Cottey College
#1 Smallest Colleges in America- Graduation Rate
- 59% C
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $35,422 D+
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $13,805 C+
- 19% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 69% B-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 13.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $13.9 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Smallest Colleges in America.
Every $1 spent returns $13.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $713,244.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Every $1 invested returns $13.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Cottey College Matters
Cottey College is a private college in Nevada, MO and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate College
- Enrollment
- 254
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Social Sciences, Business & Marketing, Psychology, Education
Why students choose Cottey College
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
Competitive — admits about 69% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $13,805 a year after grants and scholarships — 19% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $35,422 ten years after enrolling — 13% below the typical college, against $19,043 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.51 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Cottey College might be a great fit for students seeking a close-knit community with a focus on liberal arts education. With an enrollment of just 254 students, classes here are likely to feel more personal, allowing for deeper connections with professors and peers. Students can dive into programs like Psychology, Business & Marketing, and Biology, which help prepare them for various paths in both professional and personal growth.
Looking at life after graduation, students typically earn around $35,422 within ten years of completing their degree. This figure gives a glimpse into the potential return on investment for those choosing Cottey. It’s worth noting that 46% of the student body receives Pell Grants, reflecting the school’s commitment to accessible education for low-income students. While we don’t have mobility data, the earnings show that graduates have a solid foundation to build their careers.
When it comes to costs, the average net price after financial aid stands at $13,805, which is manageable compared to the median debt of $19,043. This balance suggests that students who thrive here are often those who appreciate a supportive environment and are keen to engage in their studies. With a 59% graduation rate, Cottey College is an appealing option for those ready to invest in a meaningful educational experience.
Rankings
- #1 Smallest Colleges in America
- #9 Best Psychology Colleges in Missouri
- #19 Most Affordable Colleges in Missouri
- #27 Best Education Colleges in Missouri
- #27 Best Biology Colleges in Missouri
- #33 Best Bachelor's Programs in Missouri
- #35 Best Master's Programs in Missouri
- #37 Best Business Colleges in Missouri
Can I Get In?
How selective Cottey College 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 Cottey College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Nevada, Missouri, Cottey College offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 69% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 22. The graduation rate is roughly 59%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 69%
- Retention Rate
- 67%
- ACT Midpoint
- 22
- Full-Time Faculty
- 83%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $5,576
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 7:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.49
- First-Gen Students
- 31%
- Applicants
- 682
- Admitted
- 498
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 Cottey College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Cottey College is $27,562, 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 $13,805. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $14,093 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $19,043 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $27,562
- Out-of-State
- $27,562
- Avg Net Price
- $13,805
- Median Debt
- $19,043
- Pell Grant Rate
- 46%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 61%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $14,093
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $10,634
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $12,063
- Family Income $110K+
- $18,130
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 Cottey College — 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 Cottey College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Cottey College report median earnings of $35,422, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $32,903
- 8 Years
- $37,043
- 10 Years
- $35,422
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.54x
- Earning > $25K
- 50%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (25)
- 58%
- 100% (25)
- 58%
- 100% (25)
- 58%
- 100% (25)
- 58%
How Cottey Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Cottey College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Cottey College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $13,805/year ($55,220 total). Graduates earn $35,422 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $768,464 in total earnings — a net gain of $713,244 (13.9× your investment). The median debt is $19,043, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 59% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $55,220
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $768,464
- Net Return
- $713,244
- ROI Multiple
- 13.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $13,805
- Median Debt
- $19,043
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 59%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $67,053
Top Programs
The fields Cottey College 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.
- Social Sciences 17%
- Business & Marketing 15%
- Psychology 14%
- Education 13%
- Humanities 12%
- Biology & Biomedical 5%
- Visual & Performing Arts 4%
- English & Literature 3%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Cottey College'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
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- B+Physician Assistant$130,020 · 28% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Cottey College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Nevada, Missouri, Cottey College offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 69% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 22. The graduation rate is roughly 59%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Cottey College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Cottey College is $27,562, 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 $13,805. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $14,093 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $19,043 in federal student loans.
Is Cottey College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Cottey College report median earnings of $35,422, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Cottey College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Cottey College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.51, 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 12% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Cottey College.
- The King's UniversitySouthlake, TX · Close peer44% grad $41,471 earn 61% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar size · similar net price
- Gods Bible School and CollegeCincinnati, OH · Close peer45% grad $37,722 earn 75% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Appalachian Bible CollegeMount Hope, WV · Close peer73% grad $37,467 earn 78% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological SeminaryAnkeny, IA · Close peer64% grad $40,650 earn 68% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Kuyper CollegeGrand Rapids, MI · Close peer52% grad $41,066 earn 69% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Bryn Athyn College of the New ChurchBryn Athyn, PA · Close peer55% grad $40,457 earn 83% acceptWhy: similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Cottey College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Cottey College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.51, 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 12% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note