The College of Wooster
Wooster, Ohio · Private Nonprofit · 59.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 56/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
The College of Wooster earns a CampusROI score of 56 out of 100, landing in the Below Average Value tier. Wooster is a respected national liberal-arts college in northeast Ohio with a famously strong undergraduate-research culture (the Independent Study senior project is a flagship feature), and the financial picture reflects what happens when a high-quality liberal-arts experience meets the federal earnings methodology that systematically penalizes liberal-arts majors. Sticker tuition is $61,640, but the school discounts heavily: average net price after aid is $23,458, and four-year cost lands at $93,832. The 73.9% completion rate is genuinely strong (sub-score 84) and the 78.5% repayment rate is also above average. Average earnings six years out are $34,300 (suppressed by the high share of graduates in graduate school) but climb to a median $59,629 by year ten. The drag is the 0.77 debt-to-earnings ratio against $26,500 in debt, which earns a sub-score of 18 because the methodology compares debt to year-six earnings, not the year-ten figure where Wooster graduates have substantially closed the gap. Mathematics, Economics, and Psychology graduates post B-grade outcomes; humanities tracks (English, History, Philosophy) post weaker grades but reflect graduate-school progression.
The College of Wooster
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $61,640/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $61,640/yr |
| Average net price | $23,458/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $93,832 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $59,629 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $34,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $281 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 73.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,730 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $61,640/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $23,458/year, or roughly $93,832 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $12,512/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $32,223/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $26,500, which works out to about $281 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($34,300) and comes to 0.77, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $12,512 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,032 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $17,941 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $26,165 |
| $110,001+ | $32,223 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 face an average net price of $12,512 per year at Wooster, totaling roughly $50,000 across four years. With ten-year median earnings of $59,629 and the strong four-year earnings recovery, the math works for low-income students who finish, particularly in math, economics, or sciences. Wooster's substantial institutional aid commitment to low-income students is real.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001 to $75,000 bracket pays $17,941 per year and the $75,001 to $110,000 bracket pays $26,165. Four-year totals are $71,800 to $104,700. Middle-income families are getting a meaningful discount off sticker. The case is strongest for STEM-bound students.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $32,223 per year, with four-year cost approaching $128,900. The aid curve flattens at the top. At this price tier, Wooster's value proposition is concentrated in the small-class research-immersion experience and graduate-school preparation; families paying full-pay should be confident the student will benefit from those specific attributes.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at The College of Wooster with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| International Relations | $64,760 | C |
| Biology | $32,462 | D |
| Communication and Media Studies | $60,884 | C |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $29,942 | D |
| History | $48,903 | D |
| Philosophy | $27,174 | D |
| Mathematics | $86,578 | B+ |
| English Language and Literature | $55,456 | D |
| Sociology | $56,115 | D |
| Economics | $79,310 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
International Relations
International Relations is the largest program at Wooster with 43 graduates per cohort. Year-one earnings of $38,727 climb to $64,760 by year four. With $27,000 in median debt, the 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio earns a C ROI grade. The four-year recovery is meaningful and reflects graduates moving into government, NGO, and international-business roles where placement matures over time.
Biology
Biology graduates 31 students per cohort. Year-one earnings of $32,462 are reported with year-four data not reported. Median debt of $26,107 produces a 0.80 debt-to-earnings ratio against year-one earnings and a D ROI grade. Like at most liberal-arts colleges, Bio at Wooster is a graduate-school feeder; the on-paper undergraduate-only data understates the durable economic outcome of graduates who pursue medical, dental, or PhD pathways.
Communication and Media Studies
Communication graduates 27 students with year-one earnings of $39,527 climbing to $60,884 by year four. With $22,681 in debt, the 0.57 ratio earns a C ROI grade. This is among the stronger non-STEM outcomes at Wooster and reflects graduates moving into media, marketing, and corporate-communications roles.
History
History graduates 19 students per cohort with year-one earnings of just $28,013 rising to $48,903 by year four. Median debt of $26,720 produces a 0.95 ratio and a D ROI grade. The four-year trajectory shows real recovery, but borrowing at $26K levels for History without graduate-school plans creates early-career strain.
Mathematics
Mathematics graduates 17 students per cohort. Year-one earnings are not reported, but year-four earnings reach $86,578, the strongest four-year figure on the page. Median debt of $27,000 against four-year earnings produces a 0.31 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B+ ROI grade. This is the strongest outcome at Wooster and reflects graduates moving into actuarial, data-science, and graduate-study pathways. Math majors at Wooster get exceptional value.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 76.9% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 78.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 81.5% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 85.8% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How The College of Wooster’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 59.5% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 590-720 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 630-740 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 27-33 |
| Enrollment | 1,730 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 20.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,909 |
Wooster admits 59.5% of applicants. Reported SAT mid-ranges run 590 to 720 in math and 630 to 740 in reading; ACT composite is 27 to 33. The bands sit well above national averages and are consistent with a competitive national liberal-arts college. The strong test bands paired with the 73.9% completion rate confirm Wooster admits and retains academically prepared students at meaningful rates.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| The College of Wooster (this school) | 56 | $23,458 | $59,629 |
| Concordia College at Moorhead | 57 | $24,902 | $59,317 |
| St. Francis College | 57 | $18,129 | $58,099 |
| Southern Nazarene University | 55 | $22,084 | $54,951 |
| Allegheny Wesleyan College | 29 | $5,355 | $37,453 |
| Art Academy of Cincinnati | 9 | $34,253 | $34,368 |
Who Thrives Here
Wooster serves about 1,730 students with a 20.9% Pell rate, consistent with a national liberal-arts profile drawing from middle-and-upper-middle income families. The fit case is strong for academically curious students who want a small residential liberal-arts experience with serious research culture (every senior produces an Independent Study thesis) and who plan to pursue graduate study. The 73.9% completion rate and the strong four-year-earnings recovery for STEM and quantitative-social-science majors support the school's value proposition. Career-direct students should match major selection to the school's strengths.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for The College of Wooster is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $23,458 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $59,629 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 9.5 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What it has going for it: its 73.9% graduation rate. What to keep an eye on: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.77 (median across the schools we score: 0.61).
Median debt of $26,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $34,300 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.77. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
The College of Wooster: Common Questions
Is The College of Wooster worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. The College of Wooster scores 56/100 on our ROI scale. At $23,458 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $59,629 ten years after entry, so it takes about 9.5 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does The College of Wooster cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $23,458 a year, or roughly $93,832 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do The College of Wooster graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $59,629 ten years after enrolling, roughly $17,829 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off The College of Wooster?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 9.5 years for The College of Wooster. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do The College of Wooster graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $26,500, against average earnings of $34,300 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.77. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at The College of Wooster?
The six-year graduation rate is 73.9%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.