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.
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
Outcomes31
Value45
Affordability79
Selectivity47
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 PolicyTest OptionalApplicants 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
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.
$2,75010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$19,043Medianpercentile
$12,00075%percentile
$19,50090%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
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.
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
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
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: RemoteNevada, Missouri
Housing
Strongly residential350 beds for 254 students
Adult Learners
5%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling 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.
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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