College of the Ozarks
#5 Most Affordable Colleges in Missouri- Graduation Rate
- 62% C+
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $41,592 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $6,100 A
- 64% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 12% A+
- Rejects about 88 of every 100 applicants
Bottom line: A B overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 39.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $39.7 over 20 years. Ranked #5 in Most Affordable Colleges in Missouri.
Every $1 spent returns $39.7 over 20 years. Net gain: $944,657.
What The Data Says
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A B overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Social mobility rate of 3.32% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Admits just 12% of applicants — one of the most selective institutions in the country.
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Every $1 invested returns $39.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why College of the Ozarks Matters
College of the Ozarks is a private college in Point Lookout, MO and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by exceptional admissions selectivity, a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network, a strong record of moving students up the income ladder, and low net price paired with solid completion. The result: durable upward mobility for the students it enrolls.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate College
- Enrollment
- 1,444
- Setting
- Town
- Designations
- 102
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Education, Psychology
Why students choose College of the Ozarks
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Highly selective — admits about 12% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1050–1220. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $6,100 a year after grants and scholarships — 64% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $41,592 ten years after enrolling — 2% above the typical college.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 3.3% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 7% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.52 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an acceptance rate of just 12%, College of the Ozarks is a selective choice for students looking for a tight-knit community and a strong focus on practical education. This school is ideal for those interested in fields like Business and Marketing, Health Professions, Education, Psychology, and the Visual & Performing Arts. Students here appreciate a hands-on approach, often engaging in work-study programs that integrate their studies with real-world experience.
Graduates from College of the Ozarks see a median income of around $41,592 within ten years of earning their degree. This figure highlights the potential for upward mobility, especially compared to many peers entering the job market. Affordability is another significant aspect; the net price after aid is approximately $6,100, making it accessible for many students, particularly those who qualify for PELL grants, which represent 49% of the student body.
When considering the practical aspects of attending this college, students usually thrive in an environment that values hard work and community service. The school’s focus on reducing student debt is evident, as many graduates leave with manageable financial burdens. This combination of affordability and a supportive atmosphere helps students not only succeed academically but also prepare for fulfilling careers.
Rankings
- #5 Most Affordable Colleges in Missouri
- #10 Best Communications Colleges in Missouri
- #24 Best Computer Science Colleges in Missouri
- #24 Best Data Science Colleges in Missouri
- #25 Best Bachelor's Programs in Missouri
- #25 Best Education Colleges in Missouri
- #27 Best Master's Programs in Missouri
- #28 Best Psychology Colleges in Missouri
Can I Get In?
How selective College of the Ozarks is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into College of the Ozarks? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Point Lookout, Missouri, College of the Ozarks sets a competitive bar: about 12% of applicants get an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,118. The graduation rate is roughly 62%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 12%
- Retention Rate
- 90%
- SAT Average
- 1118
- ACT Midpoint
- 23
- SAT Range
- 1050–1220
- ACT Range
- 20–25
- Full-Time Faculty
- 70%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,409
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 15:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.27
- First-Gen Students
- 33%
- Applicants
- 2,239
- Admitted
- 473
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend College of the Ozarks? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at College of the Ozarks is $22,320, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $6,100. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,381 after need-based grants.
- In-State Tuition
- $22,320
- Out-of-State
- $22,320
- Avg Net Price
- $6,100
- Pell Grant Rate
- 49%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 0%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $6,381
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $6,140
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $5,022
- Family Income $110K+
- $10,426
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at College of the Ozarks — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is College of the Ozarks Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of College of the Ozarks report median earnings of $41,592, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $36,507
- 8 Years
- $40,008
- 10 Years
- $41,592
- Earning > $25K
- 53%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (115)
- 45%
- 100% (115)
- 45%
- 100% (115)
- 45%
- 100% (115)
- 45%
How College Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is College of the Ozarks Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, College of the Ozarks delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $6,100/year ($24,400 total). Graduates earn $41,592 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $969,057 in total earnings — a net gain of $944,657 (39.7× your investment).. With a 62% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $24,400
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $969,057
- Net Return
- $944,657
- ROI Multiple
- 39.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $6,100
- Graduation Rate
- 62%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does College of the Ozarks Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
College of the Ozarks is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.32%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 17.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 18.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $49,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 3.32%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 18.5%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 17.9%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $66,846
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $6,188,131
- Investment Income
- $-47,876,041
Top Programs
The fields College of the Ozarks awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 19% $48,592 early-career
- Health Professions 9% $61,913 early-career
- Education 9% $33,722 early-career
- Psychology 5% $23,930 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 5%
- Engineering 4%
- Computer Science & IT 4% $69,715 early-career
- Communications 4% $38,487 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for College of the Ozarks's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into College of the Ozarks? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Point Lookout, Missouri, College of the Ozarks sets a competitive bar: about 12% of applicants get an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,118. The graduation rate is roughly 62%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend College of the Ozarks? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at College of the Ozarks is $22,320, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $6,100. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,381 after need-based grants.
Is College of the Ozarks Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of College of the Ozarks report median earnings of $41,592, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does College of the Ozarks Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
College of the Ozarks is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.32%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 17.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 18.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $49,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is College of the Ozarks? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at College of the Ozarks. Its economic connectedness score is 1.52, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to College of the Ozarks.
- Berea CollegeBerea, KY · Close peer60% grad $43,150 earn 19% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Virginia's College at WiseWise, VA · Strong match48% grad $45,325 earn 29% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- Baptist University of FloridaGraceville, FL · Strong match62% grad $42,836 earn 36% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- Belhaven UniversityJackson, MS · Strong match50% grad $46,440 earn 50% acceptWhy: similar size
- Drury UniversitySpringfield, MO · Strong match64% grad $40,694 earn 58% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Elizabeth City State UniversityElizabeth City, NC · Strong match46% grad $40,026 earn 64% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is College of the Ozarks? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at College of the Ozarks. Its economic connectedness score is 1.52, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note