Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Surprise, Arizona
39.9% Acceptance Rate
Ottawa University-Surprise — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
39.9%Acceptance Rate
978Avg SAT
18Avg ACT
$51,400Annual Cost
$55,552Grad Salary
37.5%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
39.9%
Avg SAT
978
Avg ACT
18
Selectivity
Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Branch Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
910–1050
ACT Middle 50%
15–21
Need-Based Aid
37.5% receive Pell
Ottawa University-Surprise offers accelerated degree programs in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Arizona campus serves working adults seeking career advancement through flexible scheduling options.
The campus features evening classes and hybrid learning options for students pursuing degrees in business, education, and healthcare leadership. Programs emphasize practical skills development and leadership training.
Ottawa University-Surprise Acceptance Rate
Ottawa University-Surprise is selective but reasonable. About 39.9% of applicants (40 per 100) are admitted each cycle.
What OUAZ-Surprise Admissions Looks For
- Holistic Read: Recommendations and community involvement carry real weight here.
- Test Scores Help: Where submitted, scores near or above the middle 50% strengthen an application.
Selectivity at a Glance
Selective
Selectivity scale: Selective — 39.9% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
A GPA a bit under the average isn't disqualifying at this tier. A solid test score or clear leadership record can offset it.
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Ottawa University-Surprise Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Ottawa University-Surprise follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
OUAZ-Surprise reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Check Your Admission Chances at OUAZ-Surprise
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Ottawa University-Surprise's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
--%
Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Ottawa University-Surprise (OUAZ-Surprise) Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at OUAZ-Surprise. Landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into OUAZ-Surprise Without SAT or ACT?
OUAZ-Surprise considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
Ottawa University-Surprise Average SAT Score: 978
Admitted students at Ottawa University-Surprise average a 978 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 978 — Accessible
A 978 average means even a modest SAT score can strengthen your application.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1050 SAT or 21 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Ottawa University-Surprise allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 910? A retake is worth it at OUAZ-Surprise. Two or three sittings is standard for competitive applicants, and there's no cap on how many times you can test.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 475 | 430 | 520 |
| SAT Reading | 505 | 480 | 530 |
| SAT Composite | 978 | 910 | 1050 |
A score under 910 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1050+ puts you ahead of three-quarters of the admitted class. (These percentiles mark where a given share of the admitted class scored at or below.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1000
Can I get into Ottawa University-Surprise (OUAZ-Surprise) with a 1050 SAT?
At 1050, your SAT is squarely in OUAZ-Surprise's favor. That said, admissions staff read the full file. GPA, activities, and essays still carry real weight even with a strong score in hand.
Ottawa University-Surprise (OUAZ-Surprise) ACT Requirements
OUAZ-Surprise's admitted students average an ACT of 18.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 18 — Accessible
An average of 18 means even a modest ACT score can strengthen your application.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 18 | 16 | 20 |
| ACT English | 18 | 13 | 22 |
| ACT Composite | 18 | 15 | 21 |
Can I get into Ottawa University-Surprise with a 21 ACT?
At 21, you're in the top quarter of OUAZ-Surprise's admitted class by ACT score. That's a real advantage, but admissions still reads GPA, essays, and activities alongside it.
The ACT's four sections, English, Math, Reading, and Science, are each scored independently on a 1–36 scale, and admissions staff do notice a lopsided breakdown. If one section trails the others significantly, that's worth addressing before you apply, particularly for STEM programs where Science carries extra weight.
Beyond the number itself, OUAZ-Surprise weighs your transcript rigor, activities, recommendations, and essays just as heavily. The ACT opens the door, and the rest of your file decides what happens next.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for OUAZ-Surprise
Selective Strategy: Competitive Positioning
At OUAZ-Surprise, admissions looks for reliable, high-achieving students. The goal is to land as a top-tier applicant. That's what triggers both admission and the best merit aid.
Understand That This Is a Young, Athlete-Heavy Campus, Not a Traditional Liberal Arts College
Ottawa University-Surprise (OUAZ) opened in 2017 in Surprise, Arizona, as the second residential campus of Ottawa University (founded 1865 in Kansas). The campus is 15 acres, adjacent to city of Surprise recreation facilities including Surprise Stadium and shared tennis courts. A significant proportion of the approximately 900-student body are student-athletes competing across 27 NAIA varsity sports - including women's flag football, which won its fifth consecutive NAIA National Championship in 2025. Students who choose OUAZ primarily for academics and aren't athletes should understand they are entering a campus culture where athletics are central to community identity. That's a genuine fit question, not a negative judgment.
The "Personal Growth Day" Structure Is Unique - Know What You're Signing Up For
Every Wednesday at OUAZ functions as a Personal Growth Day rather than a standard class day. Mornings are reserved for advising, tutoring, and independent study. The afternoon is divided into "Spirit Life" (a community gathering with worship music and a speaker), "The Gathering" (a campus-wide communal meal for networking), and "Adulting Workshops" (practical life-skill sessions on topics like financial literacy, professional development, and relational skills). This is a structural, required feature of the OUAZ academic calendar - not an optional enrichment program. Students who process information best through conventional class schedules or who aren't comfortable with weekly communal worship-style programming should factor this into their fit assessment.
