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 the College of the Ozarks.
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College of the Ozarks - Branson, Missouri
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 college's 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.
The church on campus is absolutely beautiful.
Ralph Foster Museum
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.
Interesting Facts
- Founded as the School of the Ozarks in 1906. The Junior College started in 1956. The 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.
Epic Guide to the Branson Scenic Railroad
Check out all of our Branson Travel Guides
Dede
Beautiful campus! My best friend's husband is a professor at the College of the Ozarks. They absolutely love it there.
Andrea Kruse
What a beautiful campus. Fall colors are the best! I gave campus tours to new students and I remember how much planning goes into making sure the campuses look their best and there are blooms and picture perfect views!
michelle cantu
This school sounds amazing. I love the work ethic that keeps it all functioning.
Jeannette
What a beautiful campus! I love the "old" feel of it and how family friendly it looks!
Danielle K
This sounds like an amazing school. I've actually never heard of it but how cool that they work for their tuition.