Cost and Financial Aid

NO STUDENTS AT COLLEGE OF THE OZARKS PAY TUITION 
EVERY STUDENT RECEIVES A TUITION ASSURANCE SCHOLARSHIP

tuition assurance

Every full time student at College of the Ozarks participates in the on-campus work education program for 15 hours per week and for two 40-hour work weeks during the school year. Work Credit earned from participation in the work education program, plus any federal and/or state aid for which students qualify, plus the College of the Ozarks Tuition Assurance Scholarship all combine to meet each student’s full tuition. Please note that the Tuition Assurance Scholarship pays only for tuition and does not include housing and food, fees, or books.

Generous donors who believe in what College of the Ozarks represents and in the hard work of its students, make regular financial contributions which enables the College to provide Tuition Assurance Scholarships. 

Housing and Food costs and other charges incurred by students are found below on this page.

financial aid policies

Satisfactory Academic Progress and Return of Title IV Policy

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Return of Title IV Policy

FEDERAL STUDENT AID RESOURCES

Who should complete the FAFSA?

New and returning students* who plan to attend College of the Ozarks during the 2025-26 academic year, are required to complete the FAFSA, which opened on December 1, 2024.

*You do NOT need to fill out the FAFSA if you are:

• Graduating from College of the Ozarks in December 2024 or May 2025
• An International student  

When do I need to complete my FAFSA?

Current Students: Please have your FAFSA completed before January 31, 2025.
New Students: Please refer to deadlines provided by the Admission office for new applicants.

The 2025-2026 FAFSA will utilize 2023 income information.

Note: Failure to complete the FAFSA and submit additional documentation when requested cause you to be ineligible for scholarships and impact class registration.

Where to complete the FAFSA?

Students and parents may complete the FAFSA form online at FAFSA.ed.gov.

If you need to create a login, visit the FSA ID website.

How do i verify my identity if i create an account and don't have a social security number (SSN).

Please visit this FSA Article should this pertain to the student or the parent(s).

Need assistance with your FAFSA?

To assist students and parents in the process, the Department’s Federal Student Aid (FSA) office has been sharing tips @FAFSA, including Federal Student Aid resources and account management tools.

FAFSA help center

2024-25 FAFSA Resources

Unusual Circumstances with your FAFSA? Please contact the financial aid office if you believe you have unusual circumstances which need to be discussed and/or reviewed. 

C of O Financial Aid Office:     
Phone: 417-690-3290     
Email: financialaid@cofo.edu   
Fax: 417-690-3286     
Location: McDonald Administration Building 2nd floor

Expected Student Expenses

The educational costs below are what a student can expect when attending College of the Ozarks. The financial aid office also provides scholarship information which may assist with some of these costs.

TUITION ASSURANCE

1. Full time students
2. Part-time students (per credit hour chart)

ACCEPTANCE FEE

There is an acceptance fee of $360 due after admission is offered. This fee covers the Health/Technology/Service fee $260 for the first semester, and the residence hall security deposit ($100).

Housing AND Food

Housing and Food for 2025-26 academic year is $4,550 per semester ($9,100 annually).

THE OPTIONS FOR PAYMENT OF housing AND food ARE:

1. Participate in the Summer Work Education Program (Application Process)
2. Pay in full with personal resources of the student/family
3. Enter a Payment Schedule with the Cash Accounts Office
4. Scholarship opportunities within the College or an outside entity/organization

HEALTH / TECHNOLOGY / SERVICE FEE (HTS FEE)

This fee is $260 each semester and is due when registering for classes for the upcoming semester. The HTS fee covers:

• the cost of the initial ID card
• admission to regular season home athletic events
• cultural events
• campus newspaper and yearbook
• student accident insurance
• student activities
• registration services
• some hospital services

BOOKS/SUPPLIES

Approximately $550 per semester.

VEHICLE REGISTRATION

$25 per year.

COURSE FEES

Course Fees

PART-TIME CREDIT HOUR FEE

Part-time student rate is $325 per credit hour. Part-time enrollment is available, however, in order to graduate from the College, students have to meet a full-time enrollment and work-program requirement. For more information, students should refer to Graduation Requirements section in the College Catalog.