About College of the Ozarks

Founded in 1906, College of the Ozarks. is a Private college. Located in Missouri, which is a city setting in Missouri, the campus itself is Town. The campus is home to 1,517 full time undergraduate students, and 0 full time graduate students.

The College of the Ozarks Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 14:1. There are 86 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at College of the Ozarks include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.

Quick Facts

Acceptance Rate14%
Application Deadline
Application Fee0
SAT Range1025-1159
ACT Range21-25

Admissions at COFO are considered Most Selective, with ,9% of all applicants being admitted.

In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 14 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.

87% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 50% were in the top quarter, and 19% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.

STUDENT LIFE Reviews

We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at College of the Ozarks.

6%
“We”re apathetic”
24%
“We know about current events and vote”
71%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
0%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
0%
“We save it for the classroom”
18%
“Sometimes, but not often”
59%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
24%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
0%
“I only go out in groups”
24%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
76%
“I feel extremely safe”
25%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
44%
“We bought the gear”
31%
“We live for the big game”
0%
“It”s not really our thing”
18%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
65%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
18%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
0%
“Available in class”
47%
“They keep regular office hours”
53%
“They”re always available”
100%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
0%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
0%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
94%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
6%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
0%
“We only party on weekends”
0%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
82%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
18%
“There might be people who do”
0%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
0%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
6%
“We”re apathetic”
24%
“We know about current events and vote”
71%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
0%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
0%
“We save it for the classroom”
18%
“Sometimes, but not often”
59%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
24%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
0%
“I only go out in groups”
24%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
76%
“I feel extremely safe”
25%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
44%
“We bought the gear”
31%
“We live for the big game”
0%
“It”s not really our thing”
18%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
65%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
18%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
0%
“Available in class”
47%
“They keep regular office hours”
53%
“They”re always available”
100%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
0%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
0%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
94%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
6%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
0%
“We only party on weekends”
0%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
82%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
18%
“There might be people who do”
0%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
0%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
Write a review, Enter to win $1,000 Scholarship
  • How would you rate on-campus housing?

    45 Students rated on-campus housing 3.3 stars. 9 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate off-campus housing?

    35 Students rated off-campus housing 2.3 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus food?

    46 Students rated campus food 3.3 stars. 11 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus facilities?

    46 Students rated campus facilities 3.4 stars. 24 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate class size?

    46 Students rated class size 4.5 stars. 65 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate school activities?

    46 Students rated school activities 3.6 stars. 20 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate local services?

    46 Students rated local services 4.2 stars. 54 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate academics?

    46 Students rated academics 4.6 stars. 72 % gave the school a 5.0.

College of the Ozarks REVIEWS

What's your overall opinion of College of the Ozarks?

22 Students rated College of the Ozarks

Olivia - 06/11/2024

This is the perfect school for the growing Christian and motivated student. There are opportunities to grow all around you, and a very little chance of failure because of the tight knit community, engaged staff, and welcoming atmosphere. This is the school I plan to attend because of the values, which are both Christian and Conservative, the joy of the staff, and the amazing campus and location in Branson, Missouri.

Sydney - 08/30/2023

I think that CofO's students, faculty, and staff really try, and succeed at fostering a spirit of unity, and community around the campus. They truly care about not only the students' academic wellbeing, but also their emotional wellbeing. They achieve this through on campus activities, dorm events, and work stations.

Ashley - 12/09/2022

College of the Ozarks is the No. 1 Most Innovative School in the Midwest and the No. 1 Best Value School in the Midwest, per the recently released guide U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2022-23. Also dubbed “Hard Work U,” College of the Ozarks is a school based around Christian liberal arts with a proud conservative heritage, committed to a five-fold mission of encouraging : Academic, Christian, Cultural, Vocational, and Patriotic growth in its students. C of O has a great environment and great college life. It is a lot of hard work with combining the work program with the education program, but it is totally worth it, and the college puts is a big promoter of community and has a lot of activities for students to be involved in. Overall, it's really great!

