College of the Ozarks receives National Rankings

College of the Ozarks receives U.S News & World Report, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Monthly rankings

POINT LOOKOUT, MO — College of the Ozarks has received new rankings from U.S News & World Report, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Monthly for the 2024-2025 academic year.

College of the Ozarks rankings received from U.S. News & World Report include: No. 2 Best Performers on Social Mobility– Regional Colleges in the Midwest, No. 4 Best Regional Colleges in the Midwest, No. 8 Best Value Regional College in the Midwest, and No. 41 First-Year Experiences.

U.S. News & World Report's 2025 Best Colleges edition used 13 key measures of academic quality for national liberal arts colleges, regional universities, and regional colleges. Many reasons factor into the decision to attend a particular college or university, but students' top ones involve academic reputation, cost of attendance, and return on investment. The 40^th annual edition of Best Colleges took those priorities into account. Based on statistics, the top-ranked schools provided ample classroom resources for students and faculty; conferred bachelor's degrees at high rates; and produced graduates who entered the workforce with manageable debt and worthwhile starting salaries. Student preferences mattered too – including which majors are offered, the clubs and activities available, and the ease of fitting in with life on campus.

To view The U.S. News & World Report 2025 rankings, visit https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/college-ozarks-2500/overall-rankings

To view The U.S. News & World Report full methodology, visit https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/how-us-news-calculated-the-rankings

"We are deeply honored to be recognized by U.S. News & World Report, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Monthly for the 2024-2025 academic year,” said Dr. Brad Johnson, president of College of the Ozarks.

“College of the Ozarks is proud to be ranked No. 2 in Social Mobility and among the top regional colleges in the Midwest. These accolades affirm our commitment to providing a high-quality Christian education that not only equips students academically but also supports their financial freedom through our unique Work Education Program.”

“At College of the Ozarks, we believe that every student, regardless of their financial background, deserves the opportunity to succeed. Our students work diligently for their education, allowing them to graduate debt free, prepared to pursue fulfilling careers and make significant contributions to society. The recognition of social mobility by all three publications underscores the life-changing impact of our mission. We are grateful for the affirmation that our efforts continue to transform lives through faith, hard work, and education."

Wall Street Journal rankings

Additionally, the College was included in the Wall Street Journal Best Colleges ranking for 2025. The Best Colleges in the U.S. list ranks undergraduate institutions by the value they provide to their students. This value is assessed based on the learning environment, years to pay off the net price, degree completion rates, and the likelihood of higher salaries post-graduation among other factors. The results are derived from official data from the U.S. Department of Education and the Census Bureau, along with a nationwide survey of undergraduate students and recent alumni who graduated within the past five years.

The College also earned a ranking of No. 48 Social Mobility. This ranking rewards universities that take in the highest proportion of students coming from lower-income families, while maintaining high graduation rates, having a positive impact on graduate salaries, and minimizing the costs of attending the college.

To view The Wall Street Journal 2025 rankings and methodology, visit https://www.wsj.com/rankings/college-rankings/best-colleges-2025?mod=article_inline

Washington Monthly rankings

College of the Ozarks earned a ranking of No. 3 Best Bang for the Buck 2024. Washington Monthly ranks schools according to how well they help non-wealthy students attain marketable degrees at affordable prices. The list is created by isolating the social mobility metrics from the main rankings of four-year institutions.

Additionally, the College received No. 20 2024 Best Bachelor College from Washington Monthly, who ranked colleges based on what they have done for the country since 2005. They rank four-year liberal arts colleges that award almost exclusively bachelor’s degrees that focus on arts and sciences rather than professional programs, based on their contribution to the public good in three broad categories: social mobility, research, and promoting public service.

Washington Monthly sampled 1,487 colleges and included public, private nonprofit, and for-profit colleges. Rankings consist of three equally weighted portions: social mobility, research, and community and national service. This means that top-ranked colleges needed to be excellent across the full breadth of the measures, rather than excelling in just one measure.

To view Washington Monthly 2024 rankings, visit https://washingtonmonthly.com/2024-college-guide/

To view Washington Monthly’s full methodology, visit https://washingtonmonthly.com/2023/08/27/a-note-on-methodology-4-year-colleges-and-universities-14/

For additional information, contact Public Relations Director Valorie Coleman at (417) 690-2212.

About College of the Ozarks

College of the Ozarks is a private, Christian, liberal arts college, located in Point Lookout, Missouri, on a 1,000-acre campus. Christian values, hard work, and financial responsibility comprise the fundamental building blocks of the “Hard Work U.” experience. The College earns numerous accolades yearly, including No. 2 Best Performers on Social Mobility-Regional Colleges in the Midwest and No. 4 Best Regional College in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report for 2024-2025 and No. 3 Best Bang for the Buck by Washington Monthly, 2024. To achieve its vision, the College pursues academic, vocational, Christian, patriotic, and cultural goals. These goals are mirrored in School of the Ozarks, a laboratory school that completes the K-college model.

The Keeter Center — the College’s award-winning lodge, restaurant, and conference facility — earns awards consistently, including the TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice Award 2024 and the Best of the Best and Readers’ Choice Awards 2023 from ConventionSouth magazine. The Keeter Center features historic lodging, fine dining, and meeting rooms. With more than 350 student workers, it is the largest workstation on campus. Follow College of the Ozarks on Facebook at www.facebook.com/collegeoftheozarks , on Instagram, @collegeoftheozarks, on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/school/college-of-the-ozarks/, or on X,  @CofOHardWorkU.