Consumer Information

Information on New Undergraduate Students: Gender, Race/Ethnicity and other data can be found in the Institutional Factbook (PDF).

In accordance with the Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act, Fitchburg State University submits athletics data annually, via a Web-based data collection to the Department of Education.  Find the most current data for Fitchburg State University and search institutions at the US Department of Education Equity in Athletics Data Analysis site.

Questions about athletics compliance can be directed to Fitchburg State Executive Director of Athletics, Matthew Burke at mburke43@fitchburgstate.edu or 978.665.3313.

Students enter the University with a variety of academic, career and personal goals.  Information about student completion over the past few years can be found in the Institutional Factbook (PDF).

More of today's students are likely to complete their degrees at institutions other than the one at which they began as freshmen. Student Achievement Measure (SAM), enables universities to track and make a more complete picture of student progress and graduation rates than ever before.  Fitchburg State University plays an important role in the graduation of students who go on to complete their degrees at other institutions. SAM reflects our role in students’ successful completion of degrees at other colleges and universities. 

The cost of attendance is the budget for a student not actual billed costs. It is made up of direct costs (tuition, fees, housing and meals) and indirect costs (i.e. books, transportation, travel, miscellaneous expenses). Find information on the cost of attendance. 

Fitchburg State University’s Net Price Calculator provides information about costs and estimated financial aid eligibility.  This tool is a guide for financial planning and not a guarantee of aid or future years.  Find the Net Price Calculator.

Fitchburg State University is committed to making education affordable, basing eligibility for financial aid on the total cost of attendance, not just the direct costs, to support a more realistic budget and financial aid package. 

Find student loan information, including the Code of Conduct related to lender information.

The code of conduct applies to the officers, employees, and agents of the institution. 

You can apply for financial aid for a study abroad trip. Find the study abroad application on the financial aid forms page. 

The Office of Financial Aid assists students who, without financial assistance, would be unable to attend college. Aid is distributed to students through both merit-based and need-based awards.  These include scholarships, loans, grants, and work-study assistants.  

Find more information on available scholarships in Academic Works. 

The Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (Clery Act), signed in 1990, reauthorized in 2024, is a federal statute codified at 20 U.S.C. § 1092(f), with implementing regulations in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations at 34 C.F.R. 668.46.  The Clery Act is a consumer protection law that aims to provide transparency around campus crime, policies, and statistics.  Educational institutions participating in student financial aid programs under Title IV of the Higher Education Act must  disclose information about campus safety policies and procedures and provide statistics concerning certain crimes that occurred on or near campus. This information is provided in an Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (ASR).

The report includes crime statistics for the previous three years. Statistics include reported crimes to the University Police Department, local police, persons referred for campus disciplinary action for categories required under the Clery Act, and Campus Security Authorities (CSAs). The statistics are also published by the Office of Postsecondary Education on the Campus Safety and Security Statistics website.

ASR Availability

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, often referred to as the Clery Report, includes statistics about crimes and other security incidents reported to campus security authorities in the past three years.

The outlines policies, practice and resources related to campus security, crime reporting, alcohol and drug use, victim assistance programs, student discipline, community safety alerts, crime prevention, access to campus facilities/properties and personal safety tips. 

The information contained within this report is provided to Fitchburg State University community members, prospective students, their families, prospective employees and the general public as a part of the University’s commitment to safety and security on campus. Reports are available and in alternative formats by request to UPD, Student Affairs, and Human Resources.

Fitchburg State University’s Clery Crime Logs and Fire Logs are available for viewing at the University Police Station, 32 Clinton Street, Fitchburg.

In cooperation with local officials, University Police has primary responsibility for managing and coordinating all phases of a disaster that occurs within the campus footprint. Local and state authorities will provide assistance to the campus in the event of a disaster that exhausts university resources.

The university follows the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s National Incident Management System (NIMS) guidelines. Established in 2004, NIMS provides a systematic, proactive approach to guide all levels of government, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector to work seamlessly to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from the effects of emergencies, regardless of cause, size, location or complexity.

Emergency Management Team

The university’s Emergency Management Plan is overseen and assisted by the Emergency Management Team (EMT). To enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the EMT, the team is broken into five subcommittees with distinct responsibilities and areas of oversight:

• Systems and Technology
• Fire Safety
• Education and Training
• Exercises and Drills
• Policy and Compliance
   

The university requires a completed Student Immunization Record and the following state required immunizations be submitted to the university for all full time students and all international students both undergraduate and graduate.  Students entering the university in September must return the completed form by August 15. Students entering the university for the January term must submit the completed form by December 28.

Find related forms and more information.

The Federal Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act requires colleges and universities to issue a statement advising the campus community about where they may obtain information concerning registered sex offenders. The act also requires registered sex offenders to provide notice to each institution of higher education in the state in which he or she is employed or enrolled as a student.

Learn more about the sex offender registry.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board
P.O. Box 4547
Salem, MA 01970
978.740.6400
Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board website
 

Fitchburg State University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).

