College of the Ozarks: A Unique Approach to Christian Education

College of the Ozarks, often called "Hard Work U," stands out as a distinctive institution of higher education. Located just outside Branson, Missouri, this fully accredited, Christian, liberal arts college offers a unique path for students seeking a faith-based education without accumulating debt. Founded in 1906 by Presbyterian minister Reverend James Forsythe, the College of the Ozarks began as The School of the Ozarks, a high school. It transitioned to a junior college in 1956 and then to a four-year bachelor’s program in 1965. The name officially changed to College of the Ozarks in 1990.

Mission, Vision, and Goals

The mission of College of the Ozarks is deeply rooted in providing a Christian education to youth of both sexes, especially those who are worthy but lack the financial means to pursue such training. This mission is brought to life through a clear vision: to develop citizens of Christ-like character who are well-educated, hard-working, and patriotic.

To achieve this vision, the College operates with a set of five core goals:

Academic Goal: To provide a sound education grounded in the liberal arts.
Vocational Goal: To promote a strong work ethic, encouraging the development of good character and values.
Christian Goal: To foster the Christian faith through the integration of faith with learning, living, and service.
Patriotic Goal: To encourage an understanding of American heritage, civic responsibilities, love of country, and a willingness to defend it.
Cultural Goal: To cultivate an appreciation of the fine arts, an understanding of the world, and adherence to high personal standards.

Even as College of the Ozarks has evolved through secondary and junior college stages to the present four-year liberal arts institution, the fundamental goals of our no-tuition college have remained the same.

The "Hard Work U" Philosophy: No Tuition and a Work Program

What truly sets College of the Ozarks apart is its commitment to providing a no-tuition education. Full-time students have the opportunity to work at one of over 100 campus jobs or industries. This work program helps students cover a portion of their educational expenses. The remaining costs are covered through scholarships funded by gifts and contributions from donors who support the college’s mission and policies. These student work programs and donor contributions allow C of O to operate as a no-tuition college.

This "Hard Work U" philosophy instills a strong work ethic in students and allows them to graduate debt-free, a significant advantage in today's world. The college actively seeks students who demonstrate financial need and a willingness to work for their education.

Campus Life and Residence Halls

Residence Hall Staff

Each residence hall is staffed with a full-time residence director who is an employee of the College and lives in the building. Each residence hall is also staffed by student resident assistants (RAs), who are trained each semester by the Dean of Students and residence directors. The RAs are students and the residence hall is their workstation. Every floor has an RA who conducts room checks and enforces campus/residence hall policies whenever necessary. The residence director and RA offices are located on the main floor of each residence hall. The office hours vary, but hours of availability are posted on their respective office doors.

Room Assignments and Roommate Requests

Housing assignments are posted on Campusweb. This information will be available in August for the fall semester, and in December for the spring semester. It is possible that housing assignments may change before students arrive, therefore it is important for students check Campusweb periodically for updates. Students may request roommates if the request is made when the student fills out the housing portion of the "My Acceptance" process. Once the student submits that information, they will not be able to go back in and make changes/requests. While we do strive to accommodate roommate requests, there are some cases where preferences must be denied. The most common reason is because requests are not submitted soon enough and are denied because earlier requests have been met.

Resolving Roommate Conflicts

Typically the residence directors or resident assistants (RAs) counsel with students in an attempt to resolve disputes. Each semester, students will have the opportunity to request a transfer to another residence hall, another room, or to request another roommate for the following semester. This scenario is usually more effective for all involved if the move occurs between semesters, not disrupting students' lives during an already busy schedule of classes and work. The residence hall staff makes a concerted effort to ensure that roommate assignments are made based upon several compatibility factors. The compatibility information is provided by students on the housing forms they complete when admitted to the College.

Early Move-In and Mail Delivery

No, students are not allowed to move in early. We have students who live and work on campus during the summer. Summer students have a deadline by which they must vacate their rooms in order for us to accommodate a timely move-in date for new students. Any letter or package sent through the USPS should be addressed with the students name, post office box number, and Point Lookout, MO, 65726.

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Attn: your student's name PO Box 1380 Point Lookout, MO 65726

Students may opt to rent an individual post office box from the United States Post Office, which is located on campus or online at at www.usps.com/poboxes.

If you want to send a package to your student using United Parcel Service (UPS), FedEx simply send it to:

College of the Ozarks Warehouse Attn: your student's name, the residence hall they live in 1 Industrial Place Point Lookout, MO 65726

Residence Hall Lounges and Visitation

Every residence hall has a lounge where students can watch TV, do homework, or just hang out with friends. Each residence hall has one public lounge located on the main floor, and at least one non-public lounge located on a different floor. Students not in their own residence hall by curfew may be ticketed and/or fined. All of our public residence hall lounges have restroom facilities, lounge seating, and a large TV. Students are permitted to reserve lounges for special events, but this must be approved by the residence director. The private lounges in the residence halls are located in different areas of the building depending on the residence hall. Guests of the opposite sex are not permitted in the private lounges. Guests of the opposite sex are not permitted in any of the residence halls, other than in the public lounges, unless accompanied by an RA or residence director. These hours are enforced by the residence director and resident assistants (RAs).

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Residence Hall Activities

The residence halls host a variety of events throughout the school year, which include: Mudfest (giant tug of war tournament), Sadie Hawkins Dance, Springfest, Open House, and various campus-wide RA activities.

Room and Bath Details

All rooms are double occupancy - no private rooms are available. Each room has two twin beds, two desk spaces with drawers and shelving, carpet, and at least one window. Some of our residence halls have suite-style rooms, where two rooms are adjoined by a bathroom that has one shower, toilet, two mirrors, and two sinks. Our other residence halls have non-suite styled rooms, which are shared by two students. These residence halls have a community bathroom for each floor. These community bathrooms have toilets, showers, mirrors, and sinks.

What to Bring

When trying to decide what to bring to college, students must remember one very important thing: less is best. Students will live in a room with a person they probably don’t know, and clutter is not going to help the transition. Clothing, school supplies, toiletries, leisure items, and bedding are common things that every student will need. For a listing of small appliances that are allowed in the residence halls, please click on the following link and then go to Residence Hall Living: Student Handbook. If students have seasonal allergies, they are welcome to bring dehumidifiers. Students are not allowed to burn candles, as open flames are not permitted. However, they can utilize electric candle warmers. For organization and space-saving purposes, students often bring small shelving units or bins. Content of posters, clothing, etc. needs to be appropriate and should not go against the policies of the handbook (Student Handbook). If the content is questionable, then do not bring it. The windows may or may not have window coverings. Some rooms may have blinds, if previous students have left them behind. The College does not provide window coverings. However, if a student chooses to bring window coverings, those coverings must be a neutral color (i.e.

Academics and Programs

College of the Ozarks offers a range of bachelor's degree programs across various disciplines, all grounded in a liberal arts foundation. The curriculum is designed to integrate faith and learning, fostering critical thinking, communication skills, and a commitment to service.

In 2012, College of the Ozarks reopened School of the Ozarks, a classical laboratory high school. The addition of School of the Ozarks was followed soon after with the full implementation of a lower school in the fall of 2015, completing the K-college format.

Applying to College of the Ozarks

The college seeks students who are academically capable, demonstrate financial need, and embrace the values of hard work and Christian character. The application process involves submitting academic transcripts, ACT scores, and other requirements.

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