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 paying for a college education. The remaining 10 percent of available positions in each class are filled with a diverse group of students, scholarship recipients, and international students. The College guarantees to meet the tuition 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 10 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 the College. 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 the College 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, evidence of financial need, and the personal interview.

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

ACT/SAT Score: Students should score at least a 20 on the ACT or 1030 on the SAT.

GPA: Students should have a cumulative GPA of at least 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. The application is available at https://cofo.edu/apply. After receipt of the application, the Admissions Office will email application instructions and information about requirements. These requirements include:

First-Time Students:

• High school transcript
• ACT or SAT
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Two Reference Forms

Transfer Students:

• College transcript
• Transfer Student Form
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Two Reference Forms

International Student:

• High school transcript
• TOEFL or IELTS (student may provide ACT or SAT)
• Foreign Financial Certificate
• Affidavit of Support
• Passport
• Two Reference Forms
• Complete the application process requirements as directed by Admissions Office

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 ACT or the SAT should be sent directly to College of the Ozarks from the testing company. We will also accept these scores on official high school transcripts sent directly from the high school.

• ACT code 2364
• SAT code 6713

Applicants submit the FAFSA online (https://fafsa.gov).

We prefer that the reference forms be submitted from academic personnel. The reference form link is provided in the application instructions. Letters of recommendation will not meet this requirement. 

Finally, personal interviews are required for those who meet the minimum academic preferences. Admissions Office personnel will contact applicants regarding the interview after submission and review of the high school transcript and ACT or SAT score.

The application process is considered complete when all items are 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 College is proud to support service members and reservists readmitting after completing required uniformed services obligations.  Services members and reservists who left the College in good standing will be readmitted in the first available term with open availability after completion of the readmission process.  

Admissions Process Timeline

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 selective institution. Therefore, the Admission Process is rigorous and takes time.
2. As a selective institution, the College has established preferences that applicants must meet to be considered for admission.
3. Applicants who exceed the established preferences are prioritized in the selection process.
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. 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 a 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.

Late Admissions: There will be no admissions after noon on Friday prior to the first day of Character Camp for any given semester. 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.

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
• Payment Plan
• 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
• Official college transcript for any dual-credit courses
• Updated college transcript (for transfer students)
• Medical registration and medical information

IF YOU ARE ADMITTED, medical information and immunizations are required. The College does not accept exemptions for immunizations. The College does accept medical exemptions per the CDC Vaccination Contraindication guidance. In lieu of vaccination, the College will consider an immune titer (lab work that shows immunity) for the following diseases: hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella.

The following immunizations are required:

• Hepatitis B series
• Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) series
• Meningococcal meningitis (MenACWY) vaccine
• Polio series
• Tdap booster within the last ten years of enrollment to the College of the Ozarks
• Varicella series

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

Fees and Deposits

Upon acceptance to the College, resident students are required to pay a non-refundable $345 acceptance fee. This covers the $245 Health/Technology/Service (HTS) fee for the semester and the $100 room damage deposit. The current room and board charge of $4,100 per semester are broken into four equal payments due on the dates listed in the Semester Payment Plan below.  Payment plans can be found on www.cofo.edu or Campusweb.  Special arrangements for other payment plans may be made at Cash Accounts.

Students who will not be living in the residence halls are required to pay a non-refundable $245 acceptance fee. This covers the $245 HTS fee. The $245 HTS fee must be paid each semester.

Semester Payment Plan

Final High School Transcript

All students admitted to the College, with the exception of transfer students with an Associate of Arts degree, are required to provide a final high school transcript showing the date of graduation, final GPA, and official school seal or signature of a school official.

Refund Policy

See Refund Policy  for more information.

Student Residential Policy (Effective Fall 2017)

Students must be 17 years old by the first day of Character Camp (new student orientation) of the semester for which they are applying.  All unmarried students are required to live on campus.  After the first year at the College, students may be considered for off-campus status (commuting) 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.

Admission of High School Students

High school students who are at least 16 years of age by the start of the term and who can benefit from college-level instruction may be enrolled at the College.  The ability to benefit may be established through the evaluation of previous education.  Eligible students are enrolled at School of the Ozarks, Branson High School, or are dependents of College of the Ozarks employees.

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 full-time students (during the academic year) for at least two semesters. Students are encouraged to satisfy this requirement as early as possible in their academic careers.

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 Admissions Office 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 and the initial consideration date. 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.

Consumer Information is made available to prospective students by: Dr. Marci Linson, Dean of Admissions, Phone 417-690-2636; to current students by: Dr. 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.
College of the Ozarks
PO Box 17
Point Lookout, MO 65726

The Ozarks Region

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