Ottawa University is a private Christian college affiliated with American Baptist Churches USA. It's primary campus is located in Ottawa, Kansas on the banks of the Marais des Cygnes River, approximately 58 miles southwest of Kansas City.

The university was founded as part of an agreement between the Ottawa tribe and Baptist missionaries. In 1862, the Ottawa were allotted 74,000 acres of land. This reservation became a township, named after the tribe. In 1865, the Ottawa endowed 20,000 acres to missionaries for the creation of a school. This was also named after the tribe and was intended to educate Ottawa children free of charge. In 1867, the Ottawa sold their land in Kansas and moved to Oklahoma.

Driven by desire for higher education and the opportunity for economic growth, the initial idea for a school extended to the formation of a college. In the beginning, Ottawa University struggled amidst the aftermath of the Civil War and general environment of a still-settling frontier. However, by the 1920s, the school had 24 trustees, an endowment of $600,000, and 500 students.

Following World War II, the University continued to grow. Faculty developed programs for adult education and opened their first adult campus in Kansas City in 1974. Additional campuses have been opened in Arizona, Wisconsin, and Indiana. In 2008, the University revitalized their agreement with the Ottawa tribe: Members are eligible to attend any on-campus or online programs free of charge. Today, the University serves over 4,000 students on six campuses and online.

[Information obtained from the Ottawa University and Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma websites.]