Rebecca - 10/08/2021

I have been here for 2-1/2 years, and deeply wish I had gone somewhere else for college. The classes are not always challenging (for example, our sociology textbook was a high school textbook, not a college-level text). The college presents a great face to prospective students/parents, and requires a clean, polished look so that donors believe it is a positive environment. The truth is far darker. Rooms are tiny, poorly ventilated, with three bathroom/shower stalls for 30 people. Harsh penalties are meted out for any infraction, and work environments are often abusive and repressive. An example: students who work at the very public-oriented Keeter Center have a long list of words and phrases that cannot be used, a wrinkle in a uniform causes loss of work points which leads to lowered grades, supervisors do not train from a positive perspective but from a punitive one. A large emphasis is placed on graduating without debt; I would rather pay off student loans than be depressed, afraid, and have to just get through each day till it's over. College should be a time of expansion and growth. At this college it is a time of fear, emotional scarring, and persevering through trial. As a Christian, the underground drug/alcohol/sex culture is jarring; because these behaviors are so strongly forbidden, students (and RA's) go to great lengths to hide them, but they do happen and there is no place to openly get help because any student deemed weak is quietly removed. We are told at the beginning by the president of the college that we are "replaceable". This attitude pervades this campus.

College of the Ozarks FAQS

  1. What is the Acceptance Rate at College of the Ozarks?

    The fall 2020 acceptance rate for College of the Ozarks is 14%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020 , _____ students were offered admission. The number of males who applied was _____ vs the number of females which was _____.

  2. What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

    I would tell myself that I need to apply mysef 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} and stuy to make good grades. I do not need to be messig around with friends and not doing my work.

    Read all 39 answers
  3. Describe the students at your school.

    The students in my class are hard working individuals who strive to do there best and follow God's word.

    Read all 11 answers
  4. What kind of person should attend this school?

    Students that can live in a strict environment wih no drinking, following all the rules, staying on top of their schoolwork and being able to not get stressed out because of all the bureaucracy. It's a great college because it WILL teach you to work hard and learn to follow rules especially with this new generation thinking they are entitled to everything.

    Read all 10 answers
  5. What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?

    for a college whose emphasis is the support of the financially challenged in academia, the college still drains the student's wallet with hidden costs and restricting the student's ability to make money off campus.

    Read all 9 answers
  6. Describe your favorite campus traditions.

    Our college is best known for our unique work-study program. Having a job on-campus offsets the cost of tuition, along with other federal aid and scholarships.

    Read all 8 answers
  7. Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!

    You get to go to school for FREE. The tuition and room and board are paid off by working 15 hours a week and two 40 hour work weeks and the books are taken care of by scholarships.

    Read all 8 answers
  8. What kind of person should not attend this school?

    Anyone who isn't open to new things.

    Read all 8 answers
  9. What's unique about your campus?

    The best thing about College of the Ozarks is that the college encourages you to be something you come here believing that you are not. The faculty and upper-classmen really help push you to be a good student and never want to see you fail. The rules that the college has are designed to provide this same support as well. In the end you become something you always knew you could be...but never believed it could really happen.

    Read all 6 answers
  10. Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.

    Our school is friendly, safe, and interconnected.

    Read all 5 answers
  11. What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?

    I wish that I had known how to study for classes before I came to College of the Ozarks. Every student has to find their own groove to study with, but usually, it seems, students that get that groove during high school struggle far less with adjusting to college life.

    Read all 5 answers
  12. What's the most frustrating thing about your school?

    The most frustrating thing about College of the Ozarks is the emphasis on looks. The administration does everything possible to make sure everything on campus looks presentable to the many donors that are frequently touring campus. However, the school could take part of the effort put into looks and put that into character building. Many times students feel that as long as they look good on the outside, it does not matter what is on the inside. A lot is said about character building, but in my experiences the heavy emphasis on outer looks does more to hurt character.

