Head-to-head comparison
College of the Ozarks vs Missouri State University-West Plains: which has better ROI?
Option A Point Lookout, MO
College of the Ozarks
- Net price / year
- $6,100
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,592
- Payback
- No payback
Option B West Plains, MO
Missouri State University-West Plains
- Net price / year
- $9,750
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,922
- Payback
- No payback
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 $36,922 at Missouri State University-West Plains. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | College of the Ozarks | Missouri State University-West Plains |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,100 | $9,750 |
| Total net cost | $24,400 | $19,500 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,592 | $36,922 |
| Median debt | — | $10,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$159,760 | -$248,260 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, College of the Ozarks or Missouri State University-West Plains?
College of the Ozarks, at $6,100 a year after aid versus $9,750 — a gap of $3,650 a year, or $4,900 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do College of the Ozarks or Missouri State University-West Plains graduates earn more?
College of the Ozarks graduates report a median $41,592 ten years after entry, $4,670 more than the $36,922 at Missouri State University-West Plains. 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.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
64% of students finish at College of the Ozarks, against 41% at Missouri State University-West Plains. 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.