Head-to-head comparison
Ottawa University-Ottawa vs Pratt Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Ottawa, KS
Ottawa University-Ottawa
- Net price / year
- $27,963
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,552
- Payback
- 15.6 yrs
Option B Pratt, KS
Pratt Community College
- Net price / year
- $9,731
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,892
- Payback
- 11 yrs
Pratt Community College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $38,924 in 11 years versus 15.6 years at Ottawa University-Ottawa, on median earnings of $51,892 vs $55,552 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ottawa University-Ottawa | Pratt Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $27,963 | $9,731 |
| Total net cost | $111,852 | $38,924 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $55,552 | $51,892 |
| Median debt | $21,500 | $6,500 |
| Payback | 15.6 yrs | 11 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $31,988 | $31,716 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Ottawa University-Ottawa or Pratt Community College?
Pratt Community College, at $9,731 a year after aid versus $27,963 — a gap of $18,232 a year, or $72,928 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Ottawa University-Ottawa or Pratt Community College graduates earn more?
Ottawa University-Ottawa graduates report a median $55,552 ten years after entry, $3,660 more than the $51,892 at Pratt Community College. 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Ottawa University-Ottawa or Pratt Community College?
Pratt Community College: its completers carry a median $6,500 in federal loans versus $21,500 at Ottawa University-Ottawa, a difference of $15,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
45% of students finish at Pratt Community 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.