Accreditation of an institution of higher education by the Commission indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of institutional quality periodically applied through a peer review process. An accredited college or university is one which has available the necessary resources to achieve its stated purposes through appropriate educational programs, is substantially doing so, and gives reasonable evidence that it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Institutional integrity is also addressed through accreditation. 

Additionally, Fitchburg State University programs are accredited by the following:

• The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• The International Accreditation Council for Business Education
• The Council for Standards in Human Service Education
• The Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP)
• ABET, Inc (about ABET accreditation):
  • Computer Information Systems is ABET accredited under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Information Systems and Similarly Named Computing Programs
  • Computer Science is ABET accredited under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Computer Science

Find more information on accreditation.

Find Undergraduate and Graduate Academic Programs of Study in our program finder. 

Faculty and staff can be found in the faculty and staff directory. You can search by department, major, name or title. 

Fitchburg State University has seven main academic buildings, including a modern science complex.  The university offers a variety of learning environments, from general-purpose classrooms to specialized spaces like labs, computer rooms, art and music studios, and auditoriums which are also used as theaters.  Among these are a nursing simulation lab and state-of-the-art distance learning classrooms. Additionally, the campus has an academic library that is open to all students, faculty, and the public.

Learn more from Capital Planning and Maintenance.

​​​​​Find information and resources for online students.

Fitchburg State University is a member in good standing of the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), a national accrediting organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.  The University’s  licensure programs have been awarded full accreditation by AAQEP through December 31, 2030. Accreditation acknowledges that a program prepares effective educators who continue to grow as professionals and has demonstrated the commitment and capacity to maintain quality.

Find more information on AAQEP from the licensure office.
 

Transfer of Credit

Students may bring 90 credits from regionally accredited four-year institutions and 75 credits from regionally accredited two-year schools.  TStudents complete at least 50 percent of the coursework in their major at Fitchburg State, as well as one-quarter of their overall undergraduate credits.

Questions about transfer requirements can be directed to  978.665.3144 or by email at admissions@fitchburgstate.edu. Visit transfer admissions for more information.

Credit for Prior Learning

Some students may have acquired knowledge and skills through life experiences, which equate to Fitchburg State University course offerings. The Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) option allows students the opportunity to have those life experiences evaluated as educational experiences and credited toward a degree. A student may apply life experience towards existing university course requirements by completing a portfolio that validates the experience and learning that has taken place.  

Articulation Agreements

Articulation agreements are designed to facilitate transfer between many of the Massachusetts community colleges and technical high schools and Fitchburg State University. These transfer agreements show how community college and technical high school courses will be applied to a particular bachelor’s degree.  Fitchburg State University has approximately 250 MassTransfer linked programs with the Massachusetts community colleges.

For more information on articulation agreements. 
 

Fitchburg State offers programs that allow students majoring in History, English, Biology, Chemistry, Math, General Science, and Technology/Engineering to pursue initial licensure as middle and high school teachers. These programs aim to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of both teaching methodologies and subject matter expertise. Students engage in field-based experiences in the school setting supervised by our faculty through on and off-site pre-practicum experiences coupled with each teaching course and a formal teaching practicum as the capstone experience. This hands-on approach ensures that students gain practical skills and knowledge to excel in their future teaching careers.

Find more information on education licensure programs.
 

Every member of the university community is expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. A student shall not submit work that is falsified or is not the result of the student’s own effort. A student who is in doubt regarding standards of academic integrity in a course or assignment should consult the faculty member responsible for that course or assignment before submitting the work. A student’s lack of understanding of the academic integrity policy is not a valid defense to a charge of academic dishonesty.

More information can be found in the student handbook.

Acceptable use of Fitchburg State information technology resources includes usage for academic, educational or professional purposes which are directly related to official FSU business and in support of Fitchburg State’s mission. Accordingly, users are encouraged to utilize Fitchburg State's information technology resources to the fullest extent in pursuit of the University’s mission, goals, and objectives. The University expects that these information technology resources are always utilized in a responsible manner and reserves the right to limit or remove access as needed. 

Find more information on the acceptable use policy. 

Fitchburg State University’s Alcohol and Drug Policies will be in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at all times. 

Students found in violation of Massachusetts law will also be subject to University disciplinary action. Students found in violation of the University’s Alcohol and Drug Policy or engaging in misconduct related to the abuse of alcohol, whether on or off campus, will be subject to disciplinary action under the Student Code of Conduct.

Find information about consequences for violations as well as support and resources.

Fitchburg State University encourages its faculty, staff, and students to respect the intellectual property rights of others and to abide by applicable intellectual property laws, including copyright law. Without understanding the copyright law, including elements such as the doctrine of “Fair Use” and its application and limitations in the educational setting, faculty members, copy centers, university stores, universities and colleges themselves, and others, will be at risk for engaging in illegal photocopying. Fitchburg State University neither condones nor authorizes the making of copies in violation of U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S. Code).

Find Copyright and Fair Use rules and guidelines.

