At $18,154/yr net price, Cottey College graduates earn $35,422/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $1,422/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $18,154 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $72,616 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $35,422/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$1,422/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 51.1 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 61.4% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $19,043 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $17,399/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $16,718/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,588/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,591/yr |
| $110,001+ | $20,118/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Associate | $13,702 | $12,000 |
The Risk Factor
61.4% of students at Cottey College graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 39% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
Cottey College gives you a weak financial return. Median earnings ten years out sit at $35,422, and with a net price of $18,154 a year, four years of cost runs close to or above what you'll earn in a single year on the job. That gap is hard to justify on numbers alone.
No bachelor-level program salary data is listed here, so there's no way to point you toward a major at Cottey that pays off or warn you off one that doesn't. What you have is a school-wide earnings figure that lands below the national median for four-year graduates, and nothing in the data suggests a specific program pulls that number up.
The risks here are concrete. A 61.4% graduation rate and a 61.29% retention rate mean roughly four in ten students who start don't finish or don't come back after year one. If you borrow the roughly $19,000 in median debt and then leave without a degree, you carry the loan without the credential that was supposed to pay it back. Nevada, MO is a small rural market, which limits nearby job options after you graduate.
Net price barely moves with income. If your family earns under $30,000, you pay about $17,400. over $110,000, you pay about $20,100. Lower-income families get only a small break, so Cottey stays expensive relative to earnings across every income tier.
Cottey fits you if you value the specific women's-college experience it offers and can keep your borrowing low or cover cost without loans. If you're choosing on financial return alone, or you'd need to borrow the full net price, look at schools with stronger earnings and graduation numbers before committing here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cottey College worth the cost compared to other schools?
Cottey College's graduates earn $35,422 ten years after enrollment, which is below the national average for college graduates. With a net price of $18,154 annually, the return on investment is modest compared to many four-year institutions.
What is the job market like for Cottey College graduates?
The school's focus on liberal arts and general studies limits high-paying career paths immediately after graduation. Most graduates enter fields like education, social services, or nonprofit work where starting salaries tend to be lower.
How much student debt do Cottey College students typically graduate with?
The median debt for Cottey graduates is $19,043, which is manageable given the school's relatively low cost. However, the modest post-graduation earnings mean debt payments could still strain budgets for some graduates.
Which programs at Cottey College offer the best financial returns?
Cottey's programs are primarily in liberal arts and humanities, which typically lead to lower-paying careers initially. The school doesn't offer high-ROI fields like engineering, computer science, or business that might justify higher education costs through increased earning potential.