Admit rate has ranged 54%–65% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
The College of Wooster is a small, fiercely independent liberal arts college in Ohio where intellectual curiosity meets hands-on research. Known for its signature Independent Study program—a yearlong thesis project that graduates liken to a 'PhD light'—Wooster fosters a culture of close faculty mentorship and interdisciplinary exploration. With a 60% acceptance rate and a student body drawn from 47 states and 77 countries, it's a place where 'Scot spirit' thrives amid rigorous academics and tight-knit community traditions.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Demonstrated competencies
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
1,730
In-state tuition
$61,640
Out-of-state tuition
$61,640
Location
Wooster, OH
Campus Size
240 acres
Acceptance Rate
59.5-60%
Student-Faculty Ratio
11:1
6-Year Graduation Rate
74-77%
International Students
From 77 countries
Average Financial Aid Package
$59,425
Early Decision Acceptance Rate
72.1%
Median Earnings 1 Year Post-Grad
$36,427
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$59,629
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.5×
Median debt at graduation
$26,500
Graduation rate
74%
First-year retention
82%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
74%
Pell (lower-income) share
33%
First-generation share
14%
Endowment / student
$253,077
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Economics$48,041
Communication and Media Studies$38,829
Mathematics$36,674
Chemistry$33,993
Political Science and Government$30,409
English Language and Literature, General$28,598
Biology, General
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
9
Per 1,000 students
5.20
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
95
Summer high
81°F
Winter low
25°F
Annual rain
43.3"
Annual snow
25.1"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Low
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
156
Scholarly works
4,446
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at The College of Wooster?
The College of Wooster's acceptance rate is approximately 60% (Wooster, OH), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for The College of Wooster?
Admitted students at The College of Wooster typically score 1220–1460 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does The College of Wooster cost?
At The College of Wooster, the average net price (after aid) is about $23,458 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend The College of Wooster?
The College of Wooster enrolls approximately 1,730 undergraduate students.
Where is The College of Wooster located?
The College of Wooster is located in Wooster, OH.
Admissions
Wooster's admissions process leans selective but accessible, with a 59.5-60% Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants.—slightly more competitive than the national average for liberal arts colleges. Early applicants enjoy a significant edge, with a 72.1% acceptance rate. Middle 50% SAT scores range from 1250-1420, though the Test-optionalA policy where you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you don't, the rest of your application carries more weight. policy means these aren't decisive. The college emphasizes Holistic admissionsA review that weighs the whole applicant — grades, essays, activities, and context — rather than relying on test scores and GPA alone., with particular interest in students who show intellectual curiosity and a willingness to engage in Wooster's distinctive research-focused curriculum.
Acceptance Rate: 59.5-60% (72.1% early decision)
Middle 50% SAT: 1250-1420
Student Body: 47 U.S. states, 77 countries represented
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$26,933
Sociology$26,625
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Every Wooster student graduates having completed an Independent Study (I.S.)—a yearlong, faculty-mentored research project that's the academic cornerstone of the college. With an 11:1 student-faculty ratio and no declared majors for incoming students, Wooster encourages interdisciplinary exploration across 50+ areas of study. Popular majors include Computer Science (6% of graduates) and History (5%), but the curriculum demands breadth: humanities students take quantitative courses, while STEM majors engage with the arts.
Signature Program: Independent Study (required for all students)
Student-Faculty Ratio: 11:1
Notable Stats: 94% of graduates report being accepted into their top-choice grad program
Wooster's 240-acre campus hums with a quirky, collaborative energy. Students describe it as a 'giant family' where 85% live on campus, bonding over traditions like the 'I.S. Monday' celebration (where seniors ring a bell after submitting their theses) and the 'Scot Spirit' that pervades Division III athletics. The college's Wooster in India program underscores its global outlook, while 100+ student organizations—from politics to theater—keep weekends lively. Reviews consistently praise the 'beautifully maintained' grounds and unusually supportive faculty who 'treat students like colleagues.'
Wooster punches above its weight in graduate outcomes. The six-year graduation rate sits at 74-77%, well above the national average, with Pell Grant recipients graduating at a 78% rate—a testament to strong support systems. Alumni earn a median $36,427 one year post-graduation, with 96% employed or in grad school within six months. Notably, the college's emphasis on research pays off: 94% of graduates gain admission to their first-choice graduate program, often citing their I.S. experience as decisive.
Wooster meets 100% of demonstrated need, with 63% of students receiving financial aid and an average aid package of $59,425. The Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. calculator suggests typical costs after aid hover around $28,004, though Pell Grant recipients often pay significantly less. The college's early aid estimator provides personalized projections, and its rolling aid notifications (starting January 1) reduce the guesswork for families.
Wooster's magic lies in its mandatory undergraduate research—the I.S. program transforms students into independent scholars, with many describing it as their 'professional calling card.' Unlike peer institutions where research is optional, Wooster's ethos ensures every graduate leaves with substantive original work. Combined with a strikingly supportive faculty (who often co-publish with students) and a campus culture that balances rigor with quirky traditions, it's a college for students who want to be challenged but never coddled. As one Reddit reviewer put it: 'Academics are top-notch, but it's the people who make it feel like home.'
The College of Wooster logo · sourceThe College of Wooster - Profile, Rankings and Data | US News Best Colleges · sourceCollege of Wooster – Colleges That Change Lives · sourceSacred Spaces — The College of Wooster · source
