Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Ottawa University-Ottawa #903 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $15,984 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Ottawa University-Ottawa in the 93.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Ottawa University-Ottawa #280 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Azimuth ranks Ottawa University-Ottawa #903 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting a balance of access, affordability, and return on investment. Graduates earn about $15,984 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 93.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes span graduates entering education, health, and business fields — program clusters that anchor the institution's broad earnings profile.
Azimuth ranks Ottawa University-Ottawa #903 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Ottawa University-Ottawa is a private master's university located in Ottawa, Kansas, enrolling approximately 870 undergraduates. The institution maintains a 1.0% freshman retention rate and a 42.9% six-year graduation rate, reflecting solid progress toward degree completion. Where Ottawa University-Ottawa performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Ottawa University-Ottawa #280 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $62,228, and Ottawa University-Ottawa sits in the 93.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's business-focused curriculum — with Business as the dominant program family — aligns with career outcomes that place graduates on a solid financial footing relative to peers at comparable institutions. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Ottawa University-Ottawa sits in the 28.8 percentile for access and the 31.9 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls 36.8% Pell-eligible students and 40.1% first-generation undergraduates, reflecting a selective admissions posture. For students who enroll, the combination of strong return on investment and manageable scale creates an environment where business and career-focused outcomes drive the institution's overall value proposition.
Ottawa University-Ottawa's published cost of attendance is $51,856. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $22,449, middle-income families pay around $25,525, and higher-income families pay approximately $30,771. Azimuth ranks Ottawa University-Ottawa #971 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Ottawa University-Ottawa meets demonstrated financial need through a combination of need-based scholarships, grants, and federal aid programs. Families apply using the FAFSA, and the institution works with students to build aid packages that reduce the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. Merit aid is also available for qualifying students, providing additional pathways to affordability beyond need-based support. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $20,600; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $62,228, median federal debt of $21,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $243 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Ottawa University-Ottawa is a strong fit for students interested in Business and related fields who want a private nonprofit university experience in KS. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $62,228, placing Ottawa University-Ottawa in the 52.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $15,984 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 93.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 36.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 40.1% are first-generation — and delivers mobility outcomes that place Ottawa University-Ottawa in the 44.3 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 83.0% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors Business and related fields. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find meaningful returns relative to KS's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $32,165.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Ottawa University-Ottawa hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Accounting and Related Services
10 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
22 graduates
Communication and Media Studies
5 graduates
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
27 graduates
Ottawa University-Ottawa's program mix is anchored in business and professional fields, reflecting the institution's applied, career-focused identity. Accounting is the largest program with 27 graduates, followed by Business Administration with 22 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $64,798, Clinical, Counseling and Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology with 14 graduates, Accounting with 10 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $72,368, and Biology, General with 7 graduates.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 96 students annually, several deliver strong four-year earnings outcomes. The highest-earning programs cluster in accounting and business-adjacent fields.
Accounting leads with median 4-year earnings of $72,368 from 10 graduates, followed by Business Administration with median 4-year earnings of $64,798 from 22 graduates, and Communication and Media Studies with median 4-year earnings of $59,445 from 5 graduates. This concentration reflects Ottawa University-Ottawa's positioning as a professional-preparation institution where business and accounting programs form the economic core.
The program portfolio emphasizes direct-to-workforce pathways where graduates enter stable, in-demand roles immediately after completion. Business represents the dominant program family, with Business at 42%, Education at 7%, and Social Sciences at 2% of the degree portfolio.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these applied-professional fields align with regional and national labor-market demand.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Immaculata University Similar quality tier (#25366 ranked) | PA | 86% | $75,701 | #25366 | Compare |
Cumberland University Similar quality tier (#25380 ranked) | TN | 67% | $57,687 | #25380 | Compare |
Texas Wesleyan University Similar quality tier (#24842 ranked) | TX | 69% | $54,053 | #24842 | Compare |
Columbia College Similar quality tier (#24841 ranked) | SC | 94% | $41,338 | #24841 | Compare |
Herzing University-Kenosha Similar quality tier in Midwest (#24838 ranked) | WI | 92% | $36,909 | #24838 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Ottawa University-Ottawa's published cost of attendance is $51,856. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $22,449, middle-income families pay around $25,525, and higher-income families pay approximately $30,771.
Azimuth ranks Ottawa University-Ottawa #971 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Ottawa University-Ottawa meets demonstrated financial need through a combination of need-based scholarships, grants, and federal aid programs. Families apply using the FAFSA, and the institution works with students to build aid packages that reduce the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay.
Merit aid is also available for qualifying students, providing additional pathways to affordability beyond need-based support. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $20,600; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $62,228, median federal debt of $21,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $243 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Ottawa University-Ottawa earn median 4-year earnings of $62,228, placing the institution in the 52.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $15,984 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Ottawa University-Ottawa in the 93.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Ottawa University-Ottawa #280 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes reflect a career-focused institutional profile anchored in business and professional fields.
The earnings pattern centers on business and management disciplines. Business Administration emerges as the largest program by aggregate return, combining substantial enrollment with solid post-graduation earnings.
Kinesiology enrolls 27 graduates and represents the institution's primary degree output. The Business Administration program graduates 22 students earning median 4-year earnings of $64,798, at 0.9x the national benchmark for the field.
The Accounting program graduates 10 students with median 4-year earnings of $72,368, reaching 0.9x the national benchmark. This concentration in business, accounting, and related professional fields aligns with regional labor-market demand and supports consistent early-career outcomes for graduates entering business and administrative roles.
