Ouachita Baptist University

Private · Moderately Selective · AR

Photo: Brandonrush (CC BY-SA 3.0)

School data & stats

TypePrivate

LocationAR · South

SettingRural

Undergrads1,602

Student:faculty14:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate57.4%

6-yr grad rate61.4%

Drop-out rate17.5%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$35k

Out-of-state tuition$35k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity19.5%

Gender diversity55.4%

International2.2%

IdentitySouthern Baptist

Overview

Ouachita Baptist University, in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, is a Baptist liberal-arts university closely tied to the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, with a tight residential community on the Ouachita River. Religious life is integrated into the curriculum and campus rhythm rather than kept separate from academics.

Academics

Ministry and music programs are longstanding strengths, reflecting the school's Baptist identity, and pre-med preparation has a strong track record, with many graduates going on to medical and other health-professional schools. Class sizes are small and faculty involvement in student life is close.

Campus & student life

Ouachita shares Arkadelphia with Henderson State University, located directly across a ravine, and the two schools' football rivalry, known as the Battle of the Ravine, is one of the more distinctive and long-running rivalries in college athletics precisely because of the physical proximity between the two campuses. Student life otherwise centers on a close residential community and active religious life.

Getting in

Ouachita reviews applications holistically, with real attention to a student's fit within its Baptist community and mission, alongside academic preparation.

Worth knowing

The pre-med track's outcomes are genuinely strong for a school this size, a point Ouachita is known for regionally, and the Battle of the Ravine rivalry is worth knowing simply for how unusual its format is — two campuses within walking distance of each other playing an annual rivalry game with real regional attention.

obu.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate67.5%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 1070–1280 · ACT 22–28

Test policyoptional

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying