The College of Wooster
The College of Wooster — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
The College of Wooster at a Glance
The College of Wooster is a private liberal arts college in Wooster, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1866 by the Presbyterian Church as the University of Wooster, it has been officially non-sectarian since 1969. From its creation, the college has been a co-educational institution. It enrolls about 1,900 students and is a member of the Five Colleges of Ohio, Great Lakes Colleges Association, and Association of Presbyterian Colleges and Universities.
1866
160 years old
$437M
$437 million (2024)
1,876
202
240 acres
Identity
Is The College of Wooster Worth It?
The College of Wooster offers moderate value at $23,458/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $59,629, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.6 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 74% graduation rate means roughly 26% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How The College of Wooster compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #9 of 62 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Wofford College | 76 | $18,732 | $68,964 |
| #2 | Centre College | 66 | $20,781 | $66,240 |
| #3 | DePauw University | 61 | $22,264 | $70,527 |
| #4 | Fresno Pacific University | 57 | $13,630 | $58,896 |
| #5 | Gustavus Adolphus College | 55 | $22,900 | $65,607 |
| #6 | North Park University | 50 | $16,948 | $59,572 |
| #9 | The College of Wooster | 47 | $23,458 | $59,629 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of The College of Wooster's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 2 in OH.
Best Programs at The College of Wooster
The highest-earning program at The College of Wooster is Economics at $47,900/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Psychology, General at $16,400/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Economics graduate from The College of Wooster earns $47,900, while a Psychology, General graduate earns $16,400. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Economics graduates carry $27,000 in median debt vs. $25,791 for Psychology, General.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $23,458/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economics | $47,900 | $47,900 | $27,000 |
| Political Science and Government | $25,600 | $25,600 | $23,121 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $20,900 | $20,900 | $26,000 |
| Sociology | $18,300 | $18,300 | $25,000 |
| History | $17,200 | $17,200 | $27,000 |
| Psychology, General | $16,400 | $16,400 | $25,791 |
Similar Colleges in OH
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Wooster, OH
- Student Body
- 1,730 students
- Admission Rate
- 60%
- Graduation Rate
- 74%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $23,458
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $59,629
- Median Student Debt
- $26,500