Founded as the University of Wooster in 1866 by the Presbyterian Synod of Ohio, the institution opened its doors in 1870 with a faculty of five and a student body of thirty men and four women.

[6] Ephraim Quinby, a Wooster citizen, donated the first 20 acres (8.1 ha), a large oak grove situated on a hilltop overlooking the town.

[7] After being founded with the intent to make Wooster open to everyone, the university's first Ph.D. was granted to a woman, Annie B. Irish, in 1882.

In 1915, after a bitter dispute between the faculty and the trustees, the institution was renamed The College of Wooster reflecting a dedication to the education of undergraduate students in the liberal arts.

Permanent collections include the John Taylor Arms Print Collection—which represents works by Edward Hopper, Winslow Homer, Isabel Bishop, Martin Lewis, James Abbott McNeill Whistler, Albrecht Dürer, Käthe Kollwitz and Félix Bracquemond—the William C. Mithoefer Collection of African Art, Middle Eastern pottery and Chinese decorative art.

[30] This international presence affected the entire campus, establishing a tradition which continues to influence the college.

During the spring season, they perform and compete at a grade 3 level, having won prizes at the Scots wi' Shotts event in Cleveland hosted by the local Lochaber Pipe Band.

These number more than 80 Greek named chapters, including defunct groups, with approximately 30 active today.

Sometimes called clubs and sections, these groups are not affiliated with national Greek organizations, and approximately 15% of the student body participates.

At least eighteen honor societies are active at the college, including ΦΒΚ – Phi Beta Kappa, which arrived in 1926.

[58] Wooster's athletic history dates back to its first baseball team, in 1880, which played only one game, losing 12–2 to Kenyon College.

In 1983, Wooster (along with the rest of the Ohio Five) broke away from the OAC to form the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC).

The NCAC, which competes at the non-scholarship Division III level of the NCAA, was founded primarily on the principle of offering women equal opportunity to participate in varsity sports.

The baseball team has made five appearances in the NCAA Division III World Series, including second-place finishes in 2009 and 1997.

Wooster has made 23 appearances in the NCAA baseball tournament under head coach Tim Pettorini, who has led the Scots since 1982.

Prior to Pettorini's tenure, Bob Morgan led the Scots to the NCAA tournament in each of his final five seasons, giving Wooster a total of 25 appearances since the event began in 1976.

Following his graduation in 2010, All-American second baseman Matthew Johnson signed with the Toronto Blue Jays organization, and played for four seasons in their minor-league system.

The 2003 team was close behind at 30–3, with center Bryan Nelson named D-III Men's Basketball Player of the Year.

Since 2000, the Scots have been in the top ten in D-III basketball attendance every year, ranking second in some seasons, with over 2,000 fans per home game.

(as of 2018) The football team's greatest success occurred between 1916 and 1934; during this era, Wooster had a record of 118–31–12,[66] and won four outright OAC championships.

In 2004, the team recorded a perfect 10–0 regular season and won its first outright NCAC conference championship, as well as its first NCAA D-III football tournament game.

[68] Home to the Fighting Scots, the center offers a wide assortment of fitness equipment available to both college athletes and the community.

The previous recreation facility for the college, Armington Physical Education Center (the PEC), was adequate.

However, an increased demand for high-end facilities pressured the administration and the board of trustees to build the Scot Center.

The 123,000 square-foot facility houses four intramural courts for basketball, tennis and volleyball that are put to use daily.