Accounting at Ottawa University-Surprise

Ottawa University-Surprise's accounting program sits in the bottom half of both Arizona and national rankings, but the real concern is the debt burden. While first-year earnings of $51,664 are only slightly below the state median of $53,977, graduates carry $35,854 in debt—about $3,000 more than the typical Arizona accounting grad. That puts this program in the 5th percentile nationally for debt, meaning 95% of accounting programs send students out with less borrowing.

The gap with Arizona's top programs is significant. University of Arizona and ASU graduates earn $6,000-9,000 more in their first year while typically carrying similar or lower debt loads. Even Grand Canyon University, which matches the state median in earnings, leaves students with less debt to manage. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69 is manageable on paper, but that calculation doesn't account for the opportunity cost of higher earnings elsewhere.

One important caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so these numbers could shift considerably year to year. For families considering this program, the question is whether Ottawa's specific advantages—perhaps smaller class sizes or location convenience—justify accepting both lower earnings and higher debt than you'd find at Arizona's larger public universities. Unless there's a compelling personal reason to choose this path, the state's flagship programs offer better financial outcomes for accounting students.