Merit & Interest Based Scholarships
Real costs, real aid, real outcomes: Making world-class education affordable with merit-based awards.
At The College of Wooster, every applicant is automatically considered for merit scholarships. In fact, 99% of our students receive some form of aid.
In addition to learning more about our generous merit awards–including up to full tuition–below, we also invite students to share their exceptional talents with our team by applying for our interest-based scholarships. See our interest-based scholarship webpages below.
As a test-optional school, Wooster does not consider SAT or ACT scores in consideration of any merit-based scholarship.
Merit Based Scholarships
The Presidential Scholar and College Scholar awards recognize exceptional academic and extracurricular achievement.
Our most prestigious scholarship awards full tuition to students with impeccable academic records, demonstrated commitment to their communities, and clear evidence of ability to positively impact the Wooster community.
To be considered for the Presidential Scholar award, students must submit their application for admission by November 1.
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No separate scholarship application for the Presidential Scholar award – students will be nominated to compete for the award based on their admissions materials.
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Nominated semi-finalists will receive notification about additional scholarship steps no later than February 1, 2026.
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Presidential Scholars will be announced by March 15, 2026.
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Typically awarded to students with unweighted GPAs of 3.8 or higher in a rigorous curriculum and/or rank, if applicable, in the top 15% of their class.
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Renewed annually by maintaining a 3.0 GPA and good academic standing as determined by the Committee on Academic Standards.
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Eligible applicants are new entering domestic and international First-Year students.
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Not dependent on financial need**
Awarded to students with outstanding academic records and demonstrated potential to positively impact the Wooster community.
To be considered for the College Scholar award, students must submit their application for admission by November 1.
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There is no separate scholarship application for the College Scholar award. Selection is based on admissions application materials.
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College Scholar awards are offered with the admissions decision.
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Typically awarded to students with unweighted GPAs of 3.6 or higher in a rigorous curriculum and/or rank, if applicable, in the top 20% of their class.
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Renewed annually by maintaining good academic standing as determined by the Committee on Academic Standards.
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Eligible applicants are new entering domestic and international First-Year students.
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Not dependent on financial need**
$25,000 – $43,000
Awarded to students based on their academic record as well as service and involvement.
- There is no separate scholarship application for the Dean’s Scholar award. Selection is based on admissions application materials.
- Dean’s Scholar awards are offered with the admissions decision.
- Renewed annually by maintaining good academic standing as determined by the Committee on Academic Standards.
- Eligible applicants are new entering domestic First-Year and Transfer students.
- Available with all decision rounds
- Not dependent on financial need
Notes & Conditions
* Award amount based on 2026-27 tuition; actual amounts will be determined when The College officially sets tuition for the upcoming academic year. Award amounts are renewed at the same dollar amount as initially awarded upon admission. Only First-Year students are eligible.
** The College of Wooster remains need-aware for international applicants.
The maximum annual amount of Wooster merit scholarships is capped at full tuition annually, and scholarships and awards can be applied only to tuition charges. If Presidential Scholar is awarded, all other merit scholarships awarded become honorary for all four years. Prospective students may apply for more than one interest-based scholarship. The Presidential Scholar, College Scholar and Dean’s Scholar are mutually exclusive. The interest-based and performing arts scholarships are renewable when qualifications and criteria are met. Scholarship award amounts will be finalized prior to notification of admission.
Students who are eligible for and awarded a tuition benefit such as the Great Lakes College Association (GLCA) program, Wooster’s employee tuition remission, or Veteran’s Education Benefits may choose to apply for the merit scholarships noted above, but if awarded, the scholarship and award status will be honorary only.
Interest-based Scholarships
Interest-based scholarships at Wooster require a scholarship application in addition to the application for admission. Please see details about each scholarship’s selection process and important deadlines below.
Applications for the Fall 2026 Covenant Scholarship have closed.
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Awards are made to incoming first-year students who are members of the Presbyterian Church (USA) who have demonstrated academic achievement and involvement in one’s community and church.
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Applications will be accepted until midnight EST on December 15, 2025, for notification by January 15, 2026. Note that Early Decision Applicants must submit their scholarship application by the November 1, 2025, Early Decision deadline.
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Receive $1,000 to $3,000 per year (in addition to a Dean’s Scholar, if applicable).
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For students who attend a Presbyterian Church USA and wish to apply, please follow these instructions for full consideration of the Covenant Scholarship:
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Complete the general application for admission. Covenant Scholarship applicants must apply Early Decision I or Early Action.
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Complete the Covenant Scholarship Application Form.
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Applications for the Fall 2026 Model UN Leadership Award have closed.
The skills and perspectives nurtured through Model UN strongly connect with Wooster’s mission to prepare graduates to become leaders of character and influence in an interdependent, global community.
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. They will join Wooster’s Model UN, which is consistently recognized for its award-winning success at two national conferences.
In order to renew the scholarship annually, award recipients are expected to fully participate in Wooster’s Model UN activities by trying out for the traveling team at least one semester of each academic year (our Model UN starts fresh to prepare for a new conference each semester). If they are not named to the traveling team, award recipients must contribute as part of the research team.
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Awarded to incoming first-year students based on skills in music performance or composition. These scholarships:
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Are awarded during your senior year of high school (transfer students are, unfortunately, not eligible)
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Range from $2,000 to $8,000 per year
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Do not require you to major or minor in music at Wooster
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Reduce private lesson fees from $780 to $30 per semester for half-hour weekly lessons on your audition instrument
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Are only available for voice, composition, and instruments for which the College offers private instruction.
