Ottawa University-Surprise — ROI, Cost & Payback
Ottawa University-Surprise charges a net price of $33,393/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $133,572. Graduates earn a median $55,552 ten years after entry, $7,192/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 18.6 years — a 20-year net return of $10,268, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Ottawa University-Surprise's 18.6-year payback ranks #1,039 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 19% of them, and #8 of 63 in Arizona.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $33,393/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $133,572 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $55,552 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $7,192/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $21,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 18.6 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $10,268 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Ottawa University-Surprise's own numbers. Net price $33,393 × 4 years = $133,572 total. Median earnings $55,552 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $7,192 a year of premium. $133,572 ÷ $7,192 = 18.6 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $10,268. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Ottawa University-Surprise students graduate with?
A median $21,500 in federal loans among completers, or 39% of the $55,552 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Ottawa University-Surprise students graduate?
18% finish their degree — 82% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $133,572 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $742,067 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Ottawa University-Surprise expensive compared with other Arizona colleges?
Its $33,393 net price runs $15,954 above the $17,439 median across the 63 Arizona colleges we profile, or $63,816 more across the full degree.