Admissions

One of the special commitments of College of the Ozarks is to serve the youth of the Ozarks region. This area is largely rural and mountainous, and incorporates most of southern Missouri, northern Arkansas, and small parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Illinois.

The founding charter commits the College to serving “especially those found worthy but who are without sufficient means to procure such training.” This commitment is reflected in the policy that 90 percent of each entering class is limited to students whose families would have a difficult time financing a college education. The remaining 10 percent of available positions in each class are filled with a diverse group of students, primarily children of alumni or employees, scholarship recipients, and a few international students. The College guarantees to meet the “cost of education” for the full-time students-that is, all costs of the educational program (instruction, operating costs, etc.)

Admission Criteria

Financial need: Ninety percent of each entering class must demonstrate financial need. This requirement is waived for only ten percent of the incoming class, and this category is generally filled early.

The following table is a general guide which gives an indication of the maximum family income allowed for a dependent student interested in qualifying for admission to College of the Ozarks. These limits may be adjusted for unusual circumstances.

Approximate Income Figures Financial Need Consideration

Please note that these are estimated figures for eligibility.

Academic Ability

Objective: A primary objective of College of the Ozarks is to provide an educational opportunity for individuals who have the ability to do college work but do not have the financial resources. When evaluating prospective students, the Dean of Admissions considers courses taken and grades earned, test scores, recommendations, participation in extracurricular activities, indications of academic interest and growth, development of intellectual skills, proof of financial need, and personal interview.

Class rank: Students should be in the top half of their graduating class.

ACT Score: Students should score at least a 20 on the ACT with writing (the College requires the ACT with Writing). The SAT equivalent Score is 950 SAT.

GPA: Students should have a grade point average above 3.00.

College Preparatory Curriculum: Students who have taken the college preparatory curriculum in high school are more competitive in the admission process than those who have not. Current core curriculum requirements, set forth by the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education, in the state of Missouri help guide the College in establishing its preferences for courses taken in high school. Those courses are found at the following website: http://dhe.mo.gov/policies/hs-core.php. Current college preparatory courses include four units of English, four units of mathematics, three units of social studies, and three units of science. The College is most concerned with the core courses of English, history/social science, mathematics, and science.

Admission Process

To be considered for admission, a prospective student must submit an application for admission. Prospective students may submit the application in paper form or online at the College Web site, https://campusweb.cofo.edu/ics/Applications/. After receipt of the application, the admissions office will email application instructions and information about required documents. These documents include:

• High School Transcript
• ACT with writing or SAT with writing
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Two reference forms
• Transfer student form (transfer students)
• International Student Financial Need Form
• TOEFL Score of 550 (international students)

The high school transcript (either complete or in progress) should include all available academic, aptitude, achievement test scores, and class rank.

The scores from the American College Testing Program (ACT) or the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) should be mailed directly to the College of the Ozarks admissions office from the testing company. We will also accept these scores on official high school transcripts sent directly from the high school.

Applicants submit the FAFSA online.

It is preferred that the reference forms be submitted from academic personnel. The College form, provided in the application instructions, must be used.

Finally, personal interviews are required of all candidates. Admissions office personnel will contact applicants regarding the interview after submission of the high school transcript and ACT/SAT with writing score.

The application process is considered complete when each item has been received and processed (other items may be required in special circumstances). Prospective students are encouraged to complete the admissions process as soon as possible because admission to the College is quite competitive. The admissions process time line is provided in the next few paragraphs.

Transfer Student Admissions: Students with fewer than 24 transferable college semester hours completed elsewhere should submit the materials listed above plus the transfer student documents that are noted. This includes a college transcript (from all institutions attended) and a transfer student form. The transfer student form attests to the positive character of the student and must be completed by the dean of students at the institution from which the student is transferring. Transfer students with 24 or more transferable college semester hours need not submit ACT scores and high school transcripts, but they are required to submit college transcripts and the transfer student form. Reference forms for transfer students should be submitted by college academic personnel. Transfer applicants with over 60 hours may be ineligible for admission. Please see the “transferring courses” section under Academic Program for transfer credit information.

If You Are Admitted

If you are admitted to the College, several items are required to complete the acceptance process including:

• Acceptance fee
• Work data form
• Housing form (residence hall students)
• Compliance agreement
• Insurance information
• Final high school transcript showing final grade point average, graduation date, and seal or signature of school official is required of ALL admitted students, including transfer students
• Updated college transcript (for transfer students)
• Medical information

IF YOU ARE ADMITTED medical information and immunizations are required. The College does not accept exemptions for immunizations. The College will consider an immune titer (lab work that shows immunity to the diseases for which immunizations are required). If you are admitted, the following immunizations are required:

• Hepatitis B series
• Diphtheria
• Tetanus diphtheria booster within the last ten years from date of enrollment in college
• Polio series
• Measles, mumps, rubella series
• Meningitis

Forms and instructions for the acceptance requirements are provided at the time of admission.

Admissions Process Time Line

Applicants for admission to College of the Ozarks should be aware of the following conditions and admissions processes.