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Please audition in only one scholarship area.
Applications for Fall 2026 Scottish Arts Scholarships have closed.
The Scottish Arts Scholarship is awarded to first-year students (transfers are not eligible) on the basis of music performance skills demonstrated at the audition. Students can receive $2,000 to $8,000 per year. In addition, lesson fees for a student holding a Scottish Arts Scholarship are reduced to $25/semester for half-hour weekly private lessons on the instrument of your audition. Please note that you should only apply for one scholarship area. Recipients are not required to major or minor in music at Wooster.
Applications for Fall 2026 Theatre & Dance Scholarships have closed.
Awarded to first-year students (transfers not eligible) on the basis of acting, directing, playwriting, design and technology, stage management, or dance. Students can receive $2,000 to $8,000 per year. Applicants should apply in the area in which they wish to focus their time and skills on while at Wooster. Scholarship recipients are not required to major or minor in Theatre and Dance at Wooster.
Departmental Scholarships
In addition to our number of merit and interest-based scholarships, Wooster offers select departmental scholarships.
Applications for the Herrick L. Johnston Scholarship in Chemistry have closed.
The Herrick L. Johnston Scholarship in Chemistry awards two domestic students entering the Class of 2030 with an interest in Chemistry or Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (B&MB) to receive a $5,000 scholarship to be applied to their first academic year at Wooster.
Faculty from the Chemistry department will review all applications and select awardees, with the highest consideration given to students who plan to major in either Chemistry or B&MB and whose career plans align with these areas of science. Previous applicants and awardees have been offered opportunities for mentored undergraduate research or positions as lab assistants as early as their first year at Wooster. Apply by February 2, 2026.
To apply for the Johnston Scholarship, submit your application for admission and complete the Johnston Scholarship application form.
This scholarship honors the memory of Herrick L. Johnston, Class of 1922, Sc.D. 1943. The scholarship was established in 1982 by Margaret Vanderbilt Johnston Dettmers.
Applications for the McSweeney Scholarship in French and Francophone Studies have closed.
The McSweeney Scholarship provides financial support to domestic students who choose to major, minor, or take consistent coursework (one class every semester on campus) in French and Francophone Studies at The College of Wooster.
Two recipients from the class of 2030 will be selected by faculty in the French and Francophone Studies department to receive a $4,000 scholarship, distributed evenly over four years and awarded in addition to other merit scholarships. This scholarship is designed to encourage and reward students for their commitment to deepening their knowledge of the language, culture, and history of the Francophone world. Apply by February 1, 2026, to take a significant step toward enhancing your academic journey!
To apply for the McSweeney Scholarship, submit your application for admission and complete the McSweeney Scholarship application form.
Additional Scholarships & Awards
Prospective students who attend an on-campus, in-person visit coordinated through the Office of Admissions will automatically receive a $4,000 ($1,000 annually) Wooster Visit Award upon admission. Find a day that works for you, register for your visit, and secure your award.
*Students must be U.S. citizens who coordinate and complete an in-person visit through the Office of Admissions by or on December 15 of their senior year. The Wooster Visit Award, once confirmed by the Admissions Office, will be included in the financial aid offer following admission.
Transfer students applying for Spring 2027 (January) entry must be U.S. Citizens who visit by or on December 15, 2026. Transfer students applying for Fall 2026 entry must visit by June 15, 2026.
The Wooster Visit Award is applicable to tuition only. Students who are eligible for and awarded funds that cover full tuition such as the Great Lakes College Association (GLCA) program, Wooster’s employee tuition remission, Veteran’s Education Benefits, or a full tuition merit award are ineligible.
Do you know a high school senior (or college transfer student) who would be a great match for Wooster? If so, we invite you to complete this online referral form with their details. If a referred student enrolls, they will receive a Refer a Scot Award, money towards the cost of books in their first year!
The Refer a Scot Award is a $500 credit for textbooks purchased at The College of Wooster Robert C. Mayer Bookstore within the Fall 2027 semester and Spring 2028 semester. All first-year and transfer students with a referral form completed by November 1, 2026, who are then admitted and enroll for the Fall 2027 semester, will receive the Award.
Not an alum? Referrals from Wooster faculty, staff, students, and parents of graduates or current students are also welcome!
The SAGE Scholar Award of $2,000 annually is in addition to the Tuition Rewards guarantee provided by Wooster, a proud partner of SAGE Scholars. There is no separate application for scholarship consideration. Eligible students must be participants of the Tuition Rewards program before eleventh grade and have submitted their Tuition Rewards Statement to Wooster prior to an official offer of admission (in accordance to SAGE Scholars policy).
The College of Wooster is a proud sponsor of the National Merit Scholarship Program and provides a $2,000/year scholarship to National Merit Finalists who have been offered admission and have notified the National Merit Scholarship Corporation that Wooster is their first-choice college. This scholarship value is in addition to other Wooster merit-based scholarships.
The Ohio Governor’s Merit Scholarship is awarded to the top 5% of a graduating public school or chartered non-public school class. Homeschooled students are also eligible. The award can be used for tuition, room and board, books, or other related educational expenses. More information about this award can be found here. Questions about the award and its disbursement should be directed to a student’s high school counselor or other school official. Students and their families can also contact Wooster’s Financial Aid Office with questions.