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One of the most prestigious small liberal arts colleges in the Midwest, the College of Wooster was founded in 1866 by the Presbyterian Church. From its earliest days Wooster was driven by a progressive, innovative spirit, including its decision to accept both women and African-American students. Wooster grew quickly, even adding a medical school, but in 1915 the college made the unusual decision to cap its growth and dedicate its mission to providing the best undergraduate education in the nation. Today, the College of Wooster is recognized as a top regional college, but more importantly, Wooster stands alongside Princeton University in U.S. News & World Report’s rankings of the best undergraduate research, Wooster’s greatest point of pride.
Academic Programs
Wooster’s curriculum is based on the classical liberal arts, but the college’s main distinction is its groundbreaking and highly influential senior research project. Beginning in 1947, and emulated by countless universities and colleges across the US, Wooster has each senior complete an intensive, self-directed research project guided by a faculty mentor. This process is designed to build motivation, time management, analysis, and intellectual curiosity and creativity, and the result is evident: 92% job placement rate, and 92% of graduates are accepted into their first choice of graduate schools.The entire four years of the Wooster curriculum are directed toward giving students a deep grounding in critical thought, independence, and communication skills for success in the Independent Study, and on the job market. An 11:1 student:faculty ratio gives students a high degree of mentorship and guidance, while the writing-intensive First Year Seminar sets the stage for academic rigor and excellence. Interdisciplinary research and learning is central, pulling together the best of the classical liberal arts and western culture with modern professional and career knowledge.
Student Life
Life at the College of Wooster is not all hard work. Wooster’s 2000-strong student body is a quarter minority and international, a third Ohio, more than half female, and all exceptional. 99% of the student body lives on campus, creating a perfect environment for students to create their own distinct culture. More than 120 student-led organizations, from hobbies to honor societies to cultural heritage clubs, give students a deep and connecting sense of community. The Center for Diversity and Inclusion presents students with events, activities, and assurance that they are respected and celebrated.Wooster has a strong musical background, with a symphony orchestra, jazz ensemble, chorus, marching band, and more. In addition, Wooster is the home of the Ohio Light Opera, a Savoyard ensemble that performs Gilbert & Sullivan as well as other light operetta works of the 18th and 19th century – the only professional operetta company in the US. On the other side of culture, Wooster’s Fighting Scots compete in NCAA Division III varsity sports, including basketball, baseball, and football.