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Ozarks Technical Community College

#2 Most Affordable Colleges in Missouri
Public Springfield, MO · Urban · Plains · 87% data
A- Affordability A- Value C- Earnings
32%
F
Graduation Rate
Lower completion rate than most colleges
$36,455
C-
Earnings (10yr)
Below average for college graduates
$6,936
A-
Net Price
60% less than the typical college
8,165
Enrollment
Earnings -11% vs avg
Graduation -44% vs avg
Net Price +-60% vs avg
Mobility Top 64%

Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 30.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $30.0 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Most Affordable Colleges in Missouri.

30.0× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $30.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $803,671.

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What The Data Says

1

A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

2

Graduation of 32% — 44% below the national average.

3

Every $1 invested returns $30.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why Ozarks Technical Community College Matters

Ozarks Technical Community College is a public community college in Springfield, MO and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average 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
Public Community College
Carnegie Class
Associate's College
Enrollment
8,165
Setting
Urban
Primary Strengths
Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Mechanic & Repair Tech

Why students choose Ozarks Technical Community College

Outstanding value
Low net price against strong graduate earnings
Strength in Humanities
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C
Top 51% overall
C-
Earnings
$36,455 median
A-
Value
5.3× net price
A-
Affordability
$6,936/yr net
F
Graduation
32% graduate
C-
Social Mobility
1.2% climb Q1→Q5
D
Diversity
0.37 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

Ozarks Technical Community College is a solid choice for students looking to dive into practical fields like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, or Computer Science. With about 8,165 students, this school has a community feel, making it easier to connect with peers and faculty. The focus here is on programs that lead directly to careers, which is essential for those eager to enter the workforce quickly and efficiently.

When we think about life after graduation, the average earnings for alumni after ten years is around $36,455. That’s a reasonable starting point, especially for those who have taken on less debt. The net price for attending, after financial aid, sits at $6,936. With 38% of students receiving Pell Grants, there’s a decent level of support for those who need it most. This financial landscape helps students move forward, as many find their footing in stable jobs after completing their studies.

Looking at the numbers, the median debt for students is approximately $10,453, which is manageable in comparison to potential earnings. Those who thrive here are often those who are pragmatic, ready to pursue hands-on training, and focused on gaining skills that employers need. If you’re someone who values affordability and direct pathways to employment, Ozarks Technical Community College could be a thoughtful choice.

Rankings

1

Can I Get In?

How selective Ozarks Technical Community College is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Ozarks Technical Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Ozarks Technical Community College, located in Springfield, Missouri, enrolls students across a range of programs. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 32%.

Retention Rate 100%
Full-Time Faculty 29%
Faculty Salary (mo) $6,512
Student–Faculty Ratio 16:1
Diversity Index 0.37
First-Gen Students 47%
2

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 Ozarks Technical Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

When weighing the true cost of attending Ozarks Technical Community College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $7,200 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $6,936 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,217 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $10,453.

$4,512
In-State Tuition
$7,200
Out-of-State
$6,936
Avg Net Price
$10,453
Median Debt
38%
Pell Grant Rate
18%
Federal Loan Rate

What Families Actually Pay

$6,217
Family Income $0–$30K
$6,263
Family Income $30K–$48K
$7,766
Family Income $48K–$75K
$9,854
Family Income $110K+
3

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Graduate Outcomes

Is Ozarks Technical Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Ozarks Technical Community College report median earnings of $36,455; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.

$32,525
6 Years After Entry
$33,954
8 Years
$36,455
10 Years
0.29x
Debt-to-Earnings
47%
Earning > $25K

Earnings Trajectory

$32,525 6yr $33,954 8yr $36,455 10yr

How Ozarks Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation32%Earnings 10yr$36KNet Price$7KRetention100%Median Debt$10KPell Grant Rate38%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$6K$0-30K$6K$30-48K$8K$48-75K$10K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%14.5%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%8.4%MOBILITY1.22%

College ROI Calculator

Is Ozarks Technical Community College Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Ozarks Technical Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $6,936/year ($27,744 total). Graduates earn $36,455 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $831,415 in total earnings — a net gain of $803,671 (30.0× your investment). The median debt is $10,453, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 32% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

$27,744
Total Cost (4yr)
$831,415
Projected 20yr Earnings
$803,671
Net Return
30.0×
ROI Multiple
$6,936
Cost Per Year
$10,453
Median Debt
Less than 1 yr
Debt Payback
32%
Graduation Rate
4

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 Ozarks Technical Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Ozarks Technical Community College 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 1.22%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here: roughly 14.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a genuine foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 8.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $58,800, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.

1.22%
Mobility Rate
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
8.4%
Success Rate
If bottom 20% get in
14.5%
From Bottom 20%
Share of students
$58,800
Parent Median Income

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Ozarks Technical Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs above average at Ozarks Technical Community College, with an economic connectedness score of 1.13 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

1.13
Economic Connectedness
Cross-class friendships
0.01
Friending Bias
Lower = more inclusive
9.9%
Volunteering Rate
0.96
Support Ratio
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

$5,844,154
Endowment
Total Expenses
$5,014,945
Federal Grants
$439,258
Investment Income

Top Programs

The fields Ozarks Technical Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Ozarks Technical Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +

Ozarks Technical Community College, located in Springfield, Missouri, enrolls students across a range of programs. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 32%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Ozarks Technical Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +

When weighing the true cost of attending Ozarks Technical Community College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $7,200 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $6,936 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,217 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $10,453.

Is Ozarks Technical Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +

Ten years out, alumni of Ozarks Technical Community College report median earnings of $36,455; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.

Does Ozarks Technical Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +

Ozarks Technical Community College 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 1.22%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here: roughly 14.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a genuine foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 8.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $58,800, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Ozarks Technical Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +

Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs above average at Ozarks Technical Community College, with an economic connectedness score of 1.13 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

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