Ouachita Baptist University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. It enrolls 1,602 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
64/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes64
Value33
Affordability32
Selectivity64
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 67.5%, Ouachita Baptist University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
67.5%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1070 – 1280
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
22 – 28
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Ouachita Baptist University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
7.1 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Ouachita Baptist University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $22,409 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$22,409
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
23%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
46%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$34,500
Room & Board (on-campus)
$9,720
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,540
Books & Supplies
$1,100
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,040
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$8,136
Total Cost of Attendance
$47,321
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$15,207
$30,001 – $48,000
$15,954
$48,001 – $75,000
$18,007
$75,001 – $110,000
$19,151
Over $110,000
$26,281
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$21,050Medianpercentile
$24,35875%percentile
$28,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $15,250
↓ $5,800
No Pell $14,250
↓ $6,800
Female students $16,750
↓ $4,300
Male students $12,750
↓ $8,300
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($21,050), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
54% of full-time students who enrolled at Ouachita Baptist University graduate within six years, and 83% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
54%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
83%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Ouachita Baptist University earn a median of $51,673 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$51,673
Earning > $25K
78%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$41,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$51,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$47,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$44,700
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$46,200
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $10,500, about 20% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
16.4 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 89% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Ouachita Baptist University is home to 1,602 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
1,602
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
24%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 80.5%1,290
Hispanic 6.3%101
Black 5.6%89
Other 4.2%68
International 2.2%35
Asian 1.2%19
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Ouachita Baptist University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantArkadelphia, Arkansas
Housing
Strongly residential1,661 beds for 1,602 students
Adult Learners
2%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Ouachita Baptist University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
46 distinct programs across
21 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Ouachita Baptist University is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$166M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$62,807
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
110 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
41
37%
$68,095
Associate Professors
24
22%
$69,463
Assistant Professors
32
29%
$55,985
Instructors
8
7%
$52,725
Lecturers
5
5%
$47,280
Pros & Cons of Ouachita Baptist University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Ouachita Baptist University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Below-average completion rate
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Frequently Asked Questions about Ouachita Baptist University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Ouachita Baptist University.
Is Ouachita Baptist University hard to get into?
Admissions at Ouachita Baptist University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 67.5%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Ouachita Baptist University?
Ouachita Baptist University has an acceptance rate of 67.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Ouachita Baptist University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Ouachita Baptist University scored between 1070 and 1280 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Ouachita Baptist University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Ouachita Baptist University scored between 22 and 28 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Ouachita Baptist University cost?
The average net price after aid at Ouachita Baptist University is $22,409 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Ouachita Baptist University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $51,673 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $22,409 per year. That's roughly 2.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Ouachita Baptist University known for?
Ouachita Baptist University is best known for its programs in Biology, Counseling Psychology, Communication & Media. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Ouachita Baptist University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Ouachita Baptist University are $51,673, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Ouachita Baptist University accredited?
Yes. Ouachita Baptist University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Ouachita Baptist University?
Ouachita Baptist University enrolls 1,602 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Ouachita Baptist University?
Ouachita Baptist University graduates 54% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Ouachita Baptist University a public or private college?
Ouachita Baptist University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Ouachita Baptist University located?
Ouachita Baptist University is located in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.
What programs does Ouachita Baptist University offer?
Ouachita Baptist University offers 46 distinct programs. The most popular include Biology, Counseling Psychology, Communication & Media.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Ouachita Baptist University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Ouachita Baptist University is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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