What makes Cottey so special? Cottey has an amazing support structure. Nearly everyone lives on campus in suites that have a kitchen and living area. (By the way, every suite has a housekeeper.) Suitemates usually become great friends, often sharing meals and spending time together. The suite and campus layout also makes it easy to visit people in other suites and halls. Cottey has small classes ranging in size from 5 to 30 students, with the average being just 13. About 10% of the student body is made up of international students from places like Japan and Moldova. Additionally, Cottey students come from 40 states. (Cottey does need to recruit more people of color, though. It's 80% white.) Each year, the senior class goes on an international trip during spring break, (nearly) fully paid for by Cottey. Past trips have been to London, Paris, Madrid, Rome, and Florence. In 2009, for the first time, students will have the option to travel to Italy, Guatemala or New Zealand!

Who founded Cottey?
Virginia Alice Cottey Stockard founded Vernon Seminary in 1884, which was later renamed "Cottey College."

Who owns Cottey?
The P.E.O. Sisterhood has owned and operated Cottey since 1927, when V.A.C. Stockard offered the college to the women's organization.

What is the P.E.O. Sisterhood?
The P.E.O. Sisterhood (P.E.O. International) is a women's non-profit organization dedicated to educating women throughout the world. It was founded in 1869 as a college sorority, and now boasts nearly 250,000 members.

What activities are there on campus?
Cottey is known for its plethora of traditions, from V.A.C. Hour to Hanging of the Greens. Cottey also has about 30 clubs, as well as concerts, speakers, plays, and other professional entertainment.

What competitive sports does Cottey offer?
Cottey currently has intercollegiate volleyball, basketball, and softball. (See the sports of Cottey's past on the Athletics page.)

Are there any sororities on campus?
No, although Cottey can feel like one big sorority. Cottey did have the Emerson and Magnoperian literary societies, which were called "sororities" in the 1940s. Every student was assigned to one society or the other, and the groups competed in sports and hosted social events. As the school grew, two more groups were added — the Alphans and Delphians — and today all four houses compete for the Spirit Stick in games throughout the year.

There are also a number of secret societies that persist today, despite being banned years ago by the administration. If you befriend your seniors and keep your ears perked, you might just be asked to join one...

How big is the campus?
Cottey's campus spans about 66 acres, including a 33-acre recreational area known as BIL Hill.

What is the town and area like?
Nevada is a small, rural town in Missouri, two hours south of Kansas City. It has a population of about 9,000, and you can walk to the town square from Cottey. It looks a lot like the town in Waiting For Guffman (the Christopher Guest film).

Why isn't Cottey co-ed?
Both Virginia Alice Cottey Stockard and the P.E.O. Sisterhood share a dedication to the education of women, who have long been left out and left behind. Even today, studies show that women fare better in all-female colleges than in co-ed institutions.

Is Cottey religiously affiliated?
While Cottey is officially nondenominational, the college definitely has Christian underpinnings. The founder, V.A.C. Stockard, was a deeply religious Southern Methodist, and the P.E.O. Sisterhood remains a primarily (if not solely) Christian organization.

How many students attend Cottey?
As of 2008, Cottey had about 315 students. The administration is in the process of increasing the student body to 500.

How much does tuition cost?
The cost for the 2009-2010 year is $20,300, which includes tuition, room and board, and all fees.

What kind of financial aid is available?
Cottey offers scholarships, grants, and student employment opportunities. You can also receive scholarships and grants from your state's P.E.O. chapter, as well as local P.E.O. branches.

How and when can I visit Cottey?
You are always welcome to tour the campus, but if you want the full experience, Cottey offers "C" for Yourself Weekends and Cottey Comet Fridays throughout the school year. During these events you can spend a night or two in a suite, go to classes, and hang out with current students.