More information on copyright and scholarly communication.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), better known as the Buckley Amendment, requires that institutions of higher education strictly protect the privacy rights of all students who are or have been in attendance. In practice, this means that information contained in the student’s educational record can be shared only with school officials who have a legitimate educational interest and a legitimate need to know such information to fulfill their professional responsibilities. For these purposes, "legitimate educational interest" shall mean an educationally related purpose that has a directly identifiable educational relationship to the student involved. 

Find more information on FERPA, including related definitions.

In development

Students seeking a short-term leave of absence from the University should review the Leave of Absence information.

Students who wish to withdraw from the University entirely, or for an extended period of time, should email Student Affairs at studentaffairs@fitchburgstate.edu to initiate the withdrawal process. Students may require a meeting with Student Affairs and complete necessary paperwork. For more information on the process, refer to the "Withdrawal from the University" section of the Student Handbook or the Fitchburg State University Catalog.

• Undergraduate Refund Policy
• Dropping below Full time
• SGOCE Refund Policy 

Refund Policy for Students with Financial Aid - This refund policy applies to all full-time and part-time students enrolled at Fitchburg State University who are receiving Federal Title IV Financial Aid and withdraw from all classes. This policy is mandated by federal regulation. This policy deals only with the percentage of aid that is earned by a student. Charges incurred by a student who withdraws from the University are determined in accordance with the Institutional Refund Policy.

The Career Services and Advising Center assists students and alumni in developing, evaluating, and implementing career education and employment goals and assists potential employers with potential ways to engage with Fitchburg State students.

The university endeavors to ensure that all employment and academic decisions, programs, and policies are formulated and conducted in a manner to ensure equal access for all people and to prevent unlawful discrimination. As part of this effort, the university will ensure that employment and academic decisions, programs, and policies will be based solely on the individual eligibility, merit, or fitness of applicants, employees, and students without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, including sex characteristics, sex stereotypes, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy and pregnancies-related conditions, genetic information, marital or parental status, or Veteran status.  

Find more information about equal opportunity.

The university is committed to providing equal access to otherwise qualified persons with disabilities. The university recognizes that individuals with disabilities may need reasonable accommodations to have equally effective opportunities to participate in or benefit from educational programs, services, activities, and employment. 

The Disability Services Office is responsible for verifying student eligibility for accommodations and for coordinating those accommodations across campus. Find more information, including how to initiate a request for services.

The Human Resources Office is responsible for coordinating eligible accommodations for employees. Contact humanresources@fitchburgstate.edu for more information 

A university official is charged with the responsibility for the University’s compliance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the University’s Policies for Reasonable Accommodations for Persons with Disabilities, and this Plan with regard to issues of disability discrimination. The Title II/504 Coordinator for Fitchburg State University is: Rebecca H. Newell, Director of Title IX and Equal Opportunity Sanders 202 | rnewell7@fitchburgstate.edu or titleix@fitchburgstate.edu | 978.665.3236
 

The university is committed to nondiscrimination and equal opportunity. The university is dedicated to providing educational, working, and living environments that value the diverse backgrounds of all people. 

The university does not discriminate in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its educational programs and activities on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital or parental status, or veteran status. The university prohibits discrimination or discriminatory harassment on all of those bases. Such behaviors violate the university’s Policy of Nondiscrimination, will not be tolerated, and may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination or expulsion.

The university has appointed an Equal Opportunity Officer (“EO Officer”) to oversee its compliance of applicable policy, as well as the state and federal nondiscrimination and equal opportunity laws.  The full policy, including the complaint and grievance procedure can be found at: https://www.fitchburgstate.edu/resources/faculty-and-staff/human-resour…,

Anyone with questions, concerns or complaints regarding discrimination, discriminatory harassment, or retaliation may contact the EO Officer at:

Rebecca H. Newell, Director of Title IX and Equal Opportunity Sanders 202 | rnewell7@fitchburgstate.edu or titleix@fitchburgstate.edu | 978.665.3236

Shop books and course materials on our e-campus site.

The Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy prohibits sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and retaliation as defined under Title IX and outlines the procedures for resolution of reports of these behaviors. 

Fitchburg State University provides educational and prevention programs, services for individuals who have been affected by discrimination and harassment on the basis of sex, and accessible, timely and equitable methods of investigation and resolution of complaints. 

The Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy is consistent with the Title IX Regulations that became effective August 14, 2020. Additionally, this policy is intended to comply with the reauthorized Violence Against Women Reauthorized Act of 2018 (“VAWA”), including the Campus SaVE Act, and the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act.

Find the full policy, including the complaint and grievance procedures.

The university’s Title IX Coordinator is:
Rebecca H. Newell, Director of Title IX and Equal Opportunity Sanders 202 | rnewell7@fitchburgstate.edu or titleix@fitchburgstate.edu | 978.665.3236

Inquiries may also be directed to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights
OCR@ed.gov | 800.421.3481

Registration forms will be available on campus for both Massachusetts residents and those from other states. The Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts offers an online voter registration system.