Step into a world where education is an extraordinary experience of Independent Minds, Working Together. At Wooster, you learn in the classroom and beyond, as we nurture you on your journey to what comes next — whether that's starting your career or continuing your education.
Imagine a place where learning is both academic and experiential; where you can shape your own path within a community of curious people from all over the world; and where every student dives deep into a project they're truly passionate about, chosen by them and guided by a dedicated faculty mentor. That's what our Independent Study (I.S.) program is all about: a dynamic intellectual partnership that fuels innovation and creativity. It's not your ordinary project—it's a shared community of experience for all our students, the heartbeat of our curriculum, and one reason we have been nationally recognized as a top school for both undergraduate teaching and undergraduate research.
And what's more, there are over 120 student-led clubs and organizations, 23 varsity athletic teams, seven music ensembles, and endless community and volunteer opportunities for you to pursue your passions outside of the classroom. At Wooster, we place no limits on your individual discovery.
Through the Wooster experience, you'll be empowered to influence world change in a big way. Whether you dream of developing treatments and cures for the world's most devastating diseases, studying the effects of climate change on melting glaciers, creating statistics that measure sports performance, or serving in the Peace Corps, Wooster gives you the tools to succeed.
You'll develop the context, empathy, insight, and drive to see opportunities where others see obstacles. You'll be prepared to listen to different perspectives and develop creative solutions to address challenges. The results speak for themselves. 96% of Wooster graduates are employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation and 94% of Wooster graduates are accepted into their top choice graduate schools.
About
From the School
Contact & Visit
Campus Visits Contact
847 College Ave
Wooster, OH 44691
Experience College Life
Scot Center (recreation facility)
Timken Science Library
APEX (Gault Library)
Lowry Student Center
Gault Schoolhouse (residence hall) Gault Manor (residence hall) Burton D. Morgan Hall Ebert Art Center Kauke Hall
Inventure Place (National Inventor's Hall of Fame)
the mountain biking trails at Vulture?s Knob (Wooster)
Downtown Wooster
the 1,000-acre Mohican State Park.
Ohio State?s Secrest Arboretum Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area Professional Football Hall of Fame, Canton
Campus Tours
8am-5pm and 8am-noon
330-263-2322
Dates: Year-round
Times: Varies
Average Length: 1 hour
On Campus Interview
Faculty and Coach Visits
Class Visits
Overnight Dorm Stays
Transportation
Admissions
Admissions
Overall
From The School
For students entering college in the fall of 2025, applications will open on August 1.
The College of Wooster uses a holistic review process to fully assess your candidacy for admission. All materials you choose to submit will be considered, and our Admission Committee gives due consideration to many different expressions of a student's qualities and abilities: scholastic achievements, extracurricular activities, character, and promise to contribute to the intellectual and social life of our distinct academic community. You have the option to include performance on standardized tests.
How to Apply
First-year applicants may apply to The College of Wooster via Common Application, Coalition Application, or Scot Application. We do not have a preference among any of our application options.
Please submit only one application in an application year.
Required Materials:
Common Application, Coalition Application, or Scot Application
High School Transcript
Secondary School Report, including the Counselor Recommendation
Teacher Recommendation
Essay, included in either application noted above
Early Decision Agreement — this contract is required for Early Decision applicants only
Optional Components Include:
ACT or SAT scores, please review our Test Optional admission policy
Test scores will not be used in consideration for merit-based scholarships
Interview with an admissions representative (required for consideration for the College Scholar Award)
Overview
SAT & ACT Test Scores
Testing Policies
Deadlines
Early Decision — November 1
Early Decision II — January 15
Early Action — November 30
Regular — March 15
Other Admission Factors
Rigor of Secondary School Record
Academic GPA
Selectivity Rating
Get a personalized plan for a competitive application from an admissions expert.
Learn MoreAcademics
Academics
Overall
From The School
Academic Programs
When it comes to academic areas of study, the options for Wooster students are truly limitless. Students with a science or math focus have room to explore a passion for the arts. Those who thrive in the humanities blend statistics and quantitative learning into their class schedules, too. A large percentage of our students go on to earn a graduate or professional degree after Wooster and take advantage of pre-professional programs while benefiting from an excellent liberal arts education. Whether you're interested in sciences, psychology, digital media, languages or any of our more than 50 areas of study, you can build a plan that gives you a multidisciplinary education in four years.
