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SCHOLAR PORTAL
Ottawa University logo featuring the university name in large text, with a gold emblem, black shield, and Latin motto—an iconic symbol of Ottawa University’s tradition and prestige.
Black and white image of a modern Ottawa University building with large windows and stone exterior, surrounded by trees and a grassy area in the foreground.

Ottawa University Fast Facts

Undergraduate Student Population
Small (Less than 5,000)

* from the Great Jobs KC office

Distance*

60 miles (Ottawa)

5 Miles (Overland Park)

Location

Ottawa, Kansas
and
Overland Park, Kansas

Type of Instituation

Private, Bachelor Degree (4-year)

Traditional and Adult Learner ScholarsHIP RECIPIENTS

Click here for information about the Ottawa-Specific scholarship

Campus
Experience

  • Adult Learner Specific Supports Available
  • Dedicated Resources for 1st Gen Students

Financial
Information

  • Annual Tuition 2025-2026:
    $33,000
  • Book Fees: Not included in tuition
  • FAFSA Application Code: 001937
  • 2026 Estimated Housing and Meals Cost: $11,000-15,000
  • Classification for Undocumented Students: N/A
  • Additional Institutional Aid Available to Undocumented Students

Academic
Experience

  • In-Person Courses
  • Online Learning
  • Day Courses
  • Evening Courses

Application
Information

  • Application Priority Deadline: Rolling
    Freshman deadline: Rolling
    Transfer deadline: Rolling
  • Minimum Admission Requirements:
    2.5 recommended high school GPA; 2.0 recommended transfer GPA
  • Application Fee: No application fee
  • Financial Aid Priority Deadline: February 1
  • To Apply: Click Here
  • To Schedule a Campus Visit: Click Here

Tuition Note: Tuition shown is based on full-time, in-person enrollment. Actual tuition charged to KC Scholars awardees may be lower for those who receive federal, state, and/or institutional aid. This institution provides additional funding for KC Scholars. Click Here for details.

*Rolling Applications: No set application deadline. Applications are evaluated as they are submitted and admissions decisions are then sent.

Click here to download a printable PDF version of the above section

Ottawa University College-Specific Information Below

The information below is specific to the College-Specific award.
Costs, eligibility and requirements may differ from the information shown above for Traditional and Adult Leaner Scholars who receive a KC Scholars award.

The Ottawa-Specific (Ottawa campus) Scholarship will award $115,000 scholarship to awardees. The OU Overland Park- Specific Scholarship will award $50,000 scholarship to awardees. An awardee is eligible for automatic renewal of the Ottawa-Specific KCS Scholarships each year for five additional academic years as long as they maintain a 2.5 GPA, have a university housing contract, have a university meal plan, have not exceeded their scholarship funding cap, and file the FAFSA by February 1st of each academic year.

Campus
Experience

  • Adult Learner Specific Supports Available
  • Dedicated Resources for 1st Gen Students

Financial
Information

  • Annual Tuition 2025-2026:
    $33,000
  • Book Fees: Not included in tuition
  • FAFSA Application Code: 001937
  • 2026 Estimated Housing and Meals Cost: $11,000-15,000
  • Classification for Undocumented Students: N/A
  • Additional Institutional Aid Available to Undocumented Students
  • Additional Funding Offered to KC Scholars with College-Specific Award

Academic
Experience

  • In-Person Courses
  • Online Learning
  • Day Courses
  • Evening Courses

Application
Information

  • Application Priority Deadline: Rolling
    Freshman deadline: Rolling
    Transfer deadline: Rolling
  • Minimum Admission Requirements:
    2.5 recommended high school GPA; 2.0 recommended transfer GPA
  • Application Fee: No application fee
  • Financial Aid Priority Deadline: February 1
  • To Apply: Click Here
  • To Schedule a Campus Visit: Click Here

For more information about this College-Specific Scholarship, including what Scholarship funds can be used for, read the Ottawa University section of the  College-Specific Program Guidelines.

Tuition Note: Tuition shown is based on full-time, in-person enrollment. Actual tuition charged to KC Scholars awardees may be lower for those who receive federal, state, and/or institutional aid.

*Rolling Applications: No set application deadline. Applications are evaluated as they are submitted and admissions decisions are then sent.

Click here to download a printable PDF version of the Ottawa-Specific section
A group of graduates in caps and gowns celebrating outdoors. Text on the image reads "Over $12 million in scholarships being awarded." These scholarships are paving the way for promising careers.
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Stephanie underwood - Chief financial Officer

Stephanie Underwood serves as Chief Financial Officer at Great Jobs KC, where she leads the organization’s financial strategy in support of its mission to create economic mobility through education and workforce opportunities. With more than 17 years of experience in nonprofit finance, Stephanie brings deep expertise in financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and compliance. She is passionate about using her career as a platform to serve and support mission-driven organizations, helping them maximize impact through strong financial stewardship.

Prior to joining Great Jobs KC, Stephanie served as Chief Financial Officer for Griffith Centers, a behavioral and mental health organization, where she oversaw financial operations for a multi-million-dollar organization spanning residential, educational, and community-based programs. She also spent nearly a decade as Vice President of Accounting Services at NFP Partners, providing CFO-level leadership to nonprofit organizations across the country, with a focus on strategic growth, audit readiness, and governance.

Outside of her professional role, Stephanie volunteers her time at her church and serves on the board of a local nonprofit. She is known for her collaborative leadership style and her commitment to aligning financial strategy with mission impact. She holds a Master of Science in Accounting and is proud to be a first-generation college graduate.

 

 

 

Adult Learner College Scholarship

The Adult Learner Scholarship application is closed. Please click GET STARTED to be added to communication reminders on when to apply during the next open cycle.

Program offers:

  • Up to $25,000 paid directly to the college over the course of up to six years.
  • Once awarded, the Scholar can enroll full or part-time the fall semester following awarding.
  • Scholarship can be used at any of our college partners. See our current list of partners HERE.
  • Scholarship can be used towards an associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, or a credit-bearing credential. 

Eligibility Requirements: 

  • Be a high school graduate or GED holder (24 years or older).
  • Live in one of the six eligible counties. (Kansas: Wyandotte, Johnson; Missouri: Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte)
  • Be income eligible. (FASFA Student Aid Index of 12,000 or less)
  • Have not previously earned a bachelor’s degree.
  • Have not previously been awarded a KC Scholars Scholarship (Traditional or Adult Learner).
  • Is not currently enrolled in a Great Jobs KC Skills Training Program.
  • US Citizenship/Residency is not required to apply.

If you need more information on program details, please find our FAQs HERE

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Jimmy Swift - Chief Operating Officer

As the Chief Operating Officer, Jimmy Swift is responsible for overseeing our core programs, our adult workforce development program, Great Jobs KC tuition-free job training, and our KC Scholars Scholarship Program, which includes 11th Grade Traditional Scholarships and Adult Learner Scholarships. 

Jimmy has a career in education that spans more than 25 years and is built around supporting and improving the performance of career training programs and leading the operations of degree-granting institutions. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in management and has served as Campus President, Vice President of Career Services, and Executive Director of various career schools.  

Most recently, Jimmy served as the Vice President of PLA University at Phalen Leadership Academies, bringing access to job skill training to the parents and families of the Scholars served by Phalen Leadership schools across the country.  Beyond his higher education experience, Jimmy serves as the Executive Board Chairman for Project Safety Net NY, a nonprofit community-based agency delivering a broad range of health, education, and prevention services to the New York Community. As the Chief Operating Officer for Great Jobs KC, he and his team are poised to make a substantial impact on the economic stability and future of Kansas City.

Great Jobs KC
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