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Financial Aid

Outstanding Education. Exceptional Value.

Students walking down sidewalk

Affordability and Educational Excellence make a Wooster education a great value

There’s a reason The College of Wooster is singled out by college experts for our affordability and why each year we are listed as a Best Value College. With a test-blind process for merit scholarships and a commitment to transparency on costs, Wooster provides families with the information they need to understand how affordable a quality liberal arts education can be.

How to Apply

Start in the Right Place

Applying for aid looks a little different depending on where you are in the process. Choose the path that fits you, and we'll help get you to the next step.

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TOUCH

New Applicants

Start your financial aid process as you apply to Wooster.

New Applicants

Start your financial aid process as you apply to Wooster.

GET STARTED
Students sitting at a table
TOUCH

Current Students

Renew your aid and keep your plan moving year to year.

Current Students

Renew your aid and keep your plan moving year to year.

GET STARTED

Financial Aid Forms

Download forms and worksheets to apply for financial aid or complete requested documentation.

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2026-2027 Wooster Aid Application

Complete the FAFSA and the Wooster Aid Application to be considered for need-based financial aid.

Download Form
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Federal Verification Review Worksheet for Dependent Students

Only complete if requested by Financial Aid Office

Download Form
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Federal Verification of Student Identity

Only complete if requested by Financial Aid Office

*Must submit/mail original copy of the signed and notarized form along with a copy of the identification used to confirm identity

Download Form
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Estimated Out-of-Pocket Cost Worksheet

An optional worksheet to estimate your costs after scholarships and financial aid

Download Form

Submit forms to the Financial Aid Office

  • Secure file upload
  • Email: financialaid@wooster.edu
  • Fax: 330-263-2634
  • Mail: The College of Wooster, Office of Financial Aid, 1189 Beall Avenue, Wooster, OH 44691
  • In person: Lowry Center, Second Floor, Suite 261 (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.)

Tuition & Affordability

 2026-27 Cost of Attendance 

 
Tuition and Fees  $66,290
Housing (Standard double)  $7,835
Meal Plan   $8,215 
Comprehensive Fees  $82,340

*This is the published cost before aid. With 99% of admitted students receiving some form of financial aid, most families pay significantly less. 

Average Financial Aid Package

 
For students who completed the FAFSA 
$55k +

Your actual cost will vary based on your family's financial circumstances and your academic profile. 

High School Seniors

Know What to Expect Before You Apply

Designed for high school seniors, the Early Aid Estimator provides a personalized estimate of your scholarships and need-based financial aid before you apply. Reviewed by Wooster's admissions and financial aid staff, it offers a more personalized estimate than a standard net price calculator.
Get Your Aid Estimate
Estimate Your Costs

Get a Personalized Estimate of Your Wooster Costs 

A Wooster education is more affordable than many families expect. Our Net Price Calculator provides a personalized estimate of your costs after scholarships, grants, and financial aid. It takes about 10 minutes to complete and is designed for prospective first-year students. Results are estimates and not a financial aid offer. 
Net Price Calculator

Merit Scholarships

A Serious Look at the Work You've Done

Every applicant is automatically considered for merit scholarships. As a test-optional school, SAT/ACT scores are not considered for any merit-based scholarship.
All Merit Scholarships
29

Presidential Scholar

Full Tuition

Wooster’s most prestigious merit award recognizes students whose academic record is matched by deep commitment to their communities.

Must Apply by Nov. 1.

29

College Scholar

3/4 Tuition or 2/3 Tuition

For students who have already shown what they can do in the classroom and what they could bring to the Wooster community. 

Must Apply by Nov. 1.

29

Dean’s Scholar

$25,000 – $43,000

Strong academics, service, and involvement all count here. Every applicant is automatically considered, with no separate scholarship application required.

 

Additional Types of Aid

Grants

Need-based grants can help lower the cost of your education and do not have to be repaid. To be considered each year, you'll need to submit the FAFSA annually.

Wooster Need-Based Grants

If you demonstrate financial need, your financial aid package may include a Wooster Grant along with federal, state, or other grant funding. Because grants do not have to be repaid, they can significantly reduce your cost to attend.

After your initial financial aid offer, you may also be matched with one or more endowed scholarships funded by generous Wooster donors. If this happens, the names of the awards in your financial aid package may change, but your total financial aid will remain the same. These scholarships help support the grant funding you've already been awarded while recognizing the generosity of donors who invest in Wooster students.

