Ozarks Technical Community College
Ozarks Technical Community College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Ozarks Technical Community College at a Glance
Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC) is a public community college in Springfield, Missouri. It was established by Springfield and thirteen surrounding public school districts on April 3, 1990. It has six locations in southern Missouri. Students can earn a one-year certificate, two-year Associate of Applied Science degree (A.A.S.), Associate of Science (A.S) or Associate of Arts degree (A.A.). It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and had a fall 2021 enrollment of 10,506 student…
1990
36 years old
10,553
Identity
Is Ozarks Technical Community College Worth It?
Ozarks Technical Community College offers moderate value at $6,936/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $36,455, which is 32% below average — meaning the financial payoff takes longer than typical. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.8 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 32% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 3 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
How Ozarks Technical Community College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #49 of 118 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 | Indian River State College | 100 | $3,815 | $38,315 |
| #2 | Henry Ford College | 100 | $660 | $34,795 |
| #3 | College of the Mainland | 100 | $1,342 | $39,639 |
| #4 | Taft College | 96 | $2,823 | $38,861 |
| #5 | Pensacola State College | 91 | $3,957 | $36,739 |
| #6 | Gulf Coast State College | 90 | $4,709 | $38,359 |
| #49 | Ozarks Technical Community College | 42 | $6,936 | $36,455 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Ozarks Technical Community College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 2 in MO.
Best Programs at Ozarks Technical Community College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Ozarks Technical Community 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 $6,936/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
- public
- Location
- Springfield, MO
- Student Body
- 8,165 students
- Graduation Rate
- 32%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $6,936
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $36,455
- Median Student Debt
- $10,453