Southwestern College vs Ottawa University-Ottawa: which has better ROI?
Ottawa University-Ottawa has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $111,852 in 15.6 years versus 16.4 years at Southwestern College, on median earnings of $55,552 vs $55,646 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southwestern College | Ottawa University-Ottawa |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $29,824 | $27,963 |
| Total net cost | $119,296 | $111,852 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $55,646 | $55,552 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $21,500 |
| Payback | 16.4 yrs | 15.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $26,424 | $31,988 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Southwestern College or Ottawa University-Ottawa?
Ottawa University-Ottawa, at $27,963 a year after aid versus $29,824 — a gap of $1,861 a year, or $7,444 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Southwestern College or Ottawa University-Ottawa graduates earn more?
Southwestern College graduates report a median $55,646 ten years after entry, $94 more than the $55,552 at Ottawa University-Ottawa. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Southwestern College or Ottawa University-Ottawa?
Ottawa University-Ottawa: its completers carry a median $21,500 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Southwestern College, a difference of $3,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
36% of students finish at Southwestern College, against 28% at Ottawa University-Ottawa. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.