Ouachita Baptist University
Arkadelphia, Arkansas · Private · 1,602 undergraduates · obu.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
68%
of applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1070 to 1280
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$57,140Est.Estimate
before aid
Your chances and merit aid at Ouachita Baptist University
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
68% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$57,140
a year in 2027-28, from a $57,140 sticker price
What to do with your 1180
Send your score
About 27% of freshmen here didn't send a score. We estimate their typical SAT at about 1020, and yours is above it.
Source: College Navigator (federal data on fall 2024 freshmen)
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- If your GPA is below 3.0, you must send a score.
- Superscores: it combines your best section scores from different test dates.
- CLT accepted (CLT 60 on the GPA 2.5 path)
Source: Ouachita Baptist University 2026-2027 General Catalog (Admission section) · Checked October 17, 2026
Who gets in
68%
of applicants are admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above.
SAT total 1070 to 1280
Reading and Writing 540 to 650
Math 530 to 630
ACT composite 22 to 28
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$57,140
a year
- Tuition$38,850
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24, by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$17,472
- $30,001 to $48,000$17,503
- $48,001 to $75,000$22,356
- $75,001 to $110,000$27,151
- Over $110,000$28,824
Financial aidEstimate
85%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
100%
of freshmen receive grants
$22,830
average grant to freshmen
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
National Merit Ouachita Baptist University Scholarship (NMSC college-sponsored)
National Merit
Deadline: Name this college your first choice with NMSC.
Details
Arkansas programs for residents
Arkansas Governor's Distinguished Scholarship
$10,000 a year
State program · In-state students
- 3.50+ GPA, 1410+ SAT or 32+ ACT, Single tier; Graduating HS senior; FAFSA; apply by March 1; 12 hrs first semester then 15/semester at one institution
Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship (traditional students)
$2,000 to $5,000 a year
State program · In-state students
- 3.00+ GPA, Pathway: HS GPA 3.00 or higher (test score on record, no minimum); Standardized test score (ACT, SAT, Accuplacer or equivalent) on record; FAFSA; apply by July 1; full-time enrollment
- 990+ SAT or 19+ ACT, Pathway: HS GPA below 3.00 with qualifying test score; FAFSA; apply by July 1; enroll full-time (12 hrs first fall, 15/semester after)
Arkansas Governor's Scholars Program (Achievement)
$5,000 a year
State program · In-state students
- Pathway: highest-scoring student in county (ACT/SAT + GPA + class rank); Top-scoring eligible student in county by ACT or SAT score, cumulative GPA and class rank; must apply for Academic Challenge to be considered; FAFSA; deadline July 1, an application, essay or interview
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
30 of 30
Earn credit with a score of 3
9 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $3,890Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 4 | 3 | Art 1003, Design I (requires portfolio review) |
| Art History | 3 | 3 | FINA 3113, Fine Arts: Art (non-majors only) |
| Art History | 4 | 3 | ART 3043 OR 3053, Art History I or II |
| Art History | 5 | 6 | ART 3043 AND 3053, Art History I and II |
| Biology | 3 | 4 | CORE 2334, Scientific Inquiry (non-majors only) |
| Biology | 4 | 4 | BIOL 1014 or 1024, General Biology I or II |
| Calculus AB | 4 | 4 | MATH 2014, Calculus I |
| Calculus BC | 4 | 8 | MATH 2014 & 2024, Calculus I and II |
| Chemistry | 3 | 4 | CORE 2334, Scientific Inquiry (non-majors only) |
| Chemistry | 4 | 4 | CHEM 1004, General Chemistry I |
| Computer Science A | 4 | 4 | CSCI 1044, Programming I |
| Drawing | 4 | 3 | ART 1013: Drawing I (requires portfolio review) |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 3 | CORE 1043, Composition I |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 3 | CORE 2053, Composition II |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 3 | CORE 3023, Scientific Connections (non-majors) |
| Environmental Science | 4 | 3 | BIOL 3023, Environmental Science |
| European History | 5 | 3 | CORE 2243, History of World Societies |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | FREN 1013 & 1023 |
| French Language and Culture | 5 | 12 | FREN 1013, 1023, 2033, & 2043 |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | GERM 1013 & 1023 |
| German Language and Culture | 5 | 12 | GERM 1013, 1023, 2033, & 2043 |
| Human Geography | 4 | 3 | GEOG 1003, Human Geography |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | JAPN 1013 & 1023, Elementary Japanese I and II |
| Macroeconomics | 4 | 3 | ECON 3013, Intermediate Macroeconomics |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECON 2023, Principles of Microeconomics |
| Music Aural Subscore | 4 | 2 | MUTH 1002, Aural Skills 1 OR MUTH 1102, Aural Skills for Musical Theatre & Music Industry 1 |
| Music Non-Aural Subscore | 4 | 2 | MUTH 1022, Theory 1 OR MUTH 1122, Theory 1 for Musical Theatre & Music Industry 1 |
| Physics 1 | 3 | 4 | CORE 2334, Scientific Inquiry (non-majors) |
| Physics 1 | 4 | 4 | PHYS 2024, College Physics I |
| Physics 2 | 4 | 4 | PHYS 2034, College Physics II |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | 4 | PHYS 2064, University Physics II |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | 4 | CORE 2334, Scientific Inquiry |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 4 | PHYS 2054, University Physics I |
| Psychology | 5 | 3 | PSYC 1013, General Psychology |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | SPAN 1013, Elementary Spanish I |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | SPAN 1013 & 1023, Elementary Span I & II |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 5 | 12 | SPAN 1013, 1023, 2033 & 2043, Elementary Spanish I&II and Intermediate Spanish I & II |
| Statistics | 3 | 3 | MATH 2063, Elementary Statistics |
| United States Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | PSCI 2013, American National Government |
| United States History | 4 | 3 | HIST 2003, United States History to 1877 OR HIST 2013, United States History Since 1877 |
| United States History | 5 | 6 | HIST 2003, United States History to 1877 AND HIST 2013, United States History Since 1877 |
| World History: Modern | 4 | 3 | CORE 2243, History of World Societies |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
66%
Come back for a second year
83%
Typical earnings
$52,333
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Ouachita Baptist University$72,039
- All colleges$64,695
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 10 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Ouachita Baptist University. The Ouachita Baptist University logo is a trademark of the college.