OU vs. NSU

Deciding between Ottawa University Ottawa and Northeastern State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Northeastern State University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • OU Ottawa, KS
  • NSU Tahlequah, OK
  • Setting
  • OU Distant Town
  • NSU Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • OU 999
  • NSU 6,751
  • Type
  • OU Private 4 Year
  • NSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • OU
  • NSU #1039
  • Religious Affiliation
  • OU American Baptist
  • NSU -
  • Status
  • OU Non-profit
  • NSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • OU
  • NSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • OU $35,880
  • NSU $7,810
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • OU $35,880
  • NSU $17,290
  • Room & Board
  • OU $13,646
  • NSU $11,120
  • Average Net Price
  • OU $28,185
  • NSU $12,410
  • Average Grant Aid
  • OU $23,692
  • NSU $8,893
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • OU 100%
  • NSU 83%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • OU 2,611
  • NSU 1,727
  • Admitted
  • OU 2,166
  • NSU 1,720
  • Acceptance Rate
  • OU 83%
  • NSU 99.6%
  • Enrolled
  • OU 14.1%
  • NSU 39%
  • Typical SAT score
  • OU 880
  • NSU 1000
  • Typical ACT score
  • OU 19
  • NSU 20
  • Average High School GPA
  • OU 3.12
  • NSU 3.49
  • Typical High School Grades
  • OU B
  • NSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • OU Extremely Easy
  • NSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • OU
  • NSU
  • ACT Range
  • OU 16/22
  • NSU 18/23
  • SAT Range
  • OU 750/1000
  • NSU 866/1136
  • Submit Test Scores
  • OU Test optional
  • NSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • OU
  • NSU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • OU 12:1
  • NSU 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • OU
    • Business (33%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (18%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • English and Literature (5%)
  • NSU
    • Education (22%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
    • Biology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • OU 47%
  • NSU 26%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • OU $46,400
  • NSU $40,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • OU 46%
  • NSU 48%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • OU $21,875
  • NSU $18,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • OU $226
  • NSU $186

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • OU 62%
  • NSU 35%
  • % Women
  • OU 38%
  • NSU 65%
  • Racial Diversity
  • OU Medium
  • NSU High
  • HBCU
  • OU No
  • NSU No
  • % White
  • OU 61%
  • NSU 50%
  • % Asian
  • OU 1%
  • NSU 2%
  • % Black
  • OU 13%
  • NSU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • OU 3%
  • NSU 5%
  • % Native American
  • OU 5%
  • NSU 19%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • OU 0%
  • NSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • OU 3%
  • NSU 17%
  • % International
  • OU 0%
  • NSU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • OU 14%
  • NSU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • OU 23%
  • NSU 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • OU 71%
  • NSU 8%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • OU Yes
  • NSU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • OU No
  • NSU No
  • Meal Plan
  • OU Yes
  • NSU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • OU No
  • NSU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • OU No
  • NSU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Ottawa University Ottawa in Ottawa, KS with Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northeastern State University is larger than OU based on total student enrollment (6,751 students vs. 999 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Ottawa University Ottawa is located in Ottawa, KS (Distant Town setting); Northeastern State University is in Tahlequah, OK (Remote Town setting).
  • Ottawa University Ottawa is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Northeastern State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Ottawa University Ottawa 12:1; Northeastern State University 16:1.

OU vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, OU or NSU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northeastern State University than OU ($12,410 vs. $28,185).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northeastern State University are 18.5% lower than at Ottawa University Ottawa ($11,120 vs. $13,646).
  • Ottawa University Ottawa is 359.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than NSU (about $28,070 more per year; $35,880.00 vs. $7,810.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 107.5% higher at OU than at Northeastern State University (about $18,590 more per year; $35,880.00 vs. $17,290.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ottawa University Ottawa than at Northeastern State University (100% vs. 83%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ottawa University Ottawa students is 166.4% larger than aid received by Northeastern State University students ($23,692 vs. $8,893).

OU vs. NSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, OU or NSU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between NSU and OU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Northeastern State University (1000) is 120 points higher than at OU (880).
  • Incoming NSU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (20 vs. 19 at OU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ottawa University Ottawa 750/1000; Northeastern State University 866/1136.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ottawa University Ottawa 16/22; Northeastern State University 18/23.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: OU - Test optional; NSU - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman NSU students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.49) than students at OU (3.12).
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (99.6%) than OU (83%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.1% at OU vs. 39% at NSU.

OU vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for OU and NSU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Ottawa University Ottawa's six-year graduation rate (47%) is higher than Northeastern State University's (26%).
  • Graduates from Ottawa University Ottawa earn a median of about $6,200 more per year than NSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,400 vs. $40,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Northeastern State University graduates have a $3,875 lower median loan debt than OU graduates ($18,000 vs. $21,875).
  • Among borrowers, NSU graduates have an estimated $40 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than OU graduates ($186 vs. $226).
  • More NSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OU students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 46%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.