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Point Lookout , MO
College of the Ozarks, also known as Hard Work U, is a private Christian liberal arts college located in Point Lookout, Missouri, United States. Established in 1906, the college follows a unique mission of providing a quality education to deserving students who demonstrate financial need. What sets College of the Ozarks apart is its work-study program, where students work on campus to cover their tuition and other expenses, gaining valuable work experience along with their academic studies.
The college offers a range of undergraduate programs across various disciplines, including liberal arts, business, education, health professions, and natural and physical sciences. The curriculum is designed to foster critical thinking, ethical behavior, and a Christian worldview. In addition to academics, College of the Ozarks emphasizes character development and instills values like hard work, integrity, and service, preparing students for a successful and purposeful life beyond college.
At College of the Ozarks, every student is required to participate in the work-study program, where they work a minimum of 15 hours per week in various roles on campus, such as landscaping, maintenance, food services, or retail. This unique approach not only helps students graduate debt-free, as all tuition costs are covered through work, but also provides them with hands-on skills and a strong work ethic. It creates a nurturing environment where students develop a sense of responsibility, teamwork, and a commitment to community service, as they understand the value of hard work and its impact on personal growth and societal well-being.
Overall, College of the Ozarks sets itself apart with its distinctive approach to education, combining academic excellence with character development and work experience. Through its mission of providing a quality education to those who could not otherwise afford it, the college is committed to equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to succeed in their chosen professions and make a positive difference in the world.
Located in Point Lookout, MO and set in a rural environment, College of the Ozarks is a private four-year college. This school follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 11%. The freshman retention rate at College of the Ozarks is 90% and the six-year graduation rate is 64%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is December 31. For transfer students, the application deadline is December 31.
Learn more about what College of the Ozarks has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
1,454
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$21,800
Tuition
14:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
64%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, you can make a better judgment about your eligibility and boost your chances of getting accepted. Here are the most essential information you need to know about admission at College of the Ozarks.
According to the most recent information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 350 in 2025. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
Out of the number of students who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 10% and ACT scores 90%. 1% of the enrolled students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 7% between 1,200 and 1,399, 18% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 3% between 800 and 999. The percent of incoming freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 10, 81 between 24-29, 147 in the range between 18-23, and 19 between 12-17.
The average ACT score for all the enrolled students in 2025 was 22 while the average GPA was 3.75. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into College of the Ozarks; the same goes for your ACT score.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 586 and an average SAT Math score of 545.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by December 31. When submitting your application as a transfer student, note that the application deadline is December 31.
Retention Rate
The percentage of freshmen at a college or university who stay on for their second year is known as the freshman retention rate. When you create your list of possible schools to attend, you should consider the freshman retention rate, among other things.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for College of the Ozarks was 90%, which is an excellent retention rate only the most prestigious institutions achieve.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It reflects the proportion of students who obtain their degrees within the expected timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this institution stands at 64%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
It is always challenging to figure out which school is best for you. Obtaining a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school had an enrollment of 1,454 students.
That year, the school had an out-of-state student body percentage of 41. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 1,454, 24 of which were international students. The school reported to have a total of 23 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 633 male and 794 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to expanding the diversity of its student population and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
This school had 16 Asian students and 25 Afro-American students in 2025. 67 students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 55 identified with more than one race. There were also 14 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
One of the most crucial things to take into account when applying to any college or university is the financial component. The latest information on the expenses that most students at this school incur are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about College of the Ozarks estimated tuition price.
Tuition in 2025 was $21,800 for full-time domestic students. College of the Ozarks is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students amounted to $520 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to think about the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. Most students have to set aside about $1,150 for books and supplies during their time at College of the Ozarks.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for room and board?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at College of the Ozarks was $8,800 in 2025. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2025 added up to $4,400 for one academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 21,800 |
| Room and Board | $ 8,800 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,150 |
| Total Expense | $ 31,750 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial aid can be a great deal for many students. Check out some recent data to get the info about need-based and non-need-based aid at College of the Ozarks.
The most recent records show that 230 freshmen received some sort of financial help. Students of this school received an average of $20,800 in financial help.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
702 students secured some form of need-based financial aid. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was 1,284. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution totaled $3,431,103, and state $1,176,900. The students of College of the Ozarks received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $33,876,950, and external in the amount of $432,954.
$20,800
Average Amount of Aid Received
Majors
Faculty
14:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at College of the Ozarks was 14:1: that means 14 students per one teacher. The faculty of this school consists of 140 members, according to the most recent data reported. Out of that number, there were 76 men and 64 women.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Find out some info about social life at College of the Ozarks.
Its campus spans 1,000 acres.
Student Organizations
Joining multiple student organizations can provide you a more interesting and dynamic experience.
Based on the most up-to-date information available, there are 37 open-membership organizations at College of the Ozarks. At this school, 50% of male students are members of social organizations, while that percentage is 50 for female students. The most popular student organization is SMSTA, followed by Film Makers Club and The Fort. Other popular student organizations at this school are FCA and Aggie Club.
There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. Interested in media and communication? College of the Ozarks publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At College of the Ozarks, there are many amenities that make life on campus pleasant and safe.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a round-the-clock security patrol. There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. All in all, campus life at College of the Ozarks is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at College of the Ozarks.
Career Counselling
At College of the Ozarks, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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College of the Ozarks is located in Point Lookout, MO.
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According to the latest information, the tuition for College of the Ozarks is 21,800 USD a year.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for College of the Ozarks is 11%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for College of the Ozarks is 90%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.