Private Nonprofit Bachelor's Good 63/100

Cottey College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Nevada, Missouri

About Cottey College

Cottey College is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Nevada, Missouri. It enrolls 254 students (a very small, intimate student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Acceptance
69.2%
Graduation
49%
Net Price
$13,805
Median Earnings (10yr)
$35,422
Enrollment
254
Student : Faculty
6:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission
Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Good
63/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes 31
Value 45
Affordability 79
Selectivity 47

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 69.2%, Cottey College is moderately selective.

Acceptance Rate
69.2%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
Test Policy Test Optional Applicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Cottey College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Becoming less selective 20.3 pts since 2019
46%201960.5%202060.5%202173%202266.3%2023

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Cottey College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $13,805 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$13,805
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
46%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
61%
Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees
$27,562
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,240
Room & Board (off-campus)
$8,281
Books & Supplies
$1,225
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,670
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$1,670
Total Cost of Attendance
$39,269

Application fee: $20 (one-time, due at submission)


Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

  • Under $30,000
    $14,093
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $10,634
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $12,063
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $15,732
  • Over $110,000
    $18,130

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$2,750
10% percentile
$5,500
25% percentile
$19,043
Median percentile
$12,000
75% percentile
$19,500
90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $11,000 ↓ $8,043
No Pell $11,014 ↓ $8,029
Dependent students $11,000 ↓ $8,043
Independent students $11,811 ↓ $7,232
Pell recipients: 24.5% (4,673 students)No Pell: 24.6% (4,679 students)Dependent students: 24.5% (4,673 students)Independent students: 26.3% (5,018 students)Overall Median$19,043
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,609, less than completers ($19,043), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

49% of full-time students who enrolled at Cottey College graduate within six years, and 64% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
49%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
64%
Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Cottey College earn a median of $35,422 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$35,422
Earning > $25K
56%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$32,000$34,000$35,000$36,000$38,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt 17.3 pts across 6 years
66.7%1yr73.7%3yr85.3%5yr84%7yr
What this signals: Strong. 84% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Cottey College is home to 254 students, an intimate, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 31% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled
254
Part-Time
0%
First-Generation
31%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
White 69.7% 177
Hispanic 12.6% 32
Black 6.7% 17
International 5.1% 13
Other 4.3% 11
Asian 1.6% 4
White: 69.7% (177 students)Hispanic: 12.6% (32 students)Black: 6.7% (17 students)International: 5.1% (13 students)Other: 4.3% (11 students)Asian: 1.6% (4 students)Total254

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Cottey College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Town: Remote Nevada, Missouri
Housing
Strongly residential 350 beds for 254 students
Adult Learners
5% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure
Designation
Women's college

What You Can Study

Cottey College offers a varied set of programs: 17 distinct programs across 12 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

2 Programs
1 Program
2 Programs
1 Program

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Cottey College is 6:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).

Student : Faculty
6:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$127M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$61,975
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

37 instructional faculty across 3 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank Faculty Count Share Avg Salary
Full Professors 11 30% $69,113
Associate Professors 14 38% $62,393
Assistant Professors 12 32% $54,945

Pros & Cons of Cottey College

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Cottey College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Below-average net price
  • Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
  • Tight-knit, close community feel
  • Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
  • Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
  • Below-average completion rate
  • First-year retention is below typical
  • Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
  • No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for: Based on the data, Cottey College is a fit for students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.

Frequently Asked Questions about Cottey College

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Cottey College.

Is Cottey College hard to get into?
Admissions at Cottey College are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 69.2%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Cottey College?
Cottey College has an acceptance rate of 69.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Cottey College cost?
The average net price after aid at Cottey College is $13,805 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Cottey College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $35,422 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $13,805 per year. That's roughly 2.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Cottey College known for?
Cottey College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Biology, Experimental Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Cottey College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Cottey College are $35,422, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Cottey College accredited?
Yes. Cottey College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Cottey College?
Cottey College enrolls 254 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Cottey College?
Cottey College graduates 49% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Cottey College a public or private college?
Cottey College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Cottey College located?
Cottey College is located in Nevada, Missouri.
What programs does Cottey College offer?
Cottey College offers 17 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Biology, Experimental Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Cottey College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Cottey College is 6:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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