![A group of college graduates in black caps and gowns walks in a procession through a crowded auditorium. At the center, a smiling graduate wearing glasses and a green honor cord raises his right hand to wave to the audience. A gold medal hangs around his neck, and he carries a red diploma cover in his left hand. Other graduates walk alongside him, wearing green cords and gold medals, while family members and guests sit nearby. A large screen in the background displays a live view of the ceremony.]()
The rankings consider four main areas: access, affordability, student outcomes, and service.
College of the Ozarks has been recognized among the nation’s best colleges in Washington Monthly’s 2026 College Guide and Rankings.
The College ranked No. 24 among Midwest institutions in Washington Monthly’s 2026 Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars ranking. The ranking recognizes colleges based on their contributions to the public good, with an emphasis on access, affordability, student outcomes, and public service.
College of the Ozarks recorded a net price of $6,677 and $0 in median student loan debt for graduates in Washington Monthly’s 2026 ranking. The College also reported a 64% eight-year graduation rate. Washington Monthly’s methodology specifically recognizes the College’s work-college model, noting that College of the Ozarks meets students’ financial need without issuing loans and therefore received a zeo-debt figure in the affordability measure.
“At College of the Ozarks, we believe students should have the opportunity to earn a quality education without the burden of student debt,” said Dr. Brad Johnson, president of College of the Ozarks. “Through our Work Education Program, students help fund their education through meaningful work, making college more accessible to those who might otherwise be unable to afford it. This recognition from Washington Monthly reinforces our commitment to providing an affordable education while fulfilling the mission that has guided our institution since its founding.”
According to Washington Monthly, the rankings consider four main areas: access, affordability, student outcomes, and service. Access looks at how well colleges serve students from lower-income backgrounds, while affordability considers factors such as the cost of attendance and student loan debt. Student outcomes include graduation rates, earnings, and other measures of success after college. The service category looks at how colleges contribute to their communities and the nation through opportunities such as AmeriCorps and Peace Corps participation, ROTC programs, service-focused academic programs, and student voting.
For the 2026 rankings, Washington Monthly evaluated nearly 2,000 colleges using data from sources including the U.S. Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and the College Scorecard. The publication also specifically accounted for the College of the Ozarks’ Work Education Program when calculating student debt.