Academics
The academic offerings at Ottawa are relatively extensive despite the small size of the school. At the undergraduate level, students can choose from both BA and BS degree programs including accounting, psychology, business administration, art, engineering, exercise science, finance, history, MIS, music, marketing, sports studies, and more. Master’s degrees are available in education leadership concentrations and an MBA. Class sizes are relatively small with a student-to-faculty ratio of 11 to one and, Ottawa also offers degree programs entirely online now, as well.
It’s also important that students have exposure to different life experiences while at Ottawa. As such, the university offers long-term life preparation for personal, academic, and career needs. The clubs and organizations provide similar outcomes. Many organizations are directly related to various degree programs and others allow students to pursue personal interests such as the American Red Cross Club, Optimist Club, Biology Club, DECA, Forensics Club, Student Senate, Public Relations Student Society of America, and much more.
The retention rate at Ottawa University is on the low side at 50%. The four-year and six-year graduation rates are also a bit low; students only graduate at a rate of 43% within four years and 51% within six years. A few potential reasons for these lower figures could be due to a high transfer rate as a way to change career paths or individuals choosing to complete professional degrees that take longer.
