UIU vs. OU

Deciding between Upper Iowa University and Ottawa University Ottawa? 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
  • UIU Fayette, IA
  • OU Ottawa, KS
  • Setting
  • UIU Remote Rural
  • OU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • UIU 3,941
  • OU 999
  • Type
  • UIU Private 4 Year
  • OU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UIU #938
  • OU
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UIU -
  • OU American Baptist
  • Status
  • UIU Non-profit
  • OU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UIU
  • OU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UIU $19,475
  • OU $35,880
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UIU $19,475
  • OU $35,880
  • Room & Board
  • UIU $10,121
  • OU $13,646
  • Average Net Price
  • UIU $20,426
  • OU $28,185
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UIU $13,596
  • OU $23,692
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UIU 97%
  • OU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UIU 452
  • OU 2,611
  • Admitted
  • UIU 436
  • OU 2,166
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UIU 96.5%
  • OU 83%
  • Enrolled
  • UIU 33.9%
  • OU 14.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UIU 1070
  • OU 880
  • Typical ACT score
  • UIU 17
  • OU 19
  • Average High School GPA
  • UIU 3.34
  • OU 3.12
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UIU B+
  • OU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • UIU Extremely Easy
  • OU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • UIU
  • OU
  • ACT Range
  • UIU 14/21
  • OU 16/22
  • SAT Range
  • UIU 970/1160
  • OU 750/1000
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UIU Test optional
  • OU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UIU
  • OU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UIU 25:1
  • OU 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UIU
    • Business (40%)
    • Human Services (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Education (5%)
  • OU
    • Business (33%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (18%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • English and Literature (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UIU 45%
  • OU 47%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UIU $42,100
  • OU $46,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UIU 50%
  • OU 46%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UIU $24,000
  • OU $21,875
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UIU $248
  • OU $226

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UIU 43%
  • OU 62%
  • % Women
  • UIU 57%
  • OU 38%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UIU Medium
  • OU Medium
  • HBCU
  • UIU No
  • OU No
  • % White
  • UIU 66%
  • OU 61%
  • % Asian
  • UIU 1%
  • OU 1%
  • % Black
  • UIU 19%
  • OU 13%
  • % Hispanic
  • UIU 5%
  • OU 3%
  • % Native American
  • UIU 0%
  • OU 5%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UIU 0%
  • OU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UIU 2%
  • OU 3%
  • % International
  • UIU 3%
  • OU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UIU 3%
  • OU 14%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UIU 50%
  • OU 23%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UIU 47%
  • OU 71%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Upper Iowa University in Fayette, IA with Ottawa University Ottawa in Ottawa, KS on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Upper Iowa University is larger than OU based on total student enrollment (3,941 students vs. 999 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Upper Iowa University is located in Fayette, IA (Remote Rural setting); Ottawa University Ottawa is in Ottawa, KS (Distant Town setting).
  • Upper Iowa University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Ottawa University Ottawa is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Upper Iowa University 25:1; Ottawa University Ottawa 12:1.

UIU vs. OU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UIU or OU? 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 Upper Iowa University than OU ($20,426 vs. $28,185).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Upper Iowa University are 25.8% lower than at Ottawa University Ottawa ($10,121 vs. $13,646).
  • Ottawa University Ottawa is 84.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than UIU (about $16,405 more per year; $35,880.00 vs. $19,475.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 84.2% higher at OU than at Upper Iowa University (about $16,405 more per year; $35,880.00 vs. $19,475.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ottawa University Ottawa than at Upper Iowa University (100% vs. 97%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ottawa University Ottawa students is 74.3% larger than aid received by Upper Iowa University students ($23,692 vs. $13,596).

UIU vs. OU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UIU or OU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between OU and UIU.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Upper Iowa University (1070) is 190 points higher than at OU (880).
  • Incoming OU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (19 vs. 17 at UIU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Upper Iowa University 970/1160; Ottawa University Ottawa 750/1000.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Upper Iowa University 14/21; Ottawa University Ottawa 16/22.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UIU - Test optional; OU - Test optional.
  • Enrolled freshman UIU students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.34) than students at OU (3.12).
  • UIU has a higher acceptance rate (96.5%) than OU (83%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 33.9% at UIU vs. 14.1% at OU.

UIU vs. OU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UIU and OU? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Ottawa University Ottawa's six-year graduation rate (47%) is higher than Upper Iowa University's (45%).
  • Graduates from Ottawa University Ottawa earn a median of about $4,300 more per year than UIU graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,400 vs. $42,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ottawa University Ottawa graduates have a $2,125 lower median loan debt than UIU graduates ($21,875 vs. $24,000).
  • Among borrowers, OU graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UIU graduates ($226 vs. $248).
  • More UIU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OU students, three years after graduation. (50% vs. 46%)

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.