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College of Wooster

EIN 34-0714654 · Wooster, OH

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE COLLEGE OF WOOSTER IS A COMMUNITY OF INDEPENDENT MINDS, WORKING TOGETHER TO PREPARE STUDENTS TO BECOME LEADERS OF CHARACTER AND INFLUENCE IN AN INTERDEPENDENT GLOBAL COMMUNITY. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)WE ENGAGE MOTIVATED STUDENTS IN A RIGOROUS AND DYNAMIC LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION. MENTORED BY A FACULTY NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING, WOOSTER GRADUATES ARE CREATIVE AND INDEPENDENT THINKERS WITH EXCEPTIONAL ABILITIES TO ASK IMPORTANT QUESTIONS, RESEARCH COMPLEX ISSUES, SOLVE PROBLEMS, AND COMMUNICATE NEW KNOWLEDGE AND INSIGHT.

Income
$192.3 million
Spending
$179.5 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
8.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 69%
Employees
1,644
Volunteers
2,000
Highest pay
$621,220, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    42 of 43 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $101.5 million spent. INSTRUCTION - THE COLLEGE OF WOOSTER IS A LIBERAL ARTS INSTITUTION THAT ENGAGES MOTIVATED STUDENTS IN A RIGOROUS AND DYNAMIC LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION. STUDENTS ARE MENTORED BY A FACULTY NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING. WOOSTER GRADUATES ARE CREATIVE AND INDEPENDENT THINKERS WITH EXCEPTIONAL ABILITIES TO ASK IMPORTANT QUESTIONS, RESEARCH COMPLEX ISSUES, SOLVE PROBLEMS, AND COMMUNICATE NEW KNOWLEDGE AND INSIGHT.THE COLLEGE OF WOOSTER AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS TO 1,724 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS, AVERAGING $43,242 PER STUDENT, TO ASSIST IN MEETING CALCULATED FINANCIAL NEED.
  2. $25.6 million spent. STUDENT SERVICES - THE COLLEGE OF WOOSTER IS COMMITTED TO NURTURING THE HOLISTIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENTS BY PROVIDING MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES THAT CULTIVATE LEADERSHIP, SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT, MULTI-CULTURAL INTERACTIONS AND COMMUNITY BUILDING. WITH VARIOUS STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS AND ATHLETIC TEAMS AVAILABLE, THE COLLEGE OFFERS A DIVERSE ARRAY OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT REFLECT THE WIDE RANGE OF STUDENT INTERESTS, IDEAS, HOBBIES, AND PASSIONS.
  3. $22.4 million spent. AUXILIARY SERVICE - THE COLLEGE OF WOOSTER IS A RESIDENTIAL CAMPUS WITH OVER 97% OF ENROLLED STUDENTS RESIDING IN A RESIDENCE HALL OR PROGRAM HOUSE. THE OFFICE OF RESIDENCE LIFE OVERSEES 17 RESIDENCE HALLS AND 19 PROGRAM HOUSES. STUDENTS HAVE VARIOUS THEME OPTIONS AVAILABLE INCLUDING CROSS CULTURAL LEARNING EXPERIENCES, LANGUAGE SUITES, INDEPENDENT SENIOR HOUSING, AND GREEK HOUSING.
  4. $16.7 million spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES: RESEARCH PROGRAMS, PUBLIC & ACADEMIC SUPPORT

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1953.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

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