Westfield State University

What Westfield State University does

Westfield State University is a public state university founded in 1839 by Horace Mann in Westfield, Massachusetts, approximately eight miles west of Springfield in the Pioneer Valley. It was established as the first public higher education institution in the United States without barriers to race, gender, or economic class, and in the post-Civil War era became known for educating freed African Americans. The university is governed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts through the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education and is NECHE-accredited. It operates on a 256-acre residential campus with a 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio and a portfolio of more than 100 undergraduate majors and concentrations and 30+ graduate programs.

The university's academic portfolio spans multiple colleges, with notable programs in Criminal Justice, Psychology, Business Management, Nursing, and Health Sciences. Its flagship health-sciences offering is the M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies, launched in January 2018 as the first public PA program in New England and accredited-continued by ARC-PA (next review March 2032). In 2024 the PA program became the first nationally to integrate Butterfly point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) technology into its curriculum, supported by simulation labs and clinical clerkships across Massachusetts. Technology infrastructure includes Banner (student information system), Degree Works (advising), PLATO (online learning), Microsoft 365, eduRoam wireless, myWestfield single sign-on, RAVE Alert emergency notifications, and CASPA for PA admissions.

Westfield State generates revenue through tuition and fees, Massachusetts state appropriations, and financial aid programs, with tuition positioned 24% below the national average for public universities and 87% of students receiving financial aid. It serves traditional undergraduates (55% residential), graduate students, online degree-completion learners, international students, first-generation students, veterans, and NCAA Division III student-athletes. Career services connect students to 700+ internship opportunities, and outcomes data show 90% of graduates either employed full-time or enrolled in graduate school within a defined post-graduation window.

Name

Westfield State University

Legal name

Westfield State University

Website

https://westfield.ma.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1839

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Westfield State University is a public state university in Massachusetts, founded in 1839 by Horace Mann, offering 100+ undergraduate majors and 30+ graduate programs, including the first public Physician Assistant program in New England, serving approximately 4,600 students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools (EDAHAAAF)

Keywords

• Higher education programs
• Undergraduate degrees
• Graduate programs
• Physician assistant education
• Public university services

Headquarters

HQ city

Westfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue generated from tuition and fees charged to undergraduate and graduate students for academic programs, including full-time, part-time, and continuing education students.
2. State Funding: State appropriations and funding from Massachusetts state government to support public higher education operations, campus modernization, and regional economic development initiatives.
3. Financial Aid: Revenue from student financial aid programs including federal grants, state grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans that support enrollment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Westfield State University is a public university that delivers undergraduate and graduate degree education across more than 100 majors and 30+ graduate programs. Its distinctive offerings include the M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies (the first public PA program in New England), the B.S. in Health Sciences, and certificate pathways, supported by simulation labs, point-of-care ultrasound, and the Dr. Nettie M. Stevens Science and Innovation Center. The university also operates online degree completion, continuing education, and non-credit programs through its College of Graduate and Continuing Education.

