Cottey College
Cottey College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Cottey College at a Glance
Cottey College is a private women's college in Nevada, Missouri. It was founded by Virginia Alice (Cottey) Stockard in 1884. Since 1927, it has been owned and supported by the P.E.O. Sisterhood, a philanthropic women's organization based in Des Moines, Iowa. For most of its history, Cottey was a two-year liberal arts college, and in 2011 it achieved accreditation as a four-year baccalaureate-granting college. It had 266 students enrolled in 2023.
1884
142 years old
$116M
$115.6 million (2024)
266
46
Identity
Is Cottey College Worth It?
At a value score of 38/100, Cottey College is a below-average value relative to its cost. Graduates earn $35,422 — 34% below average — while paying $13,805/year. Consider alternatives with better earnings-to-cost ratios.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.6 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 59% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 6 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
With median debt of $19,043 representing 54% of first-year earnings, loan repayment will be a significant burden for most graduates.
Bottom line: consider whether the specific program you're interested in at Cottey College has outcomes that justify the cost — the institution-wide numbers suggest caution.
How Cottey College compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier in MO
Ranked #12 of 38 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Humphreys University | 100 | $5,524 | $39,248 |
| #2 | Kehilath Yakov Rabbinical Seminary | 100 | $3,822 | $36,442 |
| #3 | Emmaus Bible College | 66 | $13,186 | $42,631 |
| #4 | Appalachian Bible College | 59 | $11,579 | $37,467 |
| #5 | Yeshiva Gedolah Imrei Yosef D'spinka | 52 | $5,646 | $36,545 |
| #6 | University of Fort Lauderdale | 48 | $19,965 | $38,062 |
| #12 | Cottey College | 38 | $13,805 | $35,422 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Cottey College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 3 in MO.
Best Programs at Cottey College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Cottey College. When evaluating whether to attend, research outcomes for your specific major using the Department of Education's College Scorecard or ask the admissions office for placement rates.
As a general rule: STEM, nursing, accounting, and computer science programs tend to deliver the strongest ROI regardless of institution. Humanities and arts programs can still be worthwhile, but require more intentional career planning to achieve financial payoff.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $13,805/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Similar Colleges in MO
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Nevada, MO
- Student Body
- 254 students
- Admission Rate
- 69%
- Graduation Rate
- 59%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $13,805
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $35,422
- Median Student Debt
- $19,043