Federal Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant is awarded to eligible undergraduate students based on financial need as determined by the FAFSA. Because it is a grant, it does not have to be repaid. The maximum Pell Grant for 2025-2026 is $7,395.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) provides additional grant funding to students with exceptional financial need. Students who qualify for a Federal Pell Grant are automatically considered for an FSEOG. Typically, students are awarded between $100 and $1,500 annually depending on fund availability.

State Grants

Students from participating states, including Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Vermont, may be eligible for grant funding that can be used at The College of Wooster. Submit the FAFSA to be considered, and contact our Financial Aid Office with questions about eligibility.

Loans

Information about federal student loan options is included with every financial aid offer. To be considered each year, you'll need to submit the FAFSA annually.

Federal Direct Student Loans

Federal Direct Student Loans are available to students who complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Learn more about eligibility, borrowing limits, and current interest rates on the Federal Student Aid website.

If you're borrowing a Federal Direct Student Loan for the first time at Wooster, you'll need to complete these federal requirements before your loan funds can be applied to your student account:

Be sure to select Entrance Counseling. The Financial Awareness Counseling option does not satisfy the federal loan counseling requirement, though it's a helpful resource for understanding the responsibilities of borrowing student loans.

Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loans

Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loans are available to creditworthy parents who are U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens and whose student has completed the FAFSA. We encourage families to compare all available financing options before borrowing.

Parents should apply for a PLUS Loan online by July 1 to help ensure loan funds are available before the first semester tuition due date. First-time Parent PLUS Loan borrowers at Wooster must also complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) for a PLUS Loan.

Repayment Plans and Loan Calculator

Explore available repayment plans and estimate future monthly payments with the Federal Student Aid Loan Simulator.

National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS)

Federal student and Parent PLUS Loans are reported to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS), where they can be accessed by authorized schools, lenders, and guaranty agencies.

Students can log in to the Federal Student Aid portal to view their complete federal loan history.

Private Educational Loans

Private educational loans may help cover remaining educational expenses after scholarships, grants, federal loans, and other financial aid have been applied. Most students will need a creditworthy cosigner to qualify, and some lenders also offer private parent loans.

The Financial Aid Office must certify all private educational loans before funds can be disbursed. Total financial aid, including private loans, cannot exceed your cost of attendance.

Comparing lenders can help you find the loan that best fits your family's needs. The resources below allow you to compare loan options, rates, terms, and borrower benefits.

  • ElmSelect – Compare lenders commonly used by Wooster students and families.
  • Sparrow – Compare personalized loan offers from multiple lenders through a free application that does not affect your credit score.

These tools are provided as resources to help you compare options. You're welcome to borrow from any eligible lender, and The College of Wooster does not endorse or recommend a specific lender.

Code of Conduct

In an effort to avoid any conflict of interest between The College of Wooster and educational lending institutions, Financial Aid employees and all other employees involved in the loan process will abide by the following policies:

  • No employee will participate in revenue-sharing arrangements with any lender
  • No employee will accept gifts, other than those of nominal value, from a lender, guarantor, or a loan servicer
  • No employee will participate in any contracting arrangement providing financial benefit or affiliate of a lender
  • No employee will direct borrowers to particular lenders, or refuse or delay loan certification
  • No employee will accept offers of funds for private loans
  • The Financial Aid Office staff will not accept call center or office staffing assistance from any lender
  • No employee will accept compensation for serving on an advisory board

Federal Work-Study and Student Employment

The Federal Work-Study Program gives eligible students the opportunity to earn money through part-time employment while enrolled at Wooster. To be considered, submit the FAFSA and demonstrate financial need.

Federal Work-Study eligibility is determined by the Financial Aid Office, while job opportunities are coordinated through the Student Employment Office. The Student Employment Office is located in the Human Resources Center on Wayne Avenue.

Not eligible for Federal Work-Study? You can still apply for many part-time campus jobs. Visit the Student Employment Office website to explore available opportunities.

Important: Federal Work-Study is not applied directly to your student bill. Students earn wages by working throughout the academic year, and earnings are paid directly to the student. Because work-study is earned over time, families should not subtract their work-study award from the amount owed to the College.

External Scholarships

External scholarships are awarded by organizations outside of The College of Wooster and federal or state aid programs. They can help reduce your educational costs and may be combined with your Wooster financial aid package.

