
Ottawa University is a private Baptist university with a main campus in Ottawa, Kansas, and a second residential campus in Surprise, Arizona. The Arizona campus, often referred to as OUAZ, is located 30 miles northwest of Phoenix and was opened in 2017. It offers a high-quality liberal arts education in a caring, Christ-centred community. The total number of students enrolled at the Ottawa University Arizona campus is over 900, while the original campus in Kansas has an enrolment of more than 875 students.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Surprise, Arizona |
| Type | Private Baptist university |
| Year founded | 1865 |
| Campus | Residential |
| Student population | 889-900+ |
| Acceptance rate | 29% |
| Undergraduate applications (2023) | 3,600 |
| Undergraduate students accepted for enrollment (2023) | 2,881 |
| Undergraduate acceptance rate (2023) | 80% |
| Total enrollment (2023) | 1,055 |
| Full-time enrollment | 993 |
| Part-time enrollment | 62 |
| Retention rate for full-time undergraduates | 58% |
| Number of intercollegiate varsity athletic teams | 33 |
| Number of student groups, clubs, and organizations | Over 30 |
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What You'll Learn

Ottawa University-Arizona's student population
Ottawa University is a private Baptist university with two residential campuses: one in Ottawa, Kansas, and the other in Surprise, Arizona. The Arizona campus is referred to as OUAZ and was opened in 2017. It is located 30 miles northwest of Phoenix in the Valley of the Sun.
The OUAZ campus has over 900 students enrolled, with some sources stating the number to be 889. The campus offers a high-quality liberal arts education with a unique Liberal Arts Studies program that challenges students to develop critical thinking skills. The university is also committed to ensuring that students develop practical life skills, eliminating standard classes on Wednesdays through each 8-week term.
The OUAZ campus offers a variety of extracurricular activities, including varsity athletic teams, esports, theatre, club wrestling, leadership initiatives, and student government. The athletic teams are called the Spirit, and the campus is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The campus also offers residence life options, including co-ed dorms, apartments for married and single students, and special housing for disabled students.
In terms of academics, OUAZ provides bachelor's degree programs and graduate programs. Popular majors include Business, Psychology, and Communications. The university also facilitates networking events, such as Insurance/Risk Management Career Night. The total enrollment at the Ottawa University-Ottawa campus (Kansas) in 2023 was 1,055 students, with 993 full-time students and 62 part-time students.
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OUAZ's LifePlan Narrative
At Ottawa University Arizona (OUAZ), we believe that each student has a unique story to tell and a distinct path to follow. Our LifePlan Narrative is a tool that helps our students navigate their academic and personal journeys, empowering them to achieve their goals and aspirations.
The LifePlan Narrative is a collaborative process between our students and their dedicated faculty mentors. Together, they embark on a journey of self-discovery, exploring various facets of the student's life, including their academic and intellectual pursuits, career ambitions, relationships, health and wellness, faith, and identity formation. By engaging in these meaningful conversations, students gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their place in the world.
During their time at OUAZ, our students are encouraged to dream big and set ambitious goals. Our LifePlan Narrative helps them translate these aspirations into actionable plans. Students learn to break down their goals into achievable milestones, developing the skills and strategies needed to overcome obstacles and stay motivated along the way.
We understand that personal growth and development extend beyond the classroom. That's why our LifePlan Narrative also focuses on building critical thinking skills and practical life skills. By eliminating standard classes on Wednesdays through each 8-week term, we provide our students with dedicated time and space to engage in extracurricular activities, explore their passions, and develop a well-rounded perspective.
Our commitment to our students' success doesn't end at graduation. The skills and mindset cultivated through the LifePlan Narrative prepare our students for their next steps, whether that's entering the workforce, pursuing graduate studies, or embarking on a journey of personal exploration. We believe that the ability to reflect on one's experiences, adapt to new challenges, and make informed decisions is a foundation for a lifetime of growth and fulfillment.
