[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.