Majors and Degrees Offered
Activism and Social Change (Pathway)
Africana Studies (Major/Minor)
Anthropology (Major/Minor)
Archaeology (Major/Minor)
Art History (Major/Minor)
Art Studio (Major/Minor)
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (Major/Minor)
Biology (Major/Minor)
Business Economics (Major)
Chemical Physics (Major)
Chemistry (Major/Minor)
Chinese Studies (Major/Minor)
Classical Studies (Major/Minor)
Communication Sciences and Disorders (Major/Minor)
Communication Studies (Major/Minor)
Comparative Literature (Major/Minor)
Computer Science (Major/Minor)
Digital & Visual Storytelling (Pathway)
East Asian Studies (Major/Minor)
Economics (Major/Minor)
Education (Major/Minor)
English (Major/Minor)
Entrepreneurship (Pathway)
Environmental Communication & Action (Pathway)
Environmental Geoscience (Major)
Environmental Studies (Major/Minor)
French and Francophone Studies (Major/Minor)
Geology (Major/Minor)
German Studies (Major/Minor)
Global and International Studies (Major/Minor)
Global Impacts (Pathway)
Global Media and Digital Studies (Major/Minor)
Global Queer Studies
History (Major/Minor)
International Business Economics (Minor)
Latin American Studies (Minor)
Mathematics (Major/Minor)
Middle Eastern and North African Studies (Minor)
Museum & Archival Studies (Pathway)
Music (Major/Minor)
Neuroscience (Major)
Philosophy (Major/Minor)
Physical Education (minor)
Physics (Major/Minor)
Political Science (Major/Minor)
Pre-Architecture (Pre-Professional)
Pre-Engineering (Pre-Professional)
Pre-Health (Pre-Professional)
Pre-Law (Pre-Professional)
Pre-Ministry (Pre-Professional)
Psychology (Major/Minor)
Public Health (Pathway)
Religious Studies (Major/Minor)
Russian Studies (Major/Minor)
Sociology (Major/Minor)
South Asian Studies (Minor)
Spanish (Major/Minor)
Statistical and Data Sciences (Major/Minor)
Theatre and Dance (Major/Minor)
Urban Studies (Major/Minor)
Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies (Major/Minor)
Faculty and Class Information
Graduation Rates
Majors
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AREA, ETHNIC, CULTURAL, GENDER, AND GROUP STUDIES.
African-American/Black Studies.
Area, Ethnic, Cultural, and Gender Studies, Other.
Chinese Studies.
East Asian Studies.
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies, Other.
French Studies.
German Studies.
Russian Studies.
Women's Studies.
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BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES.
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Biology, General.
Neuroscience.
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BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES.
Business/Managerial Economics.
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COMMUNICATION, JOURNALISM, AND RELATED PROGRAMS.
Communication and Media Studies.
Mass Communication/Media Studies.
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COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
Computer Science.
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EDUCATION.
Elementary Education and Teaching.
Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching.
Music Teacher Education.
Secondary Education and Teaching.
Teacher Education, Multiple Levels.
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ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS.
English Language and Literature, General.
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FOREIGN LANGUAGES, LITERATURES, AND LINGUISTICS.
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.
Comparative Literature.
French Language and Literature.
German Language and Literature.
Russian Language and Literature.
Spanish Language and Literature.
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HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND RELATED PROGRAMS.
Communication Sciences and Disorders, General.
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HISTORY.
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LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES, GENERAL STUDIES AND HUMANITIES.
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies.
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MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS.
Mathematics and Statistics.
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MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES.
Classical, Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies and Archaeology.
International/Global Studies.
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NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION.
Environmental Studies.
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PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES.
Philosophy.
Religion/Religious Studies.
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PHYSICAL SCIENCES.
Chemistry.
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences.
Physics.
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PSYCHOLOGY.
Research and Experimental Psychology.
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SOCIAL SCIENCES.
Anthropology.
Archeology.
Econometrics and Quantitative Economics.
Economics.
Political Science and Government.
Sociology.
Urban Studies/Affairs.
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VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS.
Art History, Criticism and Conservation.
Dance.
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General.
Film/Cinema/Video Studies.
Fine/Studio Arts, General.
Music.
