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The College of Wooster

#2 Best Biology Colleges in Ohio
Private nonprofit Wooster, OH · Town · Great Lakes · 100% data
B+ Earnings B Graduation B Selectivity
Graduation Rate
74% B
Solid completion rate — most students graduate
Earnings (10yr)
$59,629 B+
Well above the typical college graduate
Net Price
$23,458 D+
37% more than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
60% B
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +46% vs avg
Graduation +29% vs avg
Net Price 37% vs avg
Mobility Top 91%

Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 19.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $19.4 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Best Biology Colleges in Ohio.

19.4× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $19.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,723,860.

What The Data Says

  1. A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Earnings 46% above the national college median.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $19.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Economic Footprint

Inventor Rate
0.7%
Top 34%
Patents
36
Linked to graduates
Patent Citations
70
Downstream influence

Why The College of Wooster Matters

The College of Wooster is a private liberal arts college in Wooster, OH and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Private Liberal Arts College
Carnegie Class
Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
Enrollment
1,730
Setting
Town
Primary Strengths
Social Sciences, Biology & Biomedical, Computer Science & IT, Physical Sciences

Why students choose The College of Wooster

Elite STEM ecosystem
Engineering, computing, and the sciences dominate its programs
Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Close mentorship
A small, undergraduate-focused community

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C
Top 47% overall
B+
Earnings
$59,629 median
C
Value
2.5× net price
D+
Affordability
$23,458/yr net
B
Graduation
74% graduate
F
Social Mobility
0.7% climb Q1→Q5
B
Selectivity
60% admit rate
C
Diversity
0.59 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

With an enrollment of about 1,730 students, the College of Wooster is a good fit for those who thrive in a close-knit environment. The acceptance rate of 60% indicates a welcoming atmosphere, making it accessible for a diverse range of students. Here, you’ll find strong programs in Biology and Biomedical studies, Social Sciences, Psychology, Computer Science, and Physical Sciences. These areas of study not only draw interest but also prepare students for meaningful careers in various fields.

After graduation, the average earnings for Wooster alumni sit at $59,629 a decade later. This figure is a solid indicator of the school’s effectiveness in preparing students for the job market. While we don’t have specific mobility data, the overall earning potential suggests that graduates tend to find their footing economically. This makes the investment in education feel worthwhile, especially considering the affordability associated with the school.

When it comes to the financials, the net price after aid is around $23,458, with a median debt of $26,500 for graduates. This suggests that while there is some debt, it’s manageable for many students. Those who tend to thrive here are often those who appreciate a supportive community and are engaged in their studies, taking advantage of the school's strong academic offerings.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective The College of Wooster is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into The College of Wooster? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

The College of Wooster, located in Wooster, Ohio, offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 60% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,353. The graduation rate is roughly 74%.

Acceptance Rate
60%
Retention Rate
82%
SAT Average
1353
ACT Midpoint
29
SAT Range
1220–1460
ACT Range
27–33
Full-Time Faculty
83%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$8,909
Student–Faculty Ratio
11:1
Diversity Index
0.59
First-Gen Students
14%
Applicants
7,251
Admitted
4,080

Inside the Admissions Office

School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25

The acceptance rate tells you how hard The College of Wooster is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 11% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.

Yield Rate
11%
of admits enroll
Submitted SAT
25%
of enrolled freshmen

Test-optional, in practice. Only about 25% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.

Source: The College of Wooster's Common Data Set, 2024-25 View the source document on collegedata.fyi →

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend The College of Wooster? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at The College of Wooster is $61,640, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $23,458. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,512 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,500 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$61,640
Out-of-State
$61,640
Avg Net Price
$23,458
Median Debt
$26,500
Pell Grant Rate
21%
Federal Loan Rate
45%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$12,512
Family Income $30K–$48K
$14,032
Family Income $48K–$75K
$17,941
Family Income $110K+
$32,223

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Students Like You

Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at The College of Wooster — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is The College of Wooster Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of The College of Wooster earn a median of $59,629, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$43,895
8 Years
$52,139
10 Years
$59,629
Debt-to-Earnings
0.44x
Earning > $25K
64%

Earnings Trajectory

$43,895 6yr $52,139 8yr $59,629 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (383)
70%
100% (383)
70%
100% (383)
70%
100% (383)
70%

How The Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation74%Earnings 10yr$60KNet Price$23KRetention82%Median Debt$27KPell Grant Rate21%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$13K$0-30K$14K$30-48K$18K$48-75K$32K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%3.5%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%20.1%MOBILITY0.71%

College ROI Calculator

Is The College of Wooster Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, The College of Wooster delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $23,458/year ($93,832 total). Graduates earn $59,629 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,817,692 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,723,860 (19.4× your investment). The median debt is $26,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 74% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$93,832
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,817,692
Net Return
$1,723,860
ROI Multiple
19.4×
Cost Per Year
$23,458
Median Debt
$26,500
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
74%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Mobility

Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records

Does The College of Wooster Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

The College of Wooster is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.71%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 3.5% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 20.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $108,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
0.71%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
20.1%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
3.5%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$146,870
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is The College of Wooster? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at The College of Wooster. Its economic connectedness score is 1.68, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 14% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.68
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
0.01
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
14.1%
Support Ratio
1.00
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Innovation & Knowledge Creation

Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education

The College of Wooster produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 36 patents tied to its graduates.

Inventor Rate
0.70%
Top 34% nationally
Patents Produced
36
Linked to graduates
Patent Citations
70
Downstream influence
Inventors From Low-Income
2.38%
Bottom-20% families

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Federal Grants
$5,328,833
Investment Income
$-46,126,672

Top Programs

The fields The College of Wooster awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.

Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into The College of Wooster? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

The College of Wooster, located in Wooster, Ohio, offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 60% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,353. The graduation rate is roughly 74%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend The College of Wooster? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at The College of Wooster is $61,640, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $23,458. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,512 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,500 in federal student loans.

Is The College of Wooster Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of The College of Wooster earn a median of $59,629, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

Does The College of Wooster Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

The College of Wooster is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.71%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 3.5% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 20.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $108,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is The College of Wooster? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at The College of Wooster. Its economic connectedness score is 1.68, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 14% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Does The College of Wooster offer Early Decision?

No. The College of Wooster does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2024-25 Common Data Set).

Is The College of Wooster really test-optional?

In practice, yes. Only about 25% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at The College of Wooster (2024-25 Common Data Set).

What percentage of admitted students enroll at The College of Wooster?

About 11% of admitted students choose to enroll at The College of Wooster — its yield rate (2024-25 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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