Point Lookout, MO · Private · 1,444 undergraduates · town
College of the Ozarks
Highly selective
Every full-time student participates in the Work Education Program, linking the no-tuition model directly to substantial required campus labor.
Institutional profile
Well established Strong in affordability, and solid in academic standing.- Admission
- 14.9% admitted
- Price by income
- Varies across five income ranges
- Completion
- 64.3%
2,495 applicants in the reported year
Compare recent average annual costs by household income
$41,592 median earnings 10 years after enrollment
What sets College of the Ozarks apart
Academic design
Full-time students combine their academic programs with structured work assignments across more than 100 campus workstations. The model treats practical labor and character formation as educational components rather than simply financial aid.
Campus pattern
Students work 15 hours each week during the academic year and complete two 40-hour work weeks during school breaks, so employment is built into the weekly and annual rhythm. The residential Christian environment is correspondingly more structured than a typical small college.
Defining feature
Every full-time student participates in the Work Education Program, linking the no-tuition model directly to substantial required campus labor.
Can I get in?
14.9% admitted
Start with academic preparation, then show why this particular academic and campus environment fits you.
Recent applicant pool
2,495About 15 in every 100 applicants were admitted.
Academic range
Of admitted students, 11% submitted an SAT, and 91% submitted an ACT. Treat the SAT range as a guide to the students who submitted that test, not to everyone admitted.
With one-year access
Where your GPA sits in the entering class
The full entering-class GPA distribution for College of the Ozarks, in nine bands from 4.0 down, with your own record marked on it.
See where I landWith one-year access
What College of the Ozarks weighs when it reads a file
See how this college describes the role of grades, testing, essays, recommendations, activities, and demonstrated interest.
- Course rigor
- GPA
- Test scores
- Essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurriculars
- Demonstrated interest
What moves the application
The evidence that separates a strong file
Show preparation for this curriculum
Full-time students combine their academic programs with structured work assignments across more than 100 campus workstations. The model treats practical labor and character formation as educational components rather than simply financial aid.
Make the fit specific
Students with financial need who value Christian community and are comfortable treating substantial campus work as part of their education.
Account for the tradeoff
The required work schedule and structured residential culture reduce the amount of uncommitted time and autonomy available compared with a conventional college.
How to apply
Rounds, route, and required materials
Build the calendar around the earliest realistic application round and make the school-specific case concrete.
$0 application fee
Can I afford it?
Compare annual cost by household income.
Start with the average net price for your income range, then set that estimate beside your other realistic options.
With one-year access
Average annual cost by household income at College of the Ozarks
Compare recent average net prices across five federal income ranges and estimate a 4-year cost for yours.
- $0–30k
- $30–48k
- $48–75k
- $75–110k
- $110k+
Is it worth it?
Completion, debt, and earnings
Every full-time student participates in the Work Education Program, linking the no-tuition model directly to substantial required campus labor.
Degree completion across the reported entering cohort
First-year students who return for year two
And what that comes to against what they earn.
Reported 10 years after enrollment
Academic portfolio
Largest bachelor’s fields
How many students finish in each field, and median earnings four years after completing the program.
Business Administration, Management and Operations
Psychology, General
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
Animal Sciences
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
What is campus life like?
College of the Ozarks beyond the classroom
Students work 15 hours each week during the academic year and complete two 40-hour work weeks during school breaks, so employment is built into the weekly and annual rhythm. The residential Christian environment is correspondingly more structured than a typical small college.
A defining academic feature
Full-time students combine their academic programs with structured work assignments across more than 100 campus workstations. The model treats practical labor and character formation as educational components rather than simply financial aid.
What shapes an ordinary week
Students work 15 hours each week during the academic year and complete two 40-hour work weeks during school breaks, so employment is built into the weekly and annual rhythm. The residential Christian environment is correspondingly more structured than a typical small college.
What changes the experience
Every full-time student participates in the Work Education Program, linking the no-tuition model directly to substantial required campus labor.