University of the Ozarks
#2 Best Education Colleges in Arkansas- Graduation Rate
- 52% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $44,384 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $17,360 C
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 60% B
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 15.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $15.6 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Best Education Colleges in Arkansas.
Every $1 spent returns $15.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,014,048.
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 $15.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why University of the Ozarks Matters
University of the Ozarks is a private college in Clarksville, AR 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
- 767
- Setting
- Town
- Designations
- 66
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Biology & Biomedical, Psychology
Why students choose University 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
Competitive — admits about 60% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1020–1160. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $17,360 a year after grants and scholarships — 1% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $44,384 ten years after enrolling — 9% above the typical college, against $20,875 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.9% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 81% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.38 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
The University of the Ozarks has a student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1, ensuring personalized attention and support in the classroom. With an enrollment of just 767 students, this private nonprofit institution fosters a close-knit community that many find appealing.
Graduates from the University of the Ozarks earn a median salary of $44,384 ten years after completing their degree. While the graduation rate stands at 52%, the school serves a diverse student body, with 40% receiving Pell Grants. This financial assistance indicates a commitment to supporting students from lower-income backgrounds, though specific mobility data is not available.
The cost of attendance at the University of the Ozarks is $17,360, with median student debt at $20,875. Students who thrive here typically value a smaller campus environment and seek a strong connection with faculty. Top programs include Business & Marketing, Health Professions, and Psychology, attracting those interested in fields with solid job prospects.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective University 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 University of the Ozarks? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Clarksville, Arkansas, University of the Ozarks offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 60% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,105. The graduation rate is roughly 52%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 60%
- Retention Rate
- 69%
- SAT Average
- 1105
- ACT Midpoint
- 21
- SAT Range
- 1020–1160
- ACT Range
- 20–25
- Full-Time Faculty
- 96%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,231
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 14:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.71
- First-Gen Students
- 35%
- Applicants
- 2,157
- Admitted
- 1,296
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 University of the Ozarks? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of the Ozarks is $25,950, 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 $17,360. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $14,664 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,875 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $25,950
- Out-of-State
- $25,950
- Avg Net Price
- $17,360
- Median Debt
- $20,875
- Pell Grant Rate
- 40%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 44%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $14,664
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $14,551
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $19,291
- Family Income $110K+
- $22,836
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 University 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 University of the Ozarks Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of the Ozarks report median earnings of $44,384, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $37,651
- 8 Years
- $40,760
- 10 Years
- $44,384
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.47x
- Earning > $25K
- 51%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (56)
- 33%
- 100% (56)
- 33%
- 100% (56)
- 33%
- 100% (56)
- 33%
How University 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 University of the Ozarks Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of the Ozarks delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $17,360/year ($69,440 total). Graduates earn $44,384 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,083,488 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,014,048 (15.6× your investment). The median debt is $20,875, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 52% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $69,440
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,083,488
- Net Return
- $1,014,048
- ROI Multiple
- 15.6×
- Cost Per Year
- $17,360
- Median Debt
- $20,875
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 52%
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 University of the Ozarks Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
University of the Ozarks is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.93%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 9.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 10.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $72,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.93%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 10.3%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 9.1%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $98,638
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $3,948,408
- Investment Income
- $-4,241,122
Top Programs
The fields University 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 24% $40,390 early-career
- Health Professions 13%
- Biology & Biomedical 13% $35,271 early-career
- Psychology 12%
- Education 11% $42,081 early-career
- Communications 7%
- Humanities 4%
- Social Sciences 3%
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 University 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
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- 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
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of the Ozarks? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Clarksville, Arkansas, University of the Ozarks offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 60% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,105. The graduation rate is roughly 52%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of the Ozarks? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of the Ozarks is $25,950, 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 $17,360. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $14,664 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,875 in federal student loans.
Is University of the Ozarks Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of the Ozarks report median earnings of $44,384, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does University of the Ozarks Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
University of the Ozarks is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.93%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 9.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 10.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $72,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is University 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 University of the Ozarks. Its economic connectedness score is 1.38, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.05), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of the Ozarks.
- Lyon CollegeBatesville, AR · Close peer51% grad $44,232 earn 63% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Bethany CollegeBethany, WV · Close peer47% grad $44,512 earn 59% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Gallaudet UniversityWashington, DC · Close peer47% grad $43,101 earn 58% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Tennessee Wesleyan UniversityAthens, TN · Close peer46% grad $45,989 earn 69% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Kentucky Wesleyan CollegeOwensboro, KY · Close peer49% grad $46,747 earn 72% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Union Commonwealth UniversityBarbourville, KY · Close peer34% grad $42,002 earn 63% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University 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 University of the Ozarks. Its economic connectedness score is 1.38, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.05), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note