Ottawa, Kan. – Ottawa University continues to experience record growth across its system as 3,317 students arrived for their first day of classes at the University’s residential campuses in Ottawa, Kan., and Surprise, Ariz., and its adult campuses in Overland Park, Kan., Brookfield, Wisc., Queen Creek, Ariz., Phoenix, Ariz., and online. These numbers represent an increase over the prior year of 14%.
At its 154-year-old home campus in Ottawa, Kan., Ottawa University Kansas (OUKS) enrolled 780 total students, 253 of whom are first-year freshman students, the highest number since 1975. Of the total student numbers, 732 are pursuing undergraduate degrees and 48 are pursuing their graduate degree. This marks the fifth straight year of continuous growth at the Ottawa campus, counter to a trend experienced by many other institutions at this time.
In just its second year of operation, Ottawa University Arizona (OUAZ) enjoyed an increase of 42% with total enrollment rising to 618, including 602 undergraduate degree-seeking students and 18 working towards their graduate degree.
The University’s adult professional and graduate studies units, enrolled 1,919, a 9% increase over the 2017-2018 year. Of those enrolled, 367 were new to the University. A total of 1,156 are working towards an undergraduate degree while 763 are seeking a master’s degree. Notably, the University’s new international Executive MBA degree program grew to 377 students, operating from its Arizona and Kansas City sites in just its second year.
“We are very gratified to welcome record numbers of outstanding students to Ottawa University this fall,” said Dr. Kevin Eichner, chancellor of Ottawa University. “Ottawa University has developed a long and well-deserved reputation for putting students at the center of everything it does. Preparing our students for their own special lifetimes of significance is our mission, and as a University community, we take great pride in the fact that so many students and their families place their trust in our dedicated faculty, staff and administration.”
Classes began for all students on August 20. At OUKS, students, faculty and staff will officially celebrate the new school year at Fall Convocation at Fredrikson Chapel on Thursday, September 6 at 11 a.m. Fall Convocation in Surprise will take place August 29 at 11 a.m. at Christ Church of the Valley.