Please report any outside scholarships to the Financial Aid Office. We'll apply these funds in the way that benefits you most whenever possible. Depending on your overall financial aid package and federal regulations, adjustments may be made to work-study, federal loans, or institutional aid. If your financial aid changes, we'll notify you.

Looking for additional scholarship opportunities? These resources are good places to start:

Your high school counselor may also know about local scholarship opportunities available in your community.

The College of Wooster provides these resources for your convenience and does not endorse any specific scholarship program, organization, or service.

External Tuition Benefits

The College of Wooster participates in tuition exchange programs that provide scholarship opportunities for eligible students at participating institutions.

Tuition Exchange (TE)

The College of Wooster is a member of the Tuition Exchange organization, which includes more than 700 colleges and universities. Tuition Exchange (TE) is a reciprocal scholarship opportunity for dependents of eligible faculty and staff at participating member institutions.

Eligibility

  • Available to first-year applicants and transfer students.
  • Applicants must be admitted to The College of Wooster.
  • Applicants must be dependents of an eligible faculty or staff member at a participating member institution, also known as the exporting institution.
  • Applicants must be certified as a Tuition Exchange candidate by their exporting institution.

Award Details

  • For the 2026-2027 academic year, Wooster offers $45,000 to entering students, exceeding the Tuition Exchange set rate of $44,000.
  • Renewable for up to eight semesters for full-time, degree-seeking students.
  • Scholarships are limited and awarded to the most competitive candidates.
  • May be applied only to tuition charges, including Wooster-sponsored study abroad programs.
  • May be combined with other Wooster merit or interest-based scholarships, not to exceed tuition. Awards exceeding tuition become honorary.

How to Apply

1. Create a Tuition Exchange account. The student, not the parent, applying for consideration must create the account.

2. Complete the TE EZ-Application.

Renewal

  • Renewable for up to eight semesters based on continued eligibility.
GLCA Tuition Remission Exchange (TRE)

The College of Wooster also participates in the Great Lakes Colleges Association Tuition Remission Exchange program, operated by the Great Lakes Colleges Association. The GLCA includes 20 participating institutions, including the 13 GLCA member colleges.

Eligibility

  • Each participating institution determines eligibility for the GLCA Tuition Remission Exchange for dependents of its employees.
  • Eligible students must be enrolled full time in a degree-seeking program.
  • Additional information is available on the GLCA Tuition Remission Exchange webpage.

Award Details

  • The GLCA Tuition Benefit equals the current academic year's tuition, excluding fees, less any tuition-specific state or federal grant aid for which the student is eligible. For 2025-2026, tuition is $63,490.
  • Students receiving the GLCA Tuition Benefit are responsible for a participation fee. For 2025-2026, the participation fee is $5,892.
  • To simplify billing, the participation fee is deducted from the GLCA award rather than billed separately. For 2025-2026, the GLCA Tuition Benefit awarded is $57,598.
  • Renewable for up to eight semesters for full-time, degree-seeking students.
  • May be applied only to tuition charges, including Wooster-sponsored study abroad programs.
  • Cannot be combined with other Wooster merit or interest-based scholarships. Any Wooster merit or interest-based scholarships become honorary.

Application Process

  1. Confirm your eligibility with the TRE representative at your parent's employer, typically in the Human Resources department.
  2. Notify Wooster's Financial Aid Office of your eligibility by submitting the GLCA-TRE Eligibility Form.
  3. Once you have finalized your enrollment, electronically complete, print, sign, and submit the GLCA TRE Enrollment Form to the TRE representative at your parent's employer.
  4. The TRE representative at your parent's employer should finalize your eligibility by submitting the completed GLCA TRE Enrollment Form to Wooster's TRE representative at benefits@wooster.edu.

Renewal

  • Exporting institutions must confirm eligibility annually.
  • Electronically complete, print, sign, and submit the GLCA TRE Enrollment Form to the TRE representative at your parent's employer each year.
  • The TRE representative at your parent's employer should finalize your eligibility by submitting the completed form to Wooster's TRE representative at benefits@wooster.edu.

Contact Us

Questions about financial aid? We're here to help you navigate every step of the process.

Financial Aid Office
Background-1 Phone
(330) 263-2317		 Background-2 Email
financialaid@wooster.edu
Background-3 Location
Lowry Center, 2nd Floor, Suite 261		 Background-4 Hours
Mon-Fri: 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.