Ouachita Baptist University
#2 Best Biology Colleges in Arkansas- Graduation Rate
- 66% C+
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $51,673 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $22,409 D+
- 31% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 68% B-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 15.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $15.1 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Best Biology Colleges in Arkansas.
Every $1 spent returns $15.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,267,590.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 27% above the national college median.
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Social mobility rate of 2.36% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $15.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Ouachita Baptist University Matters
Ouachita Baptist University is a private liberal arts college in Arkadelphia, AR and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 1,602
- Setting
- Town
- Designations
- 75
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Health Professions, Communications
Why students choose Ouachita Baptist University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 68% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1070–1280. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $22,409 a year after grants and scholarships — 31% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $51,673 ten years after enrolling — 27% above the typical college, against $21,050 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.4% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 20% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.67 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
About 66% of students complete their degree at Ouachita Baptist University. This graduation rate reflects a supportive environment in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, where students can thrive academically and socially. With an acceptance rate of 68%, many students have the opportunity to join this community.
Data from Opportunity Insights shows that Ouachita Baptist graduates earn an average of $51,673 ten years after enrollment. This financial outcome suggests a solid return on investment for students. While specific mobility rates are not available, the earnings data indicates that graduates can find stable employment in various fields.
Attending Ouachita Baptist comes with a net price of $22,409, and the median debt for graduates is $21,050. Students who flourish here are likely to be those pursuing degrees in Business, Health Professions, or Education. The campus culture values personal growth and academic achievement, making it an appealing choice for motivated learners.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Ouachita Baptist University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Ouachita Baptist University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, Ouachita Baptist University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 68% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,211. The graduation rate is roughly 66%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 68%
- Retention Rate
- 83%
- SAT Average
- 1211
- SAT Range
- 1070–1280
- ACT Range
- 22–28
- Full-Time Faculty
- 95%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,702
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.34
- First-Gen Students
- 24%
- Applicants
- 2,063
- Admitted
- 1,492
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Ouachita Baptist University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Ouachita Baptist University is $34,500, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $22,409. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $15,207 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,050 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $34,500
- Out-of-State
- $34,500
- Avg Net Price
- $22,409
- Median Debt
- $21,050
- Pell Grant Rate
- 23%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 46%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $15,207
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $15,954
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $18,007
- Family Income $110K+
- $26,281
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Ouachita Baptist University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Ouachita Baptist University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Ouachita Baptist University earn a median of $51,673, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $41,697
- 8 Years
- $47,024
- 10 Years
- $51,673
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.41x
- Earning > $25K
- 59%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (221)
- 54%
- 100% (221)
- 54%
- 100% (221)
- 54%
- 100% (221)
- 54%
How Ouachita Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Ouachita Baptist University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Ouachita Baptist University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $22,409/year ($89,636 total). Graduates earn $51,673 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,357,226 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,267,590 (15.1× your investment). The median debt is $21,050, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 66% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $89,636
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,357,226
- Net Return
- $1,267,590
- ROI Multiple
- 15.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $22,409
- Median Debt
- $21,050
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 66%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Ouachita Baptist University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Ouachita