The College of the Ozarks is a private liberal arts college with a 1,000-acre campus overlooking Lake Taneycomo, south of downtown Branson. Founded in 1906 as the School of the Ozarks, the institution expanded to a two-year college in 1956. In 1965, the Christian college adopted a four-year college program and today grants Bachelor of Art and Bachelor of Science degrees in 34 disciplines. "U.S. News and World Report" ranked the college seventh among Midwest colleges in 2011.
Founded as the Fourth District Normal School in 1905, Missouri State University was originally a teacher's college for the state's southwest region. The university's main campus is located north of Branson, in Springfield. Missouri State University offers baccalaureate degrees in 93 disciplines, master's degrees in 44 disciplines, and an educational specialist degree in educational administration. Doctoral programs are also offered at the university in audiology, physical therapy and educational leadership.
Ozarks Technical Community College was established in 1990 and offers courses on its main campus in Springfield and on four additional campuses and centers. The college has technical and general education programs leading toward certification and associate degree, and short-term technical and development programs. The Branson Education Center, one of the college's centers, offers general, technical and non-credit courses leading to an Associate of Arts degree or toward meeting requirements for a four-year degree.
Founded in 1873, Drury University is a private liberal arts college offering more than 70 majors and academic programs. In addition to undergraduate degree programs, the university offers six graduate programs from its downtown Springfield, Missouri campus. Drury has master's degree programs in education, business administration, communication, criminology, criminal justice, music therapy and studio art and theory. In its 2011 rankings, "U.S. News and World Report" ranked Drury University eleventh among the Midwest's best colleges.