Students Say
Professors at Wooster are "hidden gems" who are all "very passionate about their subjects" and their goal "to shape their students into lifelong learners." "It's as if your professor is your colleague on your quest for eternal knowledge," says a freshman. These intimate ties between student and professor are "what makes Wooster such an incredible place." "My professors, both past and present, know more than just my name," says a student. "My success is a product of my professors' enthusiasm toward their subject matter and our futures," says another. The work may be "challenging," but it "teaches students how to write exceptionally," and there is "plenty of help from professors, TAs, [and] peer tutoring." "Collaborative work and experience" are stressed, and classes are set up "in a way that allows people to learn from their peers as well as their professors."
Research plays a "huge" role at Wooster, especially with senior year Independent Study, when students are given the opportunity to work with a faculty mentor on a project in any topic they are passionate about-and "they can do so much with it." The institution is also aware of the effort that students must put in to have success and "is realistic in its expectations for students' learning." As one student best sums it up, "Wooster is a community of learners working together to help one another reach their full potential and goals."
Degrees
Career Services
Alumni Network
Alumni Services
Classes
Interest Inventory
Internships
Regional Alumni
Experiential
Internship
Notable Faculty
Prominent Alumni
Academic Rating
Careers
Graduation Rates
Career Services
Alumni Network
Alumni Services
Classes
Interest Inventory
Internships
Regional Alumni
Experiential
Internship
ROI & Outcomes
Students Say
Tuition & Aid
Tuition & Aid
Overview
From The School
Tuition, Room, Board and Fees
Tuition: $61,120
Fees: $520
Housing (Standard double): $7,040
Food (Meal Plan): $7,450
Total Comprehensive Fee: $76,130
Financial Aid
There's a reason The College of Wooster is singled out by college experts for our affordability and why each year we are listed as a Best Value College. Our test-blind process for merit scholarships and commitment to transparency on costs empower families to make informed decisions about their educational investments.
Our experienced financial aid staff are here to help you navigate the financial aid application process as you determine how to finance your education. It is our goal to provide information to applicants and their families about how to make college more affordable. Wooster is particularly fortunate to have incredibly successful and loyal alumni who donate generously, allowing us to provide large aid awards.
This year, for example, more than 85% of our students received some assistance. Over $60 million of this aid takes the form of merit scholarships and need-based grants that are offered to students without any repayment obligation. Other major forms of financial aid available to incoming and current Wooster students include over $7 million in loans and $1 million in campus employment opportunities. Our average financial aid package is just over $50,000.
Dates
Required Forms
School
Financial Aid Statistics
Expenses per Academic Year
Available Aid
Need-Based College/University Scholarship or Grant Aid from Institutional Funds
Need-Based Federal Pell
Need-Based Private Scholarships
Need-Based SEOG
Need-Based State Scholarships
Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans
Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
Financial Aid Rating
Student Body
Student Body
Overall
From The School
Our diverse and international campus is welcoming, inclusive, and globally aware. Students thrive together and advocate for one another. It's what makes Wooster special. The community at Wooster is meaningful, transformational, and lifelong.
Our community of learners come from all over the world, each bringing a unique mix of experiences, interests, and ideas, to create our diverse — and truly global — community. Being surrounded by people from different backgrounds and perspectives can challenge your assumptions and help you discover new ways of looking at the world.
76 countries and 47 states are represented by Wooster students, and 14% of our student body is made up of international students, while 24% of U.S. students are students of color.
Join or be a leader as part of any number of Wooster's 120-plus student organizations across a variety of categories of interest, including: arts & culture, performance, service and civic engagement, to name a few.
100 stage performances hosted each year
7 music ensembles and 8 acapella groups
One-third of students involved in music as a major, minor, or extracurricular
12 Greek Life chapters, all locally affiliated
22 club and intramural sports
23 Intercollegiate NCAA Division III Athletic Teams: Baseball (M)
Basketball (M/W)
Cross Country (M/W)
Field Hockey (W)
Football (M)
Golf (M/W)
Lacrosse (M/W)
Soccer (M/W)
Softball (W)
Swimming & Diving (M/W)
Tennis (M/W)
Track & Field (M/W)
Volleyball (W)
Student Body Profile
Demographics
Students Say
Campus Life
Campus Life
Overview
From The School
Location
Wooster is situated in a spirited residential setting, surrounded by natural beauty. In fact, the College has more trees than students and holds an official Tree Campus USA designation. Classes frequently head outdoors on warm fall or spring days.
