Ottawa University-Surprise
Surprise, AZ 85374
About Ottawa University-Surprise
Ottawa University-Surprise is a private research university in Surprise, Arizona, enrolling about 836 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 78.15% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $55,552 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Ottawa University-Surprise charges 22% above the national private non-profit median tuition ($35,880).
- Versus the Arizona median, sticker tuition is about 4.1×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 18.18%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $55,552.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Ottawa University-Surprise is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 316% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ottawa University-Surprise | $35,880 | $33,393 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| Arizona (state median) | $8,774 | $12,055 | 54 |
| Rural (locale median) | $14,160 | $18,700 | 1,649 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
Average net price is 7% below published tuition at Ottawa University-Surprise
Key findings
- Ottawa University-Surprise's average net price ($33,393) is 7% below published tuition ($35,880).
- Ottawa University-Surprise charges 22% above the national private non-profit median tuition ($35,880).
- Versus the Arizona median, sticker tuition is about 4.1×.
Ottawa University-Surprise tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $35,880
Finding Ottawa University-Surprise charges 22% above the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $35,880. That is 22% above the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the Arizona median ($8,774), sticker tuition is about 4.1×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 3.0×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private non-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Ottawa University-Surprise versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Ottawa University-Surprise versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Ottawa University-Surprise is $33,393.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $33,393 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $21,338 above the Arizona median net price. Versus rural campuses, net price runs $14,693 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway Ottawa University-Surprise’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 7% lower after grants and scholarships.
Ottawa University-Surprise: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Ottawa University-Surprise—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$35,880
Avg. net price
$33,393
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $28,636 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $30,096 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $31,252 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $35,696 |
| $110,001+ | $35,922 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $143,520. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Ottawa University-Surprise is known for
Top program completions
- Business Administration and Management, General52
- Exercise Science and Kinesiology33
- Psychology, General22
- Speech Communication and Rhetoric16
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General8
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 39% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 972
- Midpoint ACT: 19
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Ottawa University-Surprise a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Ottawa University-Surprise is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Ottawa University-Surprise.
Campus
Location
Surprise, AZ
City / state
- ZIP
- 85374
- NCES locale
- Rural fringe
Compared with Rural campuses nationally, net price is about 1.8× the median for Rural campuses ($18,700 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Southwest
- Carnegie
- Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions
Size
Enrollment
836
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 931
- Graduate
- 75
- Full-time share
- 93%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$21,500
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 39.84%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Ottawa University-Surprise.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Ottawa University-Surprise was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Ottawa University-Surprise in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2018–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | $27,630 | $27,630 | $26,921 |
| 2019 | $29,975 | $29,975 | $31,127 |
| 2020 | $31,000 | $31,000 | $31,029 |
| 2021 | $33,000 | $33,000 | $32,348 |
| 2022 | $33,000 | $33,000 | $35,217 |
| 2023 | $35,300 | $35,300 | $35,081 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 972 (middle 50% not reported)
Midpoint 19 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.20
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Ottawa University-Surprise reported total enrollment of about 836 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 66% male and 34% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (35.5%), Hispanic or Latino (34.7%), and Black or African American (12.9%). About 39.84% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 40.1% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
92.9% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Ottawa University-Surprise in 2024 is 836 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 931 students. Graduate enrollment is about 75 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
50.0%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
13.64% 100% Completion Time
18.18% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 13.64% of students graduating from Ottawa University-Surprise completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Business Administration and Management, General: 79% male / 21% female
- Exercise Science and Kinesiology: 52% male / 48% female
- Psychology, General: 45% male / 55% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Ottawa University-Surprise graduates earn a median of $55,552 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Ottawa University-Surprise.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $55,552. Median federal loan debt: $21,500. Average net price used in cost models: $33,393.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Ottawa University-Surprise graduates report median earnings of $55,552 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Ottawa University-Surprise.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (17 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Ottawa University-Surprise.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Ottawa University-Surprise graduates.
Institutional resources
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Ottawa University-Surprise—instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 100.0%
- Arizona median 44.4 pp above median (55.6%)
- Southwest median 40.3 pp above median (59.7%)
- U.S. median 42.0 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $6,690
- Arizona median 0.93× the median ($7,187)
- Southwest median 0.95× the median ($7,078)
- U.S. median 0.88× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $4,030
- Arizona median 0.71× the median ($5,643)
- Southwest median 0.71× the median ($5,699)
- U.S. median 0.55× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
Ottawa University-Surprise at a glance
Ottawa University-Surprise
Ottawa University-Surprise is a private non-profit institution in Surprise, AZ, classified as Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Business Administration and Management, GeneralExercise Science and KinesiologyPsychology, General
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian35.5%Hispanic or Latino34.7%Black or African American12.9%
Schools near Ottawa University-Surprise
Other campuses in Surprise, AZ when available, plus nearby institutions in Arizona.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade D) within Arizona, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Ottawa University-Surprise located?
Ottawa University-Surprise is located in Surprise, AZ.
What is Ottawa University-Surprise's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Ottawa University-Surprise is 78.1% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 1,359 applicants and 542 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Ottawa University-Surprise's tuition?
Ottawa University-Surprise tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $35,880 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $33,393 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Ottawa University-Surprise cost?
Reported tuition is $35,880 and average net price is $33,393 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $16,500 annually.
Why is Ottawa University-Surprise's net price so much lower than tuition?
At Ottawa University-Surprise, published tuition is $35,880 while average net price is $33,393—about 7% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.
What explains Ottawa University-Surprise's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($33,393), completion (18.2% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($55,552). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Ottawa University-Surprise?
Ottawa University-Surprise reports undergraduate enrollment of about 931 students, White (35.5%), Hispanic or Latino (34.7%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Ottawa University-Surprise?
About 40.1% of students at Ottawa University-Surprise are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Ottawa University-Surprise?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Ottawa University-Surprise reports midpoint SAT about 972 and midpoint ACT about 19.
What do graduates of Ottawa University-Surprise earn?
Median earnings are $49,139 six years after entry and $55,552 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Ottawa University-Surprise?
The 150%-time completion rate is 18.2% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Ottawa University-Surprise students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $21,500.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.