OU vs. SCU

Deciding between Ottawa University Ottawa and Southwestern Christian University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • OU Ottawa, KS
  • SCU Bethany, OK
  • Setting
  • OU Distant Town
  • SCU Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • OU 999
  • SCU 399
  • Type
  • OU Private 4 Year
  • SCU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • OU
  • SCU
  • Religious Affiliation
  • OU American Baptist
  • SCU Pentecostal Holiness Church
  • Status
  • OU Non-profit
  • SCU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • OU
  • SCU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • OU $35,880
  • SCU $21,900
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • OU $35,880
  • SCU $21,900
  • Room & Board
  • OU $13,646
  • SCU $10,100
  • Average Net Price
  • OU $28,185
  • SCU $20,528
  • Average Grant Aid
  • OU $23,692
  • SCU $12,784
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • OU 100%
  • SCU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • OU 2,611
  • SCU -
  • Admitted
  • OU 2,166
  • SCU -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • OU 83%
  • SCU
  • Enrolled
  • OU 14.1%
  • SCU
  • Typical SAT score
  • OU 880
  • SCU
  • Typical ACT score
  • OU 19
  • SCU
  • Average High School GPA
  • OU 3.12
  • SCU 3.22
  • Typical High School Grades
  • OU B
  • SCU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • OU Extremely Easy
  • SCU Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • OU
  • SCU
  • ACT Range
  • OU 16/22
  • SCU
  • SAT Range
  • OU 750/1000
  • SCU
  • Submit Test Scores
  • OU Test optional
  • SCU Not reported
  • Application Deadline
  • OU
  • SCU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • OU 12:1
  • SCU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • OU
    • Business (33%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (18%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • English and Literature (5%)
  • SCU
    • Human Services (34%)
    • Business (27%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (16%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • OU 47%
  • SCU 28%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • OU $46,400
  • SCU $27,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • OU 46%
  • SCU 38%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • OU $21,875
  • SCU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • OU $226
  • SCU $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • OU 62%
  • SCU 61%
  • % Women
  • OU 38%
  • SCU 39%
  • Racial Diversity
  • OU Medium
  • SCU High
  • HBCU
  • OU No
  • SCU No
  • % White
  • OU 61%
  • SCU 44%
  • % Asian
  • OU 1%
  • SCU 1%
  • % Black
  • OU 13%
  • SCU 25%
  • % Hispanic
  • OU 3%
  • SCU 8%
  • % Native American
  • OU 5%
  • SCU 4%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • OU 0%
  • SCU 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • OU 3%
  • SCU 3%
  • % International
  • OU 0%
  • SCU 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • OU 14%
  • SCU 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • OU 23%
  • SCU 72%
  • % Out-of-State
  • OU 71%
  • SCU 15%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • OU Yes
  • SCU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • OU No
  • SCU No
  • Meal Plan
  • OU Yes
  • SCU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • OU No
  • SCU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • OU No
  • SCU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Ottawa University Ottawa in Ottawa, KS with Southwestern Christian University in Bethany, OK on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Ottawa University Ottawa is larger than SCU based on total student enrollment (999 students vs. 399 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Ottawa University Ottawa is located in Ottawa, KS (Distant Town setting); Southwestern Christian University is in Bethany, OK (Large Suburban setting).
  • Ottawa University Ottawa is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Southwestern Christian University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Ottawa University Ottawa 12:1; Southwestern Christian University 13:1.

OU vs. SCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, OU or SCU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southwestern Christian University than OU ($20,528 vs. $28,185).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwestern Christian University are 26% lower than at Ottawa University Ottawa ($10,100 vs. $13,646).
  • Ottawa University Ottawa is 63.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than SCU (about $13,980 more per year; $35,880.00 vs. $21,900.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 63.8% higher at OU than at Southwestern Christian University (about $13,980 more per year; $35,880.00 vs. $21,900.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Ottawa University Ottawa as at Southwestern Christian University (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ottawa University Ottawa students is 85.3% larger than aid received by Southwestern Christian University students ($23,692 vs. $12,784).

OU vs. SCU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, OU or SCU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between SCU and OU.

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ottawa University Ottawa 750/1000.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ottawa University Ottawa 16/22.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: OU - Test optional; SCU - Not reported.
  • Accepted freshman SCU students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.22) than students at OU (3.12).

OU vs. SCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for OU and SCU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Ottawa University Ottawa's six-year graduation rate (47%) is higher than Southwestern Christian University's (28%).
  • Graduates from Ottawa University Ottawa earn a median of about $19,000 more per year than SCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,400 vs. $27,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ottawa University Ottawa graduates have a $5,125 lower median loan debt than SCU graduates ($21,875 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, OU graduates have an estimated $53 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SCU graduates ($226 vs. $279).
  • More OU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SCU students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 38%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.