    Read all 4 answers
  13. What is your overall opinion of this school?

    C of O is a huge bubble. It is it's own town, Point Lookout Mo. It looks pretty and perfect on the outside, but once you're there it can feel like a prison because it's so small and closed off from everything around it. Freshmen aren't allowed to drive during the week, their cars are literally locked away. It's like the administration is afraid their students will do something to taint the school name. And that's what's most important, the school's name not the students.

    Read all 1 answers
  14. What is the stereotype of students at your school?

    C of O follows very strict standards of behavior. It is a private, non-denominational christian school, but it's very much Presbyterian based. Not that there's anything wrong with that, I just wasn't expecting it. The students are expected to follow all of these rules of conduct or face expulsion, and public humiliation. The stereotypical C of O student is perfect, doesn't do anything wrong, and is very appreciative of their school where they work 15 hours a week in addition to school work and their tuition is paid in full.

    Read all 1 answers
  15. What are the most popular student activities/groups?

    The dorms are off limits to the opposite sex except for one night a semester each, Men's Open House and Women's Open House. Although, the Deans usually roam the halls on those nights. I made most of my friends in Chapel Choir because we spend almost every Sunday singing at Chapel together. Alcohol is not allowed on campus, or off campus for that matter. And parties usually consist of meeting at a dorm's coed lounge, playing silly games, watching movies, etc. One night a group of my friends even walked to a McDonald's off campus. That has to be the most wild thing I've done at C of O. Oh, and there are many dances and activities like Coffee House put on by Student Senate.

    Read all 1 answers
  16. What are the academics like at your school?

    This is a high point for C of O. The professors in the music department are amazing. Dr. Gerlach taught me theory and sight singing three semesters in a row. He got to know me very well. He takes an interest, not only in his students academic well being, but spiritual and even emotional well being, as do most all of the professors. They probably could be teaching at a higher level if they wanted to, but they choose to teach at C of O because they believe in the values of C of O.

    Read all 1 answers
  17. What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?

    what i brag about is how beutiful the landscape is.

    Read all 1 answers
  18. Is the stereotype of students at your school accurate?

    Absolutely not. I mean, I'm sure there are some students like that, but who actually likes to work? Not many people. Balancing school and work was harder than I thought it would be, plus most students try to do even more by getting a job outside of school. It's hard! There are plenty of students who don't like being required to go to convocations or chapel. There are students who aren't christian at all, their parents just sent them there to be "fixed". There are PLENTY of students who hate the work program, but it's all they can afford. But 95{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of them keep their heads down, grin and bear it.

    Read all 1 answers

Student Body

Students

55%

female

45%

male

1,517

Total Undergrad Enrollment

N/A

Total Grad Students

25%

Out-Of-State

75%

In-State

N/A

International

Organizations

30

Student Organizations

N/A

Fraternities

N/A

Sororities

Housing

Yes

On-Campus Housing

80%

of students living on campus

Student Diversity

% American Indian/Alaskan Native
N/A
% Asian/Pacific Islander
1%
% Black or African-American
1%
% Hispanic/Latino
2%
% White or Caucasian
92%

TUITION & AID

All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA. Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.

100% of students attending College of the Ozarks receive some sort of financial aid. 64% were awarded federal grants. While N/A received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.

Cost Out of State

$18,930

Tuition and fees(Out of state)

$1,000

Books and Supplies

$6,800

Room and Board

26,730

Total On Campus

Actual Cost By Income Level(W/Financial Aid)

Family Income
Cost
$0 - $30K
$13,454
$30 - $48K
$11,830
$48 - $75K
$13,135
$75 - $110K
$13,052
$110K & UP
N/A

We use student reviews and the most current publicly available data on our school pages. As such, we don't typically remove or edit college information. Sources for school statistics and data include the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Portions of college data include copyrighted material, which is reproduced on this website by permission of Wintergreen Orchard House, a division of Carnegie Communications. © 2009-2016 by Wintergreen Orchard House. All rights reserved.

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