College of the Ozarks vs Stephens College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but College of the Ozarks comes closer — median earnings $41,592 against a $24,400 total, vs $43,071 at Stephens College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | College of the Ozarks | Stephens College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,100 | $23,459 |
| Total net cost | $24,400 | $93,836 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,592 | $43,071 |
| Median debt | — | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$159,760 | -$199,616 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, College of the Ozarks or Stephens College?
College of the Ozarks, at $6,100 a year after aid versus $23,459 — a gap of $17,359 a year, or $69,436 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do College of the Ozarks or Stephens College graduates earn more?
Stephens College graduates report a median $43,071 ten years after entry, $1,479 more than the $41,592 at College of the Ozarks. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which graduates more of its students?
64% of students finish at College of the Ozarks, against 43% at Stephens College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.