#140. It’s That Time of Year

It’s That Time of Year

Here we are, September 4th. Our children are, or will be soon, returning to school. Just about everyone in our office has children going to school, whether elementary school, high school or college. But it seems this year we have more co-workers than usual with a child going away to college for the first time.

The ever-soaring cost of a college education can sometimes put the goal of a college degree beyond some students’ reach. The latest reports show the average cost of four years of college now exceeds $200,000. Many students graduate from college with a load of debt.

But we found a college in southwest Missouri that is philosophically opposed to students starting their careers with the burden of education debt. The College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri is a four-year college that requires all students who attend to work at various campus jobs to pay off the entire cost of tuition. Students take care of the maintenance and office jobs on campus, as well as food service. If students work during the summer months (Branson is just a short distance away) they can pay off their room and board as well. Ninety five percent of its students graduate debt free.

“The work ethic is not what it used to be,” commented Jerry C. Davis, the college’s longtime president. “When you go out into the real world, they don’t care where you went to school. They care if you show up on time, if you do the job right, if you’ve got a good attitude. Employers will tell you that graduates of College of the Ozarks have qualities they like.”

The school is rated No. 30 by U.S. News and World Report among Midwestern colleges offering both liberal arts and professional degrees, and is one of seven so-called work colleges.

I’ve been there a number of times and each time have been very impressed with their caliber of student.

As we have said a number of times, education is powerful. At College of the Ozarks, you will work for it, but the benefits will be great.

To learn more, visit www.cofo.edu.