1. College of the Ozarks is a highly selective institution. Therefore, the Admission Process is rigorous and takes time.
2. As a highly selective institution, College of the Ozarks has established preferences that applicants are requested to meet in order to be considered for admission.
3. Applicants who exceed the established preferences are prioritized in the selection process for admission to the College.
4. Applicants who complete the Application Process by December 31 (for the next year’s fall class) are given initial consideration for admission.
5. Following the initial admission consideration date of December 31, applicants who complete the Application Process will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
6. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), for the appropriate year of admission application, should be submitted online by November 15 for those who wish to make the initial consideration date of December 31.

Important Note: When submitting documents, candidates must remember to allow for processing time. Submitting all required documents by the initial consideration date does not mean the forms will be processed on that date. In most cases, it takes at least ten days to process FAFSA information on campus. The information will not be documented as received until processing is complete. It is important to fill out all forms completely; failure to do so may result in the request for additional information, requiring additional time for processing. It is best to have all materials submitted well in advance of the initial consideration date.

After the initial consideration date, applicants will earn a review of their files as they are completed. If candidates have any questions as to whether their files are complete, they should contact the admissions office.

Late Admissions: There will be no admissions after noon on Friday prior to the first day of classes for any given semester. Applicants who wish to have their files reviewed and considered for admission must have a completed file in the admissions office by Monday prior to the first day of classes. Applications submitted after this time are not guaranteed review and consideration for admission. Applicants are reminded that finishing their files well in advance of the above mentioned date is a better way to ensure a timely review of their admissions files. Please refer to the Admissions Process Time Line.

Alumni Children

Applicants who are children of alumni, who are lifetime dues-paid members of the College of the Ozarks Alumni Association, will be given preferential consideration until December 31 of each year. Alumni children applicants must complete the same admissions process as all candidates. Admissions standards are not modified for alumni children applicants. This consideration is not a guarantee of admission.

Fees and Deposits

Upon acceptance to the College, resident students are required to pay a non-refundable $315 acceptance fee. This covers the $215 health, technology, and service (HTS) fee for the semester and the $100 room damage deposit. The current room and board charge of $3,550 per semester is due by the first College business day of August for the fall term and by the first business day of January for the spring term. Special arrangements may be made.

Semester Payment Plan

Future payment plans can be found on www.cofo.edu or Campusweb. Students who will not be living in the residence halls are required to pay a $215 acceptance fee. This covers the $215 HTS fee. The $215 HTS fee must be paid each semester. These fees will be refunded under the conditions outlined in the Student Handbook.

Final High School Transcript

All students admitted to the College, with the exception of transfer students with 24 or more hours, are required to provide a final high school transcript showing date of graduation, final grade point average, and official school seal or signature of school official.

Refund Policy

See Refund Policy  for more information.

Student Residential Policy (Effective Fall 2017)

All unmarried students are required to live on campus. After the first year at the College, students may be considered for off-campus status if:

• they live with parents/legal guardians and demonstrate a significant financial need (living within forty miles of the College);
• they are married (living within forty miles of the College);
• they are a veteran of the armed services (living within forty miles of the College).

Exceptions to the first-year policy are considered for veterans of the armed services.

Students are reminded there is a maximum number of commuting positions available. Priority is given to students who are student teaching or completing nursing preceptorships outside the forty-mile distance.

Work Education Program Participation Requirement

In order to receive a degree at College of the Ozarks, students are required to participate in the Work Education Program as a full-time student (during the academic year) for at least two semesters. Students are encouraged to satisfy this requirement as early as possible in their academic career.

Rights and Responsibilities of Prospective Students

Learn about the institutions you are considering.
Education after high school costs time, money, and effort. Higher education is a monumental investment, regardless of where a student decides to attend college; students should evaluate any college carefully. To assist them in making informed decisions, prospective students should have information on various policies including, but not limited to, the institution’s accreditation, educational programs, financial aid, and cost of attending.

Prospective Student Right-to-Know Information
As a prospective student, you are entitled to certain information about the College. This notice is made pursuant to Department of Education regulations and covers Student Right-to-Know, Campus Crime and Security, and Athletic Participation, and Financial Support (EADA) reporting and disclosure. We have assembled the required information, as well as other valuable information about the College, on our Web site, at http://www.cofo.edu/Page/About-C-of-O/Consumer-Information.355.html. Please become familiar with the information located on the site. Contact the office of Admissions if you need a printed copy.

Learn and follow Admissions procedures.
It is the applicant’s responsibility to review and consider all information about an institution’s program before enrolling. Upon receiving the application for admission, the admissions office will send application instructions describing in detail the admissions process and the priority consideration deadline. Applicants should pay special attention to this date and complete all requirements completely and accurately. If requirements are completed inaccurately, this may cause delays which could affect the applicant’s admissions process negatively.

Consumer Information is made available to prospective students by: Dr. Marci Linson, Dean of Admissions, Phone 1-800-222-0525; to current students by: Mr. Nick Sharp, Dean of Students, Phone 417-690-2224; for the general population by: Dr. Eric Bolger, Dean of the College, Phone 417-690-2278.

The Ozark Territory

A list of counties in the five states from which students are given preference for admission is given below. However, students from outside these counties will be considered.

Arkansas

Missouri

Illinois

Oklahoma

Kansas