Why UMass Chan

Living in Worcester

The Heart of the Commonwealth, Worcester is the #1 mid-sized city for healthcare access and the 8th safest place to live in the US. Our living spaces, cultural events, new shops and eateries, and award-winning brewery form a bustling city center which was bolstered by the recent $500M downtown development project. With a regional airport as well as several interstate highways, the city provides easy access to all the northeast has to offer.

Worcester boasts more than 70 world-class cultural venues. Residents and visitors alike can find enriching activities at the Worcester Historical Museum, the Worcester Art Museum, the Worcester Center for Crafts, and the EcoTarium, a museum that celebrates science and nature. Worcester hosts musicals, concerts, and performance of all kinds at The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts, the DCU Center, and Mechanics Hall. Worcester also boasts its own opera company, Greater Worcester Opera. The greater Worcester area offers outdoor recreation activities including beaches, lakes, beautiful hiking trails, and easy access to the Berkshires, Boston, Providence, and Hartford.

Worcester is among the top 30 most ethnically diverse midsized cities in the US, which has led to a rich tapestry of small businesses offering cultural opportunities from food to festivals. Worcester is also home to over 50 city parks. In warmer months there are outdoor concerts, farmers markets, minor league baseball games, and an array of food trucks throughout the city. In winter, residents make use of the charming outdoor skating rink at the Worcester Common Oval and attend the annual Downtown Worcester Winter Festival. Myriad other events are coordinated through the Downtown Worcester group. 

Massachusetts is ranked 2^nd in the US for schooling. In addition to the three graduate schools within UMass Chan (the T.H. Chan School of Medicine, the Tan Chingfen School of Nursing, and the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences), Worcester is home to many higher education institutions including the College of the Holy Cross, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Clark University,  Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Assumption College, and Worcester State University. Several of the highest ranked school districts in Massachusetts are located within 30 minutes of the UMass Chan campus. In addition to multiple private school options, the Worcester Public School system is well-regarded. Known for its diversity, Worcester Public Schools learners speak 74 languages and as such all materials are provided in the 8 most commonly spoken languages: English, Albanian, Nepali, Portuguese, Spanish, Twi/Akan kasa, Vietnamese, and Arabic.