Ottawa University-Surprise is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Surprise, Arizona. It enrolls 836 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
41/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes2
Value9
Affordability39
Selectivity26
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 78.2%, Ottawa University-Surprise is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
78.2%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
840 – 1160
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
16 – 21
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Ottawa University-Surprise is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
3.3 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Ottawa University-Surprise isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $33,393 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$33,393
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
40%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
73%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$35,880
Room & Board (on-campus)
$16,500
Room & Board (off-campus)
$16,500
Books & Supplies
$1,300
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,366
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,366
Total Cost of Attendance
$52,170
Application fee: $25 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$28,636
$30,001 – $48,000
$30,096
$48,001 – $75,000
$31,252
$75,001 – $110,000
$35,696
Over $110,000
$35,922
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,19710%percentile
$6,38325%percentile
$21,500Medianpercentile
$23,50075%percentile
$32,37590%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $13,100
↓ $8,400
No Pell $12,000
↓ $9,500
Dependent students $10,000
↓ $11,500
Independent students $17,123
↓ $4,377
Female students $14,680
↓ $6,820
Male students $10,500
↓ $11,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($21,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
27% of full-time students who enrolled at Ottawa University-Surprise graduate within six years, and 47% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
27%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
47%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Ottawa University-Surprise earn a median of $55,552 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$55,552
Earning > $25K
80%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$44,200
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$56,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$40,900
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$46,800
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$57,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,800, about 21% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
13.7 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 70% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Ottawa University-Surprise is home to 836 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 40% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
836
Part-Time
7%
First-Generation
40%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 35.5%297
Hispanic 34.7%290
Black 12.9%108
Other 10.3%86
International 4.7%39
Asian 1.6%13
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Ottawa University-Surprise. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbSurprise, Arizona
Housing
Mostly residential401 beds on campus
Adult Learners
4%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
Designation
Religiously affiliated
Designation
Branch campus
What You Can Study
Ottawa University-Surprise offers
a varied set of programs:
15 distinct programs across
7 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Ottawa University-Surprise is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Avg Faculty Salary
$59,785
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
15 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
1
7%
$62,351
Associate Professors
4
27%
$59,842
Assistant Professors
9
60%
$60,260
Instructors
1
7%
$52,722
Pros & Cons of Ottawa University-Surprise
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Ottawa University-Surprise tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Solid post-graduation earnings
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Most students take on federal loans
Best for:
Based on the data, Ottawa University-Surprise is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ottawa University-Surprise
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Ottawa University-Surprise.
Is Ottawa University-Surprise hard to get into?
Ottawa University-Surprise has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 78.2%.
What is the acceptance rate at Ottawa University-Surprise?
Ottawa University-Surprise has an acceptance rate of 78.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Ottawa University-Surprise?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Ottawa University-Surprise scored between 840 and 1160 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Ottawa University-Surprise?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Ottawa University-Surprise scored between 16 and 21 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Ottawa University-Surprise cost?
The average net price after aid at Ottawa University-Surprise is $33,393 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Ottawa University-Surprise worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $55,552 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $33,393 per year. That's roughly 1.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Ottawa University-Surprise known for?
Ottawa University-Surprise is best known for its programs in Kinesiology, Business Administration, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Ottawa University-Surprise graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Ottawa University-Surprise are $55,552, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Ottawa University-Surprise accredited?
Yes. Ottawa University-Surprise is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Ottawa University-Surprise?
Ottawa University-Surprise enrolls 836 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Ottawa University-Surprise?
Ottawa University-Surprise graduates 27% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Ottawa University-Surprise a public or private college?
Ottawa University-Surprise is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Ottawa University-Surprise located?
Ottawa University-Surprise is located in Surprise, Arizona.
What programs does Ottawa University-Surprise offer?
Ottawa University-Surprise offers 15 distinct programs. The most popular include Kinesiology, Business Administration, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Ottawa University-Surprise?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Ottawa University-Surprise is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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