The City of Wooster ranks 7th of 543 micropolitan areas in the U.S. by Policom—a measure of Economic Strength that looks at the long-term tendency for an area to consistently grow in both size and quality.
The downtown area is full of great eateries, a Hungarian bakery, cozy coffee shops, a nationally recognized co-op, a used bookstore, and a variety of artisan and antique shops. Wooster is home to two Chipotles, one within walking distance to campus. Uptown, you'll find familiar favorites like Starbucks, Panera Bread, Jimmy John's, Kohl's, Dick's Sporting Goods, T. J. Maxx, and more.
Campus is located with easy access to several outdoor recreation opportunities. It's a short drive to Ohio State's Secrest Arboretum, the mountain biking trails at Vulture's Knob, and the 1,000-acre Mohican State Park.
The Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and the Akron-Canton Airport are both less than a one-hour drive from Wooster, and Columbus is 90 minutes away.
Campus Facilities & Equipment
The College of Wooster offers a variety of housing options, including Luce Language Suites, which are experiential learning communities devoted to the active practice and promotion of Chinese, French, German, and Spanish language and culture. The Suites are coordinated and supervised by the College's language departments.
The College owns and operates over 15 houses on campus that are home to our Service and Program House groups. Service houses provide weekly volunteer hours to local community partners as well as spend time reflecting back on the service they are providing. Program Houses also provide service to the campus community through programming, education, and raising awareness. House sizes range from 4-12 students.
We also have two lounges that help students build community and find salience in their identities. Lounges for the Black Student Association (BSA) and Latinx students provide flexible space for gathering, cooking, and celebration of identity. Q Space, an LGBTQIA+ inclusive and affirming space, provides a safe and supportive environment where queer students feel accepted for exactly who they are.
Our library system houses nearly 700,000 book volumes in three facilities: Andrews Library, The Gault Library for Independent Study, and the Timken Science Library. The Collaborative Research Environment (CoRE) in Andrews Library provides you with the digital technology and resources to conduct research, brainstorm, and collaborate with faculty and other students.
Off-Campus Opportunities
To help you develop an understanding of today's complex global society, Wooster's curriculum is designed to let you spend a year, semester, summer, spring break, or winter break studying off-campus. Through study abroad, you expand your capacity to navigate a cross-cultural environment, gain a deeper understanding not only of the world, but also of yourself and your own culture—a perspective that's essential to becoming an engaged and responsible leader.
Nearly two-thirds of each class has at least one off-campus experience in the U.S. or in one of 60+ countries. However, you don't have to go far for experiential learning opportunities. The city of Wooster provides great internship and service opportunities, including two major hospital systems, law firms, arts council, and a thriving Main Street. Funding is available for experiential learning and professional development opportunities, whether participating in a research fellowship, internship, consulting project, or requesting a mini grant to attend a conference. What's more, you can earn credit for qualifying experiential learning opportunities.
Campus Life
Housing Options
Dorms Coed
Other
Theme Housing
Students Say
For those who choose not to party, there are "many other recreational activities for those who are not in sports or who do not enjoy drinking," and the college "is very good at bringing in entertainment," such as "comedians, professional music artists, and forum speakers which are all free to students." A student run weekly flyer, The Pot, helps "keep students up to date on all of the campus events happening." A lot of the time, though, "students will just hang out together and relax."
Special Needs Admissions
Special Need Services Offered
Student Activities
Sports
Basketball
Cross Country
Diving
Football
Golf
Lacrosse
Soccer
Swimming
Tennis
Track Field Indoor
Track Field Outdoor
Cross Country
Diving
Field Hockey
Golf
Lacrosse
Soccer
Softball
Swimming
Tennis
Track Field Indoor
Track Field Outdoor
Volleyball
Student Services
Sustainability
Campus Security Report
The Jeanne Clery Act requires colleges and universities to disclose their security policies, keep a public crime log, publish an annual crime report and provide timely warnings to students and campus employees about a crime posing an immediate or ongoing threat to students and campus employees.
Please visit The Princeton Review’s page on campus safety for additional resources: http://www.princetonreview.com/safety
The Princeton Review publishes links directly to each school's Campus Security Reports where available. Applicants can also access all school-specific campus safety information using the Campus Safety and Security Data Analysis Cutting Tool provided by the Office of Postsecondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education: https://ope.ed.gov/campussafety/#/