Product overview

Westfield State University is a public university offering a comprehensive portfolio of academic programs and student services. The institution provides 100+ undergraduate majors and concentrations and 30+ graduate programs, including distinctive offerings such as the M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies (the first public PA program in New England) and B.S. in Health Sciences with Clinical, Community Health, and Gerontology concentrations. Supporting the academic mission are technology platforms including PLATO for online learning, myWestfield portal for single sign-on access, and the RAVE Alert emergency notification system. Student services include career centers with 700+ internship opportunities, simulation labs for healthcare education, and identity management through preferred name services. The university's programs are delivered through multiple colleges including the College of Professional Studies, with health sciences programs notable for their hands-on learning approaches including point-of-care ultrasound technology integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies A 24-month intensive graduate program that educates highly skilled and culturally aware healthcare providers who practice patient-centered care. As the first public PA program in New England, it prepares students for the physician assistant field ranked among the fastest-growing occupations in the U.S., with ARC-PA Accreditation-Continued status.
• B.S. in Health Sciences A Bachelor of Science degree preparing students for rewarding careers in healthcare or graduate program advancement. Features concentrations in Clinical, Community Health, and Gerontology, emphasizing patient-centered care, interdisciplinary collaboration, and evidence-based decision-making.
• Undergraduate Majors and Concentrations Over 100 undergraduate majors and concentrations across multiple colleges, including Criminal Justice, Psychology, Business Management, Nursing, and Health Sciences. Programs include accelerated options, part-time pathways, and online degree completion.
• Graduate Degree Programs More than 30 graduate programs including master's degrees, graduate certificates, teaching licensure, and professional development options delivered through the College of Graduate and Continuing Education.
• Certificate Programs Undergraduate and graduate certificate programs for career advancement, licensure requirements, and professional development, including the H.E.L.P. Summer Residential Program and non-credit continuing education options.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of graduates are either working full-time or in graduate school
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Albert and Amelia Ferst Interfaith CenterminorOthersEstablished the Common Goods food pantry to address food insecurity among students, faculty, and staff. The Interfaith Center initiated this effort in response to the President's Interfaith and Community Service Challenge.
• UCC Second Congregational ChurchminorOthersProvides space for the Common Goods food pantry at 487 Western Avenue. No religious affiliation required for individuals to access the food pantry.
• Fostering Student Success NetworkminorOthersCommunity partner supporting the Common Goods food pantry initiative.
• Dining Services at WSUminorOthersContributes to the Common Goods food pantry initiative.
• St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Mary's ParishminorOthersCommunity partner supporting the Common Goods food pantry.
• TRIO Student Support Services Program at WSUminorOthersUniversity program partner supporting the Common Goods food pantry.
• Westfield FoundationminorOthersFoundation providing support for the Common Goods food pantry.
• Westfield Intermediate SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPA students bring health education and wellness lessons to over 200 fifth and sixth-grade students. Collaborative effort co-facilitated by Westfield State alumnus Shane Hogan '12.
• Paper Mill Elementary SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPA students provide health education presentations on hygiene, stress relief, nutrition, cardiovascular health, and mental health to elementary students.
• Commonwealth of Massachusetts LegislaturecoreOthersUniversity president testified before legislative committees advocating for DRIVE and BRIGHT Acts to support campus modernization, research, infrastructure, and workforce capacity in health sciences.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Keene State College: New Hampshire public comprehensive college of similar enrollment size and mission; comparable regional peer for outcome and program benchmarking.
• Eastern Connecticut State University: New England public comprehensive university of similar scale and mission; comparable peer for cross-border recruitment and program benchmarking, though in Connecticut rather than Massachusetts.
• Plymouth State University: New Hampshire public university with similar size and comprehensive program mix; relevant regional peer for enrollment strategy and program portfolio comparisons.

Direct peers

• Bridgewater State University: Massachusetts state university with comparable enrollment scale, broad undergraduate/graduate offerings, and similar regional New England recruitment base.
• Salem State University: Massachusetts state university in the same public system, similar size and comprehensive undergraduate/graduate portfolio; directly comparable peer in mission, scale, and Massachusetts recruitment footprint.
• Worcester State University: Sibling Massachusetts state university with similar size, program mix, and tuition positioning; one of the most direct comparable institutions in the state system.
• Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts: Small public liberal arts-focused state college in Massachusetts with comparable enrollment size, sharing the same public-system governance and affordability positioning.
• Framingham State University: Massachusetts state university of comparable size and comprehensive academic portfolio; directly competes on affordability and regional recruitment.
• Fitchburg State University: Massachusetts state university of similar enrollment and program breadth, competing for the same regional student pool with overlapping program offerings.

Broad incumbents

• University of Massachusetts Amherst: The flagship public research university in Massachusetts; offers overlapping programs at a larger scale, providing both competitive pressure and an articulation/transfer pathway for WSU students.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/westfield-state-university
• Xx.com/westfieldstate
• Facebookfacebook.com/WestfieldStateUniversity

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Westfield State University