Target the Top Scholars Competition for Full-Tuition Awards
OUAZ runs a semi-annual "Top Scholars" scholarship competition awarding a Presidential Scholarship (full tuition) and a Provost Scholarship (three-quarter tuition). Eligibility requires a composite ACT score of 25 or higher and a minimum unweighted high school GPA of 3.5, plus acceptance to OUAZ. Students who meet this threshold should actively pursue the competition rather than passively waiting for merit aid - the competition structure means it requires an intentional application step. 100% of enrolled undergraduates received grants or scholarships in recent data, with an average aid amount of approximately $21,000, but the top-tier awards require proactive engagement.
Verify Which Majors Are Available Before Committing - The List Is More Constrained Than the Website Implies
OUAZ offers more than 20 majors across three schools (Arts and Sciences, Education, and Business). The most popular programs are kinesiology/exercise science, business, and psychology. Student reviews consistently note limited major offerings and limited course section availability relative to expectations. Students interested in engineering, pre-med science sequences, or highly specialized fields should confirm course availability directly with the OUAZ registrar before depositing - the physical campus is small (15 acres) and the program range is narrower than the multi-campus Ottawa University system as a whole might suggest.
Expert Insight:
The sharpest failure pattern at OUAZ is its 18% graduation rate - among the lowest in Arizona for four-year institutions and worth investigating carefully before enrollment. This figure is influenced by the campus's relatively recent founding (2017), high athlete turnover, and a student population that arrives with significant academic variability. Students should ask OUAZ directly for its current six-year graduation rate for non-athlete students, and should ask about advising support structures for students who are not on athletic scholarships. The acceptance rate discrepancy across sources (CollegeSimply reports ~40%, Niche and CollegeTuitionCompare report ~78%) likely reflects different applicant pools or reporting cycles - treat both as approximations and focus on the graduation rate as a more actionable data point.
OUAZ-Surprise Profile
Full Name
Ottawa University-Surprise (OUAZ-Surprise)
City
Surprise
State
Arizona
ZIP Code
85374
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Branch Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a OUAZ-Surprise Degree Worth It?
Whether OUAZ-Surprise is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals. Here's the data to weigh it against.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $65,300, and graduates see a 3.04% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from OUAZ-Surprise Cost?
Listed tuition runs $51,400/year at OUAZ-Surprise. Factor in Pell and federal grant aid, and most students land typically much lower.
At OUAZ-Surprise, 37.5% receive a Pell Grant and 78% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming OUAZ-Surprise on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a OUAZ-Surprise Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, OUAZ-Surprise graduates report a median income of $55,552, about 37% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Ottawa University-Surprise. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama A & M University | Normal, AL | 947 | 17 |
| Johnson University Florida | Kissimmee, FL | 940 | NA |
| Warner University | Lake Wales, FL | 937 | 17 |
| Gordon State College | Barnesville, GA | 950 | 18 |
| Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College | Saint Mary of the Woods, IN | 966 | 17 |
| Upper Iowa University | Fayette, IA | 929 | 18 |
| Baker University | Baldwin City, KS | 950 | 17 |
| Union Commonwealth University | Barbourville, KY | 965 | 18 |
| Grambling State University | Grambling, LA | 955 | 17 |
| Southern University and A & M College | Baton Rouge, LA | 938 | 17 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Ottawa University-Surprise. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama State University | Montgomery, AL | 977 | 18 |
| Baptist Health College Little Rock | Little Rock, AR | 980 | 20 |
| University of Bridgeport | Bridgeport, CT | 985 | NA |
| Delaware State University | Dover, DE | 984 | 24 |
| Clayton State University | Morrow, GA | 973 | 18 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Ottawa University-Surprise. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faulkner University | Montgomery, AL | 1016 | 20 |
| Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville, AL | 1055 | 21 |
| University of West Alabama | Livingston, AL | 1015 | 20 |
| Marion Military Institute | Marion, AL | 1043 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | Little Rock, AR | 1049 | 21 |
Degree Programs at OUAZ-Surprise
Bachelor Degree Programs
Masters Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About OUAZ-Surprise Admissions
Ottawa University-Surprise graduates earn a moderate median salary of $55,552/year, with some variation by field.
Tuition at Ottawa University-Surprise runs high, at roughly $51,400+/year, so financial aid planning matters.
37.5% of Ottawa University-Surprise students get a Pell Grant. Your odds depend mostly on household income, and filing FAFSA early still helps maximize what you're offered.
Ottawa University-Surprise's acceptance rate is 39.9%, comparatively higher than most selective universities. Admission is more attainable here.
Ottawa University-Surprise weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 978, and within the 910–1050 range, keeps you competitive.
Ottawa University-Surprise follows Rolling Admissions. Applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.
The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out, plus a solid test score where the school considers one.