University of the Ozarks
Clarksville, Arkansas · Private Nonprofit · 59.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 30/100 · Poor Value
University of the Ozarks, a small private nonprofit in Clarksville, Arkansas, scores 30 on the CampusROI scale and falls into the Poor Value tier. The cost stack is moderate by private-college standards -- $25,950 sticker tuition, $17,360 net price, $69,440 total four-year cost -- but earnings simply do not keep pace. Median 10-year earnings of $44,384 produce a 22.3-year payback period (sub-score 23) and a 0.73 debt-to-earnings ratio (sub-score 24) on $20,875 of median debt. Completion at 51.5% is below the four-year private average and contributes a sub-score of 42. The earnings premium sub-score of 25 reflects the fact that Ozarks graduates do not earn meaningfully more than peers who attended much cheaper schools or none at all in the regional Arkansas labor market. Repayment behavior at 74.7% is the lone middling-positive input. The honest read: Ozarks delivers a personal, small-college experience but the post-graduation earnings trajectory does not justify even its discounted net price for most students, and a 22-year payback period is a serious red flag.
The data raises concerns about University of the Ozarks
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score30/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period22.3 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
University of the Ozarks
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $25,950/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $25,950/yr |
| Average net price | $17,360/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $69,440 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $44,384 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $28,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,875 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $221 |
| Estimated payback period | 22.3 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 51.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 767 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at University of the Ozarks is $25,950/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $17,360/year, or roughly $69,440 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $14,664/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $22,836/year.
The median graduate leaves with $20,875 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $221 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $44,384 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.73 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $14,664 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,551 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $19,291 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,632 |
| $110,001+ | $22,836 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $14,664 net at Ozarks, slightly above what households in the $30,001-$48,000 bracket pay ($14,551) -- a mildly inverted-bracket pattern worth flagging. Over four years, the lowest-income tier still faces roughly $59,000 of cost. Pell-eligible students who pair federal aid with state Arkansas grants can make this workable, but the 22-year payback period means borrowing should be minimized at all costs.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Households at $48,001-$75,000 pay $19,291, which is actually higher than the $75,001-$110,000 bracket's $18,632 -- a clearly inverted pattern that suggests aid optimization quirks at the school level. A typical middle-income family is looking at roughly $75,000-$77,000 over four years. With 10-year median earnings of $44,384, the math here is the hardest to defend.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $22,836 net, or about $91,000 across four years. Given that Ozarks's earnings premium is only 13.5% above the high-school baseline, the cost-to-payoff ratio at full or near-full pay is not financially competitive with a public Arkansas option like Arkansas Tech or UA-Fort Smith for the same student profile.
Earnings by Major
Top 3 most popular majors at University of the Ozarks with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $50,789 | C+ |
| Public Health | $49,174 | D |
| Biology | $46,151 | D |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business is Ozarks's flagship program and its only clear ROI win, with 58 graduates per year, $35,373 in one-year earnings rising to $50,789 at four years. Median debt of $18,575 produces a 0.53 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C+ ROI grade. Career paths skew local: small-business management, regional finance, and operations roles in northwest Arkansas. Students aiming for the Walmart/Tyson/J.B. Hunt corporate corridor will find this degree workable, particularly with internships.
Public Health
Public Health graduates earn $32,564 at one year and $49,174 at four years, but carry the highest debt of any program at $25,065 -- producing a 0.77 debt-to-earnings ratio and a D ROI grade. With 22 graduates a year this is a meaningful cohort, but most well-paid public health roles require a master's (MPH), so families should treat this as a stepping-stone bachelor's rather than a terminal degree.
Biology
Biology graduates earn just $27,992 at one year and $46,151 at four years against $19,750 of debt -- a 0.71 ratio and a D grade. Bachelor's-level biology in rural Arkansas offers limited direct earnings power; this program functions almost entirely as a pre-health pipeline (med school, PA, nursing, optometry). Students who do not progress to graduate work should expect outcomes well below the four-year median.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 75.6% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 74.7% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 63.7% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 66.5% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 59.5% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 490-570 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 530-590 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 20-25 |
| Enrollment | 767 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 39.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,231 |
Ozarks admits 59.5% of applicants, making it moderately selective on paper, though the academic profile is modest: SAT mid-50% ranges of 490-570 math and 530-590 reading, with an ACT mid-range of 20-25. Students at the upper end of those ranges look like good completion candidates; those at the lower end are statistically more at risk of joining the 48.5% who do not graduate, which compounds the financial risk significantly.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
The CampusROI peer set for Ozarks includes Arkansas Baptist College, Lyon College (AR), Be'er Yaakov Talmudic Seminary, Gallaudet University, and Bluefield University (VA). Lyon College is the most useful direct comparison -- another small private Arkansas liberal arts school -- and tends to outperform Ozarks slightly on completion. Arkansas Baptist sits below Ozarks on most ROI inputs, while Gallaudet (a specialized institution serving deaf and hard-of-hearing students) is not a clean financial comp. Bluefield is the closest non-Arkansas analog and posts similarly muted earnings.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of the Ozarks (this school) | 30 | $17,360 | $44,384 |
| Bluefield University | 32 | $25,573 | $48,896 |
| Lyon College | 29 | $19,616 | $44,232 |
| Gallaudet University | 27 | $15,845 | $43,101 |
| Be'er Yaakov Talmudic Seminary | 25 | $4,543 | $17,360 |
| Arkansas Baptist College | 4 | $10,627 | $28,418 |
Who Thrives Here
With only 767 undergraduates and a 39.8% Pell rate, Ozarks fits Arkansas-area students who want a small Christian-affiliated liberal arts environment and qualify for substantial need-based aid. The business administration program (58 graduates per year, $50,789 four-year earnings) is by far the strongest financial path; outcomes for biology and public health are noticeably weaker. Students who arrive without a clear preprofessional or business plan should expect modest earnings, so commuter status, in-state aid stacking, and program selection matter enormously here.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about University of the Ozarks. With a net cost of $17,360 per year and median graduate earnings of only $44,384 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 22.3 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 51.5% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and a long payback period.
Median debt of $20,875 against $44,384 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.