Cottey College

[3] Cottey is situated on 66 acres (26.7 ha) of land in Nevada, Missouri, the Vernon County seat and a rural town of 8,198 people (by the 2020 estimate).

Hill, a private lodge that rests above a public park which includes a walking trail, gazebo, and small lake.

BIL Hill is used by Cottey students, faculty, and staff for recreation, concerts, bonfires, picnics, suite nights, and other traditions.

[5] After teaching at Central College in Lexington, Missouri, since 1875, Cottey decided she wanted to establish her own school.

Residents donated 6 acres (2.428 ha) of land upon which Cottey had a three-story brick building constructed.

She made a condition that they raise a $200,000 endowment for the college (about $2.9 million in 2018 dollars), in order to maintain and operate it for the long term.

With more two-year local community colleges opening in the later 20th century, Cottey had a slow decline in enrollment during the 1990s and into the 2000s.

The college worked to restore enrollment and to expand its offerings to a full, four-year curriculum, which it achieved in 2011.

It is noted for having the largest basement of the three halls, and a foyer reminiscent of a classic hotel lobby.

Since the first international experience trip in 2000, each second-year class has traveled to one of several destinations: Paris, London, Barcelona, Madrid, Rome, or Florence.

Alternative trips to destinations including Japan, Peru, Thailand, Guatemala and New Zealand have sometimes incurred additional fees.

The college is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the American Midwest Conference (AMC) since the 2022–23 academic year.

Cottey competes in nine intercollegiate varsity sports: basketball, cross country, eSports, flag football (added in 2020), golf, softball, track and field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball.

Cottey College, circa 1910
Blanche Skiff Ross Memorial Library
Robertson (Robbie) Hall
Dora Dougherty Strother (third from left) in front of B-29 "Ladybird"