Education a Woman’s Way

Cottey College is an independent, liberal arts and sciences women’s college in Nevada, Missouri. Since 1884, the college has offered young women the opportunity to learn and grow into leaders, role models, and confident individuals.

Today, Cottey’s unique combination of women’s only education, high academic standards, focus on leadership development, commitment to an international experience for every student, and a motivated, high-energy community is at the heart of its success. At Cottey, we have multiple degree options intended to fit your needs. You can complete a Bachelor of Arts degree in four years with any of the following majors – Business, English, Environmental Studies, Health Sciences, International Business, International Relations, Liberal Arts or Psychology. Graduates of our BA program are well prepared to enter the world of work and for advanced study in graduate or law school. Additionally, Cottey offers two-year, associate degree options. You can earn an Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, Associate in Fine Arts – Art, Associate in Fine Arts – Dance, Associate in Fine Arts – Theater, or Associate in Arts – Music degree. These degree programs are carefully designed to facilitate transfer to a four-year college or university if you want to complete a major in an area other than one of the majors listed above. Our alumnae go on to dynamic careers in business, entertainment, marketing, education, sports, communications, and many others. Most importantly, they continue their special connection with the College and each other throughout the course of their lives and careers.

The Power of an All Women’s Education

If you want to be in an environment where you feel:

• more powerful,
• confident in yourself,
• inspired to get involved,
• part of a close community

then a women’s college, like Cottey College, is a great choice. Consider the following facts and your decision should be obvious:

• Graduates of women’s colleges are more than twice as likely as graduates of coeducation colleges to receive doctorate degrees.
• Nearly half the graduates of women’s colleges have earned advanced degrees and 81% have continued their education beyond college.
• Graduates of women’s colleges are more successful in careers; they tend to hold higher positions, are happier and earn more money.
  
  

Where will you go?

With a track record like we just mentioned, going to Cottey will prepare you to do whatever you want in life. Don’t believe us? Look at these numbers:

• On Business Week’s list of the 50 women who are rising stars in Corporate America, 30 percent received their baccalaureate degrees from women’s colleges.
• 33 percent of the female board members of Fortune 1000 companies are women’s college graduates.
• Nearly one-fourth of current female congress members attended women’s colleges.
• One of every seven women cabinet members in state government attended a women’s college.
• 20 percent of women identified by Black Enterprise Magazine as the 20 most powerful African-American women in corporate America graduated from women’s colleges.
  
  

Mission, Vision, Learning Outcomes, and Values

Mission

Cottey College, an independent liberal arts and sciences college, educates women to be contributing members of a global society through a challenging curriculum and a dynamic campus experience. In our diverse and supportive environment, women develop their potential for personal and professional lives of intellectual engagement and thoughtful action as learners, leaders, and citizens.

Vision

Cottey College will be a higher education institution of choice for women of diverse backgrounds who seek access to exceptional educational programs and will focus on three guiding threads: leadership, social responsibility, and global awareness. With care and respect for each student, we will empower women to enrich their lives, realize their full potential, and make valuable contributions to society. Cottey College will be a growing, vibrant, distinctive, and selective college for women, well known and respected for programs delivered in multiple and accessible formats, up-to-date facilities, and academic excellence.

Core Values

Cottey College’s core values are grounded in tradition and history as set forth by founder Virginia Alice Cottey and supported by the ownership of the P.E.O. Sisterhood. These seven values clarify our identity, past, present, and future.

Educate Women to be knowledgeable and thinking members of a global society.

Promote Intellectual Growth through the study of science, culture, and society, and the development of strong practical skills, including communication, analysis, and problem-solving.

Cultivate Responsibility to encourage positive contributions from women through their personal and professional lives.

Respect Difference by creating a climate of openness and appreciation of a diversity of ideas, perspectives, cultures, experiences, and contributions that comprise a multi-cultural society.

Broaden Global Perspectives by immersing students in new cultures and experiences, and enhancing their understanding of the interconnectedness of our global economy and cultural practices.

