For access among nonprofit four-year institutions
For mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions
Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks The College of Wooster #944 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $57,840, placing The College of Wooster in the 32.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks The College of Wooster #566 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks The College of Wooster #944 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private baccalaureate college in Wooster, OH, College of Wooster enrolls roughly 1,730 undergraduates. Retention is 82.1% and the six-year graduation rate is 73.9%, reflecting strong student persistence through degree completion. Where The College of Wooster performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks The College of Wooster #566 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $57,840, placing The College of Wooster in a competitive position for earnings outcomes among peer institutions. The college's program portfolio, anchored in Social Sciences, aligns with career pathways that support solid long-term financial outcomes for its graduates. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. The College of Wooster sits in the 20.1 percentile for access and the 23.4 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. 20.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 14.3% are first-generation college students, reflecting a student body with meaningful economic and educational diversity. Mobility outcomes place the institution in the 53.8 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. For families weighing The College of Wooster alongside other private colleges, the combination of strong return on investment and moderate access reflects the institution's positioning as a selective liberal arts college with solid graduate earnings.
The College of Wooster's published cost of attendance is $75,656, but financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $12,512; middle-income families pay about $17,941; higher-income families pay approximately $32,223. Azimuth ranks The College of Wooster #1092 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 23.4th percentile for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $42,874; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For the typical graduate at the institution's median earnings four years after enrollment of $57,840, median federal debt of $26,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $299 under standard 10-year repayment. For personalized projections including Parent PLUS scenarios, see the Financial GPS tool.
The College of Wooster is a strong fit for students seeking a private liberal arts college experience focused on the social sciences and humanities. Students whose interests align with those areas will find the earnings trajectory and aid package competitive in the Azimuth coverage set.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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Financial GPS Tool
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This is the The College Of Wooster hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
The College of Wooster's published cost of attendance is $75,656, but financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $12,512; middle-income families pay about $17,941; higher-income families pay approximately $32,223. Azimuth ranks The College of Wooster #1092 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 23.4th percentile for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $42,874; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For the typical graduate at the institution's median earnings four years after enrollment of $57,840, median federal debt of $26,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $299 under standard 10-year repayment. For personalized projections including Parent PLUS scenarios, see the Financial GPS tool.
Graduates of the College of Wooster earn median 4-year earnings of $57,840, placing The College of Wooster in the 32.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks The College of Wooster #566 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings trajectory reflects The College of Wooster's position as a liberal arts institution where outcomes vary meaningfully by field of study and career path chosen. The College of Wooster's program portfolio centers on Social Sciences, which represents 19% of degrees awarded.
The largest program by enrollment is Political Science, with 32 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $64,760. Biology, General and Biochemistry, Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology and Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology and Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology and Molecular Biology also enroll substantial cohorts, while Mathematics graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $86,578, demonstrating the range of outcomes across the institution's academic offerings.
The program mix reflects a liberal arts emphasis, with Arts representing 6% of degrees and other STEM fields at 6%. This diversified portfolio means that long-term financial outcomes depend substantially on major selection and the career paths graduates pursue after enrollment.
Mathematics
28 graduates
Economics
17 graduates
Political Science and Government
32 graduates
Communication and Media Studies
22 graduates
Sociology
17 graduates
The College of Wooster's program mix is anchored in Social Sciences, a signature that shapes both the institution's academic identity and graduate outcomes. Political Science is the largest program with 32 graduates, followed by Biology, General, Biochemistry, Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology and Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology and Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology and Molecular Biology, Research Psychology, and Mathematics.
The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in specific fields. Mathematics leads with 28 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $86,578, followed by Political Science with 32 graduates earning $64,760.
The Communication and Media Studies program graduates 22 students earning $60,884, and American History (United States) with 25 graduates earning $48,903. These programs represent the institution's highest-return pathways, where graduates move directly into the labor market and see competitive early-career compensation.
As a private liberal arts college, College of Wooster balances breadth across Social Sciences (19%), Arts (6%), and other STEM fields (6%) with concentrated strength in high-earning fields. Several programs combine meaningful cohort scale with strong earnings, positioning them as both popular choices and economically durable pathways.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Otterbein University Higher acceptance rate (25 percentage points higher) and located 71 miles away; similar median earnings four years after completion | OH | 85% | $58,068 | Compare |
Kenyon College Same state (39 miles away) with nearly identical earnings and similar program focus; same institution type | OH | 31% | $57,786 | Compare |
Ohio State University-Main Campus Similar admission rate (1 percentage points difference) and similar test scores (34 point difference); located 80 miles away | OH | 61% | $70,682 | Compare |
Maine Maritime Academy 95.9% higher median earnings four years after completion with nearly identical cost | ME | 54% | $113,298 | Compare |
Youngstown State University 45.6% lower net price with nearly identical earnings; located 70 miles away | OH | 84% | $56,047 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kenyon College Profile match using composite score, four-year earnings, enrollment and region; median earnings four years after completion: $57786 versus $57840; same region (Midwest) | OH | 31% | $57,786 | #1024 |
Dordt University Profile match using composite score, four-year earnings, enrollment and region; median earnings four years after completion: $57567 versus $57840; same region (Midwest) | IA | 68% | $57,567 | #1210 | Compare |
Grinnell College Profile match using composite score, four-year earnings, enrollment and region; median earnings four years after completion: $58955 versus $57840; same region (Midwest) | IA | 15% | $58,955 | #323 | Compare |
Mckendree University Profile match using composite score, four-year earnings, enrollment and region; median earnings four years after completion: $60630 versus $57840; same region (Midwest) | IL | 72% | $60,630 | #1055 | Compare |
Concordia College At Moorhead Profile match using composite score, four-year earnings, enrollment and region; median earnings four years after completion: $56802 versus $57840; same region (Midwest) | MN | 63% | $56,802 | #1294 | Compare |
