Head-to-head comparison
Southwestern College vs Ottawa University-Ottawa: which has better ROI?
Option A Winfield, KS
Southwestern College
- Net price / year
- $29,824
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,646
- Payback
- 16.4 yrs
Option B Ottawa, KS
Ottawa University-Ottawa
- Net price / year
- $27,963
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,552
- Payback
- 15.6 yrs
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.
The short answer
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.
The short answer
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.
The short answer
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.
The short answer
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.