Pursue Thoughtful Action by cultivating an atmosphere of inquiry, integrity, honesty and mutual respect.

Develop Women’s Leadership by providing opportunities to grow intellectually, socially, aesthetically, spiritually, and physically in order to realize individual potential.

Student Learning Outcomes for Cottey College

A successful Cottey student

1. Recognizes the Roles of Women
   A Cottey student demonstrates an understanding of women’s past, current, and developing contributions.
2. Enriches Her Knowledge
   A Cottey student demonstrates an understanding of ideas from a variety of academic disciplines.
3. Thinks Critically
   A Cottey student explores issues before accepting arguments or forming conclusions of her own.
4. Communicates Effectively
   A Cottey student uses appropriate means to communicate clearly.
5. Solves Problems
   A Cottey student creates solutions, integrating and applying knowledge and skills across areas of study and experience.
6. Respects Diversity
   A Cottey student is attentive to cultural contexts, compares and contrasts patterns, and respects differences.
7. Collaborates Successfully
   A Cottey student respectfully engages others to foster a supportive environment and contributes ideas and effort to advance the work of a group.
8. Acts Responsibly
   A Cottey student is reflective and acts ethically as a personally and socially responsible member of global, national, and local communities.
   
   

Honor Code

The Honor Code of Cottey College defines and expresses the ethical spirit in which we, the members of the Cottey community, pursue the education of women. Recognizing that a community of learning cannot function well without respect for basic moral order, we also understand that the furthering of excellence requires still greater commitments. Thus, in addition to basic moral principles, we also affirm Virginia Alice Cottey’s emphasis on the development of excellent personal character and the more specific ethical standards of the professional associations that oversee the conduct and quality of higher education. We, the members of the Cottey College community, commit ourselves to act with:

1. Personal responsibility.
2. Academic honesty and integrity of word.
3. Moral respect for persons and their property.
4. Ethical concern for the good of the College community and the broader society of humankind.

Embracing these ideals, we aim for the ongoing fulfillment of the mission of this college as a center of higher, humane learning.

Quick Facts

Type: An independent, liberal arts and sciences college for women.

Student Body: Cottey’s residential student population of 350 women typically represents 40 states, Canada, and 26 countries.

Location: Nevada, Missouri (pop. 9,000), approximately 100 miles south of Kansas City. The campus occupies 14 buildings on 11 city blocks and a 33-acre wooded recreational area with a lodge.

Heritage: Virginia Alice Cottey founded the College in 1884 with the firm belief that women deserved the same quality of education as men. She bequeathed the College to the P.E.O. Sisterhood in 1927, making it the only nonsectarian college owned and supported by women. The P.E.O. Sisterhood, a philanthropic educational organization of over 225,000 members, is dedicated to providing educational opportunities for women.

A Cottey Education: Emphasizes high academic standards with unique opportunities for personal growth through residential, cultural and intellectual experiences. More than 8,900 alumnae live throughout the world. Cottey College does not discriminate in admission or access to, or treatment in, its program and activities on the basis of race, creed, national origin, age, sexual orientation, or physical disability.

Residence Halls: Three residence halls each house 100 to 150 students who live in apartment-style suites. Each suite accommodates 10 to 12 students and includes single and double bedrooms, a living room, large bathroom and a kitchenette.

Organizations: Students can be leaders in more than 40 organizations on campus representing academic areas, cultural and recreational interests or social, religious and volunteer activities.

Services: The Office of Student Life provides leadership development, counseling services, and a limited health clinic.

U.S. News & World Report 2018 rankings.

Cottey is pleased to be recognized again among the most elite colleges and universities in the country. We offer this as proof of our commitment to providing students a challenging curriculum at an affordable price. The U.S. News & World Report rankings include a 12-state region. U.S. News limits rankings to the top 78 colleges in the region.

#7 Best Colleges

#2 Best Value Colleges

#2 Least Student Debt at Graduation

#3 Most Proportion International Students