A Visit to College of the Ozarks Branson Missouri

During our trip to Branson Missouri we had the opportunity to tour the College of the Ozarks. Our visit was amazing! We were so impressed with the story and goals behind College of the Ozarks.

Students at the College of the Ozarks work for their tuition. The college is also known as Hard Work U. Students work in everything from packaging the famous fruit cake made on site, helping at the museum, and many other jobs. 

Students are required to attend a certain number of church services during the year. The school has a strong faith based program.

We had the chance to try a bite of the colleges world famous fruit cake. During the holidays the fruit cake is shipped around the country. Students work in the bakery, shipping department, store and every other section of the fruit cake business.

Check out this great video showcasing the Keeter Center at the College of the Ozarks

The Keeter Center Experience from College of the Ozarks on Vimeo.

The Ralph Foster Museum is on the grounds of the College of the Ozarks and well worth visiting.

The primary focus of the Ralph Foster Museum today is to collect, preserve, interpret and exhibit items relating to the Ozarks region. One of the more famous exhibits is the original vehicle used in the television series “The Beverly Hillbillies.”

You can find out more about the College of the Ozarks located near Branson, Missouri by visiting the College of the Ozarks website.

Here is a bit more information from the College of the Ozarks website

College of Ozarks is committed to its founding mission of providing a quality, Christian education to those who are found worthy, but who are without sufficient means to obtain such training.  Instead of paying tuition, all full-time students work campus jobs to defray the cost of education.  Upon complete participation in the Work Education Program, the College guarantees to meet the entire cost of education for students, allowing them the opportunity to graduate debt-free. The College openly discourages debt by not participating in any federal, state, or private loan programs and leads by example through having no institutional debt of any kind.

Other Interesting Facts

• Founded as the School of the Ozarks in 1906. The Junior College started in 1956. Four-year program started in 1965. Renamed College of the Ozarks in 1990.
• Located on a 1,000 acre campus overlooking Lake Taneycomo at Point Lookout, Missouri, 40 miles south of Springfield, near Branson and Hollister, Missouri.
• Special Recognition: 

   U.S. News & World Report, “Best College” yearly since 1989,
   Forbes, “Top Colleges” and “Best Buy Colleges,”
   Templeton Honor Roll, “Character Building College,”
   Money Magazine’s “Best Buy College Guide,”
   Barron’s “300 Best Buys in Higher Education,”
   Princeton Review, “The Best 331 Colleges,”
and many more.

• Currently, the College has 83 full-time faculty members; the majority hold the doctoral degree. 190 staff members.
• The current student-faculty ratio is 13:1.
• The College offers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees.

Additional Branson Resources

Top things to do in Branson – All the things you don’t want to miss in Branson, Missouri.

Branson Titanic Museum 

Branson Festival of Lights

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Things to do in Branson Mo Enjoy the views on the Branson Scenic Railway A visit to the World’s Largest Toy Museum Branson Missouri Branson Titanic Museum Silver Dollar City’s an Old Time Christmas Festival in Branson Missouri Branson Festival of Lights Drive Thru light display Get into the holiday spirit at Dolly Partons Dixie Stampede Family Christmas