Admit rate has ranged 46%–73% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Cottey College is a singular institution: a private, residential women's college in Nevada, Missouri, that operates with the intimacy of a liberal arts seminar and the communal intensity of a close-knit sisterhood. It's a place defined by its traditions—ducks, daisies, and duck jackets—and a mission to empower students as learners and leaders, though its post-graduation financial outcomes remain modest. For a young woman seeking a supportive, all-female environment with a 7:1 student-faculty ratio, Cottey offers a distinctive, immersive experience far from the pressures of highly selective coastal schools.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
254
In-state tuition
$27,562
Out-of-state tuition
$27,562
Application Fee
$20
Graduation Rate
56%
On-Campus Housing
84%
Student-Faculty Ratio
7:1
Median Earnings (10yr)
$35,422
Percent of Students Receiving Aid
100%
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$35,422
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.6×
Median debt at graduation
$19,043
Graduation rate
56%
First-year retention
67%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
59%
Pell (lower-income) share
46%
First-gen share (among federal-aid recipients)
31%
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
0
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
77
Summer high
89°F
Winter low
29°F
Annual rain
42.8"
Annual snow
12"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Low
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
16
Scholarly works
79
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Cottey College?
Cottey College's acceptance rate is approximately 69% (Nevada, MO), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does Cottey College cost?
At Cottey College, the average net price (after aid) is about $13,805 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Cottey College?
Cottey College enrolls approximately 254 undergraduate students.
Where is Cottey College located?
Cottey College is located in Nevada, MO.
Admissions
Cottey's admissions process is accessible and straightforward, reflecting its mission to provide opportunity. The college is somewhat selective, with an of 69% (the canonical figure that overrides source variations). Applicants are typically admitted with an ACT score between 18 and 25, or an SAT range between 1030 and 1120, and an average high school GPA around 3.5. The application fee is $20. While the provided sources do not specify an Early Decision plan or its associated acceptance rate, the college states a baseline academic requirement for admission: a high school GPA of at least 2.6. There is no information in the provided sources regarding whether Cottey College considers 'demonstrated interest' in its admissions decisions, nor is there data on the rate or the share of the class filled via early decision.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Academics
Academic life at Cottey is defined by extraordinary access to faculty within a tight-knit liberal arts framework. The student-to-faculty ratio is an intimate 7:1, allowing for highly personalized instruction. The college offers about 20 majors, with a particular emphasis on teacher education programs (including Business, Chemistry, English, Mathematics, Biology, and Social Science Education). Other notable majors include Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies and Visual and Performing Arts. The most specialized degrees awarded are in History, English, Cultural & Gender Studies, and Psychology. The college's stated mission is to help each student "excel as learners, leaders, and global citizens" through a comprehensive and empowering experience. The graduation rate is 56% (the canonical figure).
Life at Cottey is overwhelmingly residential and steeped in unique traditions that bind classes together. 84% of students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing, creating a self-contained, immersive community. The campus culture is often described as a "big family," supportive and fun, though some students note that being surrounded exclusively by women can sometimes lead to interpersonal tensions. Traditions are a cornerstone: ducks, daisies, duck jackets, the Hanging of the Greens, and lots of singing are rituals handed down through generations of students. With more than 25 clubs and organizations, students can engage in a wide range of activities, including groups dedicated to educating the campus on different cultures, histories, and perspectives.
Graduation and career outcomes at Cottey present a mixed picture. The college's four-year graduation rate is 32%, while its six-year rate is reported as 61% (the canonical graduation rate is 56%). There is a significant gap in outcomes based on economic background: non-Pell Grant students graduate at a rate 21.4 percentage points higher than Pell Grant recipients. Financially, post-graduation earnings start modestly. Median earnings six years after entry are $32,903, rising to $35,422 at ten years (the canonical figure). For context, earnings one year after graduation are reported around $22,183. The average debt at graduation is $11,555.
Cottey is proactive in using institutional aid to make its private college education more accessible. The published total direct cost (tuition, room, board, and fees) is $43,488, with tuition alone at $28,400. However, the average after aid—what families actually pay—is significantly lower at $13,805 (the canonical figure), with other sources citing figures like $17,296 or $18,430. This discount is made possible because 100% of students receive financial aid, with an average total aid package of approximately $24,565 to $30,627. The college offers several merit scholarships that start at $8,000 and can go up to full tuition, awarded at the time of admission. The provided sources do not indicate that Cottey has a "no-loan" policy or that it meets 100% of demonstrated financial need without loans.
Cottey College stands out as a rare and specific ecosystem. It is one of a dwindling number of women's colleges, and it delivers that experience not in a bustling urban setting but in rural Nevada, Missouri, fostering an intense, all-in residential community. Its defining features are its hyper-personal scale (7:1 student-faculty ratio), its deeply ingrained and quirky traditions (from duck jackets to campus-wide singing), and its strong focus on teacher preparation within a liberal arts context. It is not a high-stakes, high-pressure institution; it's a supportive launchpad. The trade-off is evident in the outcomes: graduates gain a unique, confidence-building sisterhood and close mentorship, but the median financial return a decade out remains modest, positioning Cottey as a profound life-shaping experience whose value extends beyond early-career salary metrics.
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