OU vs. CMU - CLAS

Should I go to Ottawa University Ottawa or Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if OU or CMU - CLAS is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Ottawa University Ottawa vs. Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences comparison
Ottawa University Ottawa Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences College 3 College 4
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Overview

 OU CMU - CLAS
Location Ottawa, KS Fayette, MO
Setting Distant Town Distant Town
Enrollment 953 1,080
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #781
Religious Affiliation American Baptist United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ottawa.edu centralmethodist.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 OU CMU - CLAS
Tuition (In State) $29,980 $26,360
Tuition (Out of State) $29,980 $26,360
Room & Board $11,934 $8,910
Avg Net Price $26,872 $24,828
Avg Grant Aid $23,303 $18,044
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

 OU CMU - CLAS
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,331 1,166
Admitted 2,606 1,141
Acceptance Rate 78.2% 97.9%
Enrolled % 10% 25.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.12 3.5
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/23 18/23
SAT Range 860/1100 930/1090
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

 OU CMU - CLAS
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (33%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (18%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • English and Literature (5%)
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • General Studies (8%)

Outcomes

 OU CMU - CLAS
Graduation Rate 47% 43%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,400 $38,600
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,875 $16,875
Median Loan Payment $226 $174

Diversity

 OU CMU - CLAS
% Men 63% 48%
% Women 37% 52%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 61% 78%
% Black 13% 8%
% Hispanic 3% 3%
% Native American 5% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 0% 4%
% Unknown Race 14% 4%

Students

 OU CMU - CLAS
% In-State 29% 59%
% Out-of-State 69% 27%

Campus

 OU CMU - CLAS
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences is larger than than OU based on total student enrollment (1,080 students vs. 953 students)

OU vs. CMU - CLAS Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, OU or CMU - CLAS?

  • Ottawa University Ottawa is 13.7% more expensive to attend than CMU - CLAS for in-state tuition ($29,980.00 vs. $26,360.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 13.7% higher at OU than Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences ($29,980.00 vs. $26,360.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences than OU ($24,828 vs. $26,872)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences are 33.9% lower than costs at Ottawa University Ottawa ($8,910 vs. $11,934)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Ottawa University Ottawa as Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ottawa University Ottawa students is 29.1% larger than aid received Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences ($23,303 vs. $18,044)

OU vs. CMU - CLAS Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, OU or CMU - CLAS? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CMU - CLAS or OU .

  • Accepted freshman CMU - CLAS students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at OU (3.12)
  • CMU - CLAS has a higher acceptance rate (97.9%) than OU (78.2%)

OU vs. CMU - CLAS Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, OU or CMU - CLAS? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between CMU - CLAS and OU.

  • The graduation rate at OU is higher than Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (47% vs. 43%)
  • Graduates from Ottawa University Ottawa earn on average $7,800 more per year than CMU - CLAS graduates after ten years. ($46,400 vs. $38,600)
  • Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences students graduate with a $5,000 lower median federal student loan debt than OU graduates. ($16,875 vs. $21,875)
  • CMU - CLAS graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than OU graduates. ($174 vs. $226)
  • More CMU - CLAS graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OU students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 46%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/