International Student Financial Aid

International Student Financial Aid Policy

A Wooster education is an investment in your future. The College of Wooster practices a need-aware admissions policy for international students. To best facilitate this, international students applying to The College of Wooster are required to complete the Wooster Certification of Finances (CoF) as part of the application process. Your application will not be considered complete without a thoroughly completed Wooster CoF or acceptable alternative.

We carefully consider both the academic qualifications of every international student who applies to our university as well as their ability to contribute financially towards their education. This practice is what allows us to best allocate our limited financial resources to the many talented students who wish to call Wooster their home for higher learning.

Estimated Cost of Attendance

International student costs for the 2026-27 academic year are as follows. To project future year costs, please estimate the comprehensive fee increasing by 3-5% annually.

Tuition & Fees: $66,290
Housing & Meals: $16,050
Health Insurance, Books, & Personal Fees: $4,350
TOTAL COST: $86,690

International students and their family/sponsor(s) are responsible for funding the cost of attendance that remains after any scholarships, work awards, or other aid have been applied to their account. Contact global@wooster.edu with questions.

International Student Scholarships

When an international student is admitted to The College of Wooster, their Wooster International Scholarship will be reflected on their letter of acceptance. This award is both need and merit combined.

We do our best to meet 100% of an international student’s institutionally determined need for students who accurately represent their finances upon application. If we feel we are not able to meet a student’s financial needs, it is our practice not to offer admission.

Application and Financial Aid Deadlines

Deadlines for the Wooster International Scholarship coincide with our admissions application deadlines. International students wishing to be considered for the Wooster International Scholarship must complete their application and submit all materials (including their Wooster International Certification of Finances) by these deadlines. Applicants who indicate strong affinity and complete the application process in an earlier round will be considered for the maximum amount of scholarships.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does "need-aware" mean that I will not be admitted if I have high need? Students with higher need are still considered for admission. However, it does mean that they are competing against other higher-need students for limited scholarships, so it becomes incredibly competitive. Typically, we ask that students and their families be prepared to pay 40-50% of the predicted cost of attendance.

Can I submit the CSS Profile instead of the Wooster Certification of Finances?

If you have already completed the CSS Profile, you are welcome to provide this to us in place of the Wooster Certification of Finances. However, we do not provide fee waivers for the CSS profile because we offer our Wooster Certification of Finances free of charge.

Guo Bingwen Wooster-China Friendship Grant

The College of Wooster, which has welcomed Chinese students to campus for over 100 years, recognizes that the Wooster connection with Chinese students and scholars holds even more significance in these tumultuous times. In appreciation of how Chinese students enhance the educational experience for all in our community, The College of Wooster has established the Guo Bingwen Wooster-China Friendship Grant, which offers recipients a $10,000 scholarship ($2,500/year for four years).

The Guo Grant is named after Chinese alumnus Dr. Bingwen Guo (Ping-Wen Kuo), who graduated from Wooster in 1911. Dr. Guo went on to earn his PhD from Columbia University and became founder and president of National Southeast University in Nanjing in 1921. Devoting his life to education and the idea of the liberal arts, Dr. Guo sought to balance a well-rounded education with a specialized one, with a focus on international learning.

Recipients of this award will uphold Dr. Guo’s passion for a liberal arts education. Like Dr. Guo, they are encouraged to participate in on-campus activities, such as one of our 90 student clubs or organizations, and to take advantage of opportunities like the Chinese Student & Scholars Association and the International Culture Week to share Chinese culture with the campus community. No additional application is necessary; students holding Chinese citizenship will be considered for this award on the basis of their involvement in their high school and local community.

Funding Opportunities for Current Students Wooster provides a unique opportunity for international students to receive fellowships to take advantage of research and internship opportunities, both in the U.S. and abroad, and even start their own business. Examples include: APEX Fellowships, Copeland funding, and Applied Methods and Research Experience. Most Wooster international students complete at least one internship, and many also receive funding for research projects.

Does Wooster offer full-ride scholarships? Because of our limited funding, we are not able to offer full-ride scholarships for international students. Rather, we do our best to allocate funds to a larger number of international students in order to provide opportunities for more students to attend our institution. International students are eligible for the Presidential Scholar full-tuition award.

Can I know my scholarship amount before I apply?

We make international scholarship decisions based on a comprehensive review of a student’s application materials, so any scholarship amounts cannot be determined before a student’s application file has been completed and fully reviewed for an admissions decision.

Other Scholarship Opportunities

Model UN Leadership Award

The Model UN Leadership Award, valued at $2,000 annually, recognizes first-year applicants who demonstrate leadership and growth through their high school Model UN experiences and intend to continue to do so at Wooster. Award recipients will be expected to join Wooster’s Model UN, which is consistently recognized for its award-winning success at two national conferences.

Performing Arts Scholarship

The interest-based Performing Arts Scholarships, ranging from $2,000 to $8,000 per year, are made to students on the basis of accomplishment and promise in music, theatre/dance, or Scottish Arts. Students receiving the award need not major in the area, but are required to participate in various programs throughout their time at Wooster.

See all interest-based scholarship opportunities.

Can I work on campus to help fund my education? Yes, many international students do work on campus to help fund some of their educational costs. Currently, the estimated amount that a student will earn is $3,500 during a school year, should they work close to the maximum amount allowed.