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Surprise Lake Sign by Gage SkidmorePhoto: Gage Skidmore · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Surprise

Surprise is home to Ottawa University-Surprise

Ottawa University-Surprise (749 students on campus) is inside the city. About 5% of Surprise’s residents are enrolled in college, below Arizona (6%).

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Surprise. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
2
7,796 students on campus
Nearest college
5.7 mi
Ottawa University-Surprise
Residents in college
5%
Below AZ (6%)
Nearest community college
14.6 mi
Estrella Mountain · $2,358 tuition
Nearest public university
16.6 mi
Glendale · $2,358 in-state
Median household income
$97K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Surprise

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A university in SurpriseOttawa University-Surprise has 749 students on campus in Surprise, 18% of whom graduate within six years.A community college 14.6 miles awayEstrella Mountain Community College in Avondale: tuition and fees $2,358 a year for Arizona residents.In-state price at GlendaleLiving in Arizona, Glendale Community College charges $2,358 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $8,958. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 5% of residentsBelow Arizona (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Surprise

One private college within 5.7 miles, and Estrella Mountain Community College 14.6 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, Glendale Community College, is 16.6 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miEstrella MountainOttawa University-SurpriseSurprise
University or collegeCommunity college
Ottawa University-SurpriseUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 749 on campus · In Surprise78%admitted$33knet price18%graduate$56kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.Estrella Mountain Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,047 on campus · 14.6 mi · Avondale$12knet price32%graduate$44kearningsTuition and fees: $2,358 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $75–110k, where Surprise’s median household income ($96,711) falls.

Glendale Community College16.6 mi · Glendale · sticker $18,037 · tuition $2,358$14,880a year
Estrella Mountain Community College14.6 mi · Avondale · sticker $18,040 · tuition $2,358$15,695a year
Ottawa University-SurpriseIn Surprise · sticker $52,170$35,696a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Ottawa University-SurpriseEstrella MountainGlendale
Glendale Community College16% graduate$43k earnings$7k typical debt
Estrella Mountain Community College32% graduate$44k earnings$8k typical debt
Ottawa University-Surprise18% graduate$56k earnings*$22k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Ottawa University-Surprise (5).

Majors

What students study in Surprise

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Ottawa University-Surprise, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Parks & recreation 32%Business 32%Psychology 14%Communication 12%Biology 5%Education 3%Everything else 3%

Biggest programs

Business Administration, Management and Operations44 graduates a year
$65k4 yrs out
Psychology, General23 graduates a year
$44k4 yrs out
Communication and Media Studies9 graduates a year
$59k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods4 graduates a year
$50k4 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services2 graduates a year
$72k4 yrs out
Human Services, General1 graduates a year
$52k4 yrs out
Human Resources Management and Services1 graduates a year
$67k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Surprise

Is Surprise a college town?

No. About 5 of every 100 Surprise residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Arizona (6). The largest campus in the city, Ottawa University-Surprise, has 749 students on campus.

What colleges are in Surprise?

Ottawa University-Surprise is inside the city. Estrella Mountain Community College is 14.6 miles away in Avondale.

What is the closest community college to Surprise, and what does it cost?

Estrella Mountain Community College in Avondale, 14.6 miles away. Tuition and fees are $2,358 a year for Arizona residents; the federal net price, $12,254, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Glendale Community College cost if we live in Arizona?

Tuition and fees are $2,358 a year in-state and $8,958 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $10,512 (under $30,000 income) to $17,378 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Surprise. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →