first year at Fitchburg State was definitely the summer orientation program. Right out of high school, I was nervous to enter a new environment, but through the program I met many of the friends I still have now. After orientation, I knew that I had made the right decision choosing Fitchburg State. I have now been an orientation leader for two years straight and recommend everyone to do so as well!
Derek
Tirrell, ‘25, Communications, Film/Video
Hometown: Abington, MA
Why did you choose Fitchburg State University?
I chose Fitchburg State University because of its esteemed film program and small class sizes.
What clubs/organizations have you been involved with since you started at Fitchburg State and how has your involvement benefited you in your college experience?
I am involved with Billiards Club and it has benefited my experience by helping me make new friends and take time for a break from school and work to have fun and be social. I also have multiple jobs on campus that help keep me involved with the campus community.
What advice would you give a new student on how to get involved on campus?
Stay organized and get involved. Keep track of the opportunities that interest you and make time to explore them.
What was your favorite experience during your first year at Fitchburg State?
My favorite experience of my first year was living on campus. I enjoyed living in the same building as all of my friends and it was very convenient to be able to walk to classes in the morning and partake in campus opportunities and events in the evening.
Josiah Hylton, ‘27,
Criminal Justice
Hometown: Pittsfield, MA
Why did you choose Fitchburg State?
I chose Fitchburg State University because of the police program. It will be a lot easier to find a job and I like the diversity and size of the campus here.
What clubs/organizations have you been involved with since you started at Fitchburg State and how has your involvement benefited you in your college experience?
I’m a member of the fraternity Sigma Tau Gamma, I’m also a tour guide. I received so many benefits from Sig Tau such as meeting new friends, finding and making connections, and I got a lot more involved in campus life in general. I like being a tour guide because I can be a gateway for potential Fitchburg State University students. Being a tour guide also made me more outgoing and gave me a confidence boost, and I got to work with a Sig Tau alumnus.
What advice would you give a new student on how to get involved on campus?
For new advice, I would tell new students to go out to events and push yourself out of your comfort zone. Those experiences allow you to meet new people and I would also tell new students to join any clubs or organizations that allow you to meet new people.
What was your favorite experience during your first year at Fitchburg State?
My favorite experience was freshman orientation because I was able to meet so many new people and find new friends.
