VCM vs. OU

Should I go to VanderCook College of Music or Ottawa University Ottawa? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if VCM or OU 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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VanderCook College of Music vs. Ottawa University Ottawa comparison
VanderCook College of Music Ottawa University Ottawa College 3 College 4
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Overview

 VCM OU
Location Chicago, IL Ottawa, KS
Setting Large City Distant Town
Enrollment 340 1,055
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #822
Religious Affiliation - American Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website vandercook.edu ottawa.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 VCM OU
Tuition (In State) $28,640 $31,900
Tuition (Out of State) $28,640 $31,900
Room & Board $7,500 $12,160
Avg Net Price $16,601 $28,126
Avg Grant Aid $22,249 $23,215
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

 VCM OU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 37 3,600
Admitted 36 2,881
Acceptance Rate 97.3% 80%
Enrolled % 47.2% 10.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.1 3.12
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 15/20 16/21
SAT Range 890/1160 880/1140
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 Apr 1, 2026

Academics

 VCM OU
Student to Faculty Ratio 4:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (100%)
  • Business (33%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (18%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • English and Literature (5%)

Outcomes

 VCM OU
Graduation Rate 45% 47%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) N/A $46,400
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 46%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $21,875
Median Loan Payment $279 $226

Diversity

 VCM OU
% Men 32% 6%
% Women 39% 5%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 62% 61%
% Black 8% 13%
% Hispanic 21% 3%
% Native American 0% 5%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 2% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 14%

Students

 VCM OU
% In-State 58% 29%
% Out-of-State 42% 69%

Campus

 VCM OU
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

  • Ottawa University Ottawa is larger than than VCM based on total student enrollment (1,055 students vs. 340 students)

VCM vs. OU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, VCM or OU?

  • Ottawa University Ottawa is 11.4% more expensive to attend than VCM for in-state tuition ($31,900.00 vs. $28,640.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 11.4% higher at OU than VanderCook College of Music ($31,900.00 vs. $28,640.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at VanderCook College of Music than OU ($16,601 vs. $28,126)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at VanderCook College of Music are 62.1% lower than costs at Ottawa University Ottawa ($7,500 vs. $12,160)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at VanderCook College of Music as Ottawa University Ottawa (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ottawa University Ottawa students is 4.3% larger than aid received VanderCook College of Music ($23,215 vs. $22,249)

VCM vs. OU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman OU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.12) than students at VCM (3.1)
  • VCM has a higher acceptance rate (97.3%) than OU (80%)

VCM vs. OU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, VCM or OU? 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 OU and VCM.

  • The graduation rate at OU is higher than VanderCook College of Music (47% vs. 45%)
  • Ottawa University Ottawa students graduate with a $5,125 lower median federal student loan debt than VCM graduates. ($21,875 vs. $27,000)
  • OU graduates are paying $53 less per month on federal student loans than VCM graduates. ($226 vs. $279)
  • More VCM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OU students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 46%)

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