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OUAZ's varsity athletic teams
Ottawa University (OU) is a private Baptist university with its main campus in Ottawa, Kansas. It has a second residential campus in Surprise, Arizona, referred to as OUAZ. The OUAZ campus was opened in 2017 and has a student enrollment of more than 900, while the Ottawa campus has more than 875 students. In total, Ottawa University serves over 4,000 students across all its campuses and online programs.
OUAZ offers a high-quality liberal arts education in a caring, Christ-centred community. The university is committed to ensuring that students develop practical life skills and critical thinking abilities that will prepare them for postgraduate life, whether that be entering the workforce or furthering their education.
The OUAZ campus is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and primarily competes in the Great Southwest Athletic Conference (GSAC). However, its football team competes in the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC).
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OUAZ's undergraduate applications
Undergraduate applications to Ottawa University Arizona (OUAZ) are considered for a range of bachelor's degree programs. OUAZ is a residential campus in Surprise, Arizona, with over 900 students enrolled. It is a private Baptist university and the second campus of Ottawa University, the original campus being in Ottawa, Kansas.
OUAZ offers undergraduate bachelor's degree programs in more than 25 disciplines. The university is committed to providing a broad liberal arts education and encouraging the development of critical thinking skills. A unique feature of OUAZ is its Liberal Arts Studies program (LAS), which challenges students to think critically and prepares them for postgraduate life and the workforce. Each student crafts a LifePlan Narrative with a Faculty Mentor, exploring their goals and where they want to be.
OUAZ offers a caring, Christ-centered community and encourages personal growth and the development of practical life skills. To this end, standard classes are eliminated every Wednesday during each 8-week term. Students are also encouraged to establish clubs and organizations to expand their campus experience. There are currently more than 30 student groups, clubs, and organizations, including esports, theatre, and student government.
The OUAZ campus is located 30 miles northwest of Phoenix, in the Valley of the Sun. The athletic teams are called the Spirit, and the campus is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Men's, women's, and co-ed sports are offered, with over 24 varsity athletic teams, including baseball, basketball, beach volleyball, cheer and dance, cross country, football, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, and tennis.
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OUAZ's campus life
Ottawa University Arizona (OUAZ) is a residential campus in Surprise, Arizona, 30 miles northwest of Phoenix. It was founded in 2017 and currently has over 900 students enrolled. It is a private Baptist university and is affiliated with the Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma and the American Baptist Churches USA.
OUAZ provides a high-quality liberal arts education in a caring, Christ-centered community. The university offers a unique Liberal Arts Studies program (LAS) that challenges students to develop critical thinking skills to prepare them for postgraduate life. The program is designed to help students develop work-ready and practical life skills. Each student, along with a Faculty Mentor, crafts a LifePlan Narrative that explores their goals and where they are in life. This narrative covers various facets of life, including academic and intellectual pursuits, career and lifestyle choices, healthy relationships, identity formation, health and wellness, and enlightened faith.
OUAZ offers a range of extracurricular activities to enhance the student experience on campus. These include esports, theatre, club team wrestling, leadership initiatives, and student government. Students are also encouraged to establish new clubs and organizations to cater to their specific interests.
The university has a strong focus on athletics, with 24 varsity athletic teams known as the Spirit. These teams compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Great Southwest Athletic Conference (GSAC). The football team competes in the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC). Men's sports include baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, powerlifting, soccer, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling. Women's sports include basketball, beach volleyball, bowling, cross country, flag football, golf, lacrosse, powerlifting, soccer, softball, stunt, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling. There are also co-ed sports such as competitive cheer, competitive dance, and esports.
OUAZ provides a well-rounded campus life that caters to the academic, athletic, and extracurricular interests of its students, within a supportive and values-driven community.
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Frequently asked questions
Ottawa University Arizona (OUAZ) has an enrollment of over 900 students.
The original campus in Ottawa, Kansas, has more than 875 students enrolled.
Ottawa University serves over 4,000 students across all its campuses, including the OUAZ campus in Surprise, Arizona, the original campus in Ottawa, Kansas, and adult campuses in Kansas City and Milwaukee.











































