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COLLEGE OF THE OZARKS RECEIVES NATIONAL ACCOLADES

November 26, 2025
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College students pose with backpacks in front of academic building. College of the Ozarks ranked No. 1 Best Performers on Social Mobility – Regional Colleges in the Midwest by U.S News & World Report.

College of the Ozarks has received new rankings from U.S. News & World Report, Niche, The Princeton Review, and Washington Monthly for the 2025-2026 academic year. These recognitions highlight the College’s continued commitment to excellence, accessibility, and service.

“At College of the Ozarks, we believe higher education should not come with a lifetime of debt,” said Dr. Brad Johnson, president of College of the Ozarks. “Our model — where students work to pay for their education — has always been about making quality degrees accessible to families of all means. To be recognized for this by these entities affirms our commitment to preparing students for successful futures while staying true to our mission.”

College of the Ozarks received new rankings from U.S News & World Report. The new rankings include: No. 1 Best Performers on Social Mobility – Regional Colleges in the Midwest; No. 2 Most Innovative Schools in the Midwest; No. 3 Best Regional Colleges in the Midwest; No. 4 Undergraduate Teaching Programs in the Midwest; No. 6 Best Value Regional College in the Midwest.

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“We are pleased to once again be ranked highly by U.S. News & Report, and especially to see acknowledgment given in the category of Social Mobility, noting the distinct advantages of a C of O education to positive career progression,” said Dr. Brad Johnson, president of College of the Ozarks. “Students at Hard Work U. don’t pay tuition; rather, they all work on campus to offset their cost of education. These recognitions honor the efforts of our students, and those of our staff and faculty. We aim to develop citizens of Christlike character who are well-educated, hardworking, and patriotic.”

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Faculty member sitting with student in the library. College of the Ozarks has been recognized as one of the 2025 Great Colleges to Work For by The Chronicle for Higher Education.

In a recent recognition the campus family is proud to celebrate, College of the Ozarks has been recognized as one of the 2025 Great Colleges to Work For by The Chronicle for Higher Education. The Great Colleges to Work For program is designed to recognize colleges that have been successful in creating great workplaces. The program additionally researches to gain understanding of the factors, dynamics and influences that have the most impact on organizational culture at higher education institutions. The 2025 program marked the 18th anniversary of The Great Colleges to Work For program.

College of the Ozarks received recognition in three categories, including recognition in the Mission and Pride category. This category evaluates the sense of pride and connection faculty and employees report regarding their affiliation with the institution.

The College also was recognized in the Job Satisfaction and Support as well as the Compensation and Benefits categories, which acknowledges the satisfaction with job fit, autonomy, and resources available for members of the organization.

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Washington Monthly

College of the Ozarks earned a ranking of No. 2 Best Bang for the Buck 2025. Washington Monthly ranks schools according to how well they help non-wealthy students attain marketable degrees at affordable prices, isolating social mobility metrics from the main list of four-year institutions.

Additionally, the College was named No. 4 Best Bachelor’s College 2025, a category that ranks liberal arts colleges based on their contributions to the public good through social mobility, research, and promoting public service.

 

U.S. News & World Report

College of the Ozarks received the following rankings from U.S. News & World Report:

  • No. 1 Top Performers on Social Mobility – Regional Colleges in the Midwest
  • No. 1 Most Innovative Schools – Regional Colleges in the Midwest
  • No. 3 Best Regional Colleges in the Midwest
  • No. 4 Undergraduate Teaching Programs – Regional Colleges in the Midwest
  • No. 6 Best Value – Regional Colleges in the Midwest.

 

The Princeton Review

College of the Ozarks was recognized in 10 categories by The Princeton Review, including:

  • The Best 391 Colleges
  • Tuition-Free Schools
  • Best Value Colleges
  • Best Midwestern Colleges

The Best 391 Colleges guide compares Hard Work U. to the most academically outstanding and prestigious colleges in the nation.

 

Niche

College of the Ozarks received an overall A grade, with 33 rankings in the Best Colleges in America category and 24 rankings in the Best Colleges in Missouri category in the 2026 Niche College Rankings. Among its top placements, the College earned:

  • No. 1 Best Small Colleges in Missouri
  • No. 1 Best Christian Colleges in Missouri
  • No. 1 Best Colleges for Education in Missouri
  • No. 3 Best Christian College in America
  • No. 4 Safest Colleges in America
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