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Downtown Ottawa, Kansas historic districtPhoto: Ian Ballinger · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Ottawa

Ottawa is home to Ottawa University-Ottawa

Ottawa University-Ottawa (1,033 students on campus) is inside the city. About 6% of Ottawa’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Kansas (7%).

Ottawa University-Ottawa

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 Ottawa. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
2
2,334 students on campus
Nearest college
0.4 mi
Ottawa University-Ottawa
Residents in college
6%
About the same as KS (7%)
Nearest community college
36.6 mi
Johnson County · $2,424 tuition
Nearest public university
23.6 mi
Haskell Indian Nations University · $600 in-state
Median household income
$72K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Ottawa

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

A university in OttawaOttawa University-Ottawa has 1,033 students on campus in Ottawa, 28% of whom graduate within six years.In-state price at Haskell Indian Nations UniversityLiving in Kansas, Haskell Indian Nations University charges $600 in tuition and fees, the same for every student.A community college 36.6 miles awayJohnson County Community College in Overland Park: tuition and fees $2,424 a year for Kansas residents.Students are 6% of residentsAbout the same as Kansas (7%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Ottawa

Two private colleges within 13.1 miles. The nearest public four-year college, Haskell Indian Nations University, is 23.6 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miBaker UniversityOttawa University-OttawaOttawa
University or collegeCommunity college
Ottawa University-OttawaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,033 on campus · In Ottawa83%admitted$28knet price28%graduate$56kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.Baker UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,301 on campus · 13.1 mi · Baldwin City94%admitted$25knet price58%graduate$64kearnings

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 $48–75k, where Ottawa’s median household income ($71,699) falls.

Haskell Indian Nations University23.6 mi · Lawrence · sticker $9,581$3,061a year
Baker University13.1 mi · Baldwin City · sticker $50,918$23,470a year
Ottawa University-OttawaIn Ottawa · sticker $51,856$25,525a 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-OttawaBaker UniversityHaskell Indian Nations University
Baker University58% graduate$64k earnings$25k typical debt
Ottawa University-Ottawa28% graduate$56k earnings*$22k typical debt
Haskell Indian Nations University18% graduate$37k earnings

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-Ottawa (5).

Majors

What students study in Ottawa

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

Parks & recreation 31%Business 21%Psychology 18%Education 10%Biology 7%Communication 5%Everything else 8%

Biggest programs

Business Administration, Management and Operations18 graduates a year
$65k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods7 graduates a year
$50k4 yrs out
Communication and Media Studies5 graduates a year
$59k4 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services5 graduates a year
$72k4 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 Ottawa

Is Ottawa a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 Ottawa residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Kansas (7). The largest campus in the city, Ottawa University-Ottawa, has 1,033 students on campus.

What colleges are in Ottawa?

Ottawa University-Ottawa is inside the city. Johnson County Community College is 36.6 miles away in Overland Park.

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

Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, 36.6 miles away. Tuition and fees are $2,424 a year for Kansas residents; the federal net price, $14,176, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Haskell Indian Nations University cost if we live in Kansas?

Tuition and fees are $600 a year in-state and $600 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $3,007 (under $30,000 income) to $3,054 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

Neighbors talk college

Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.

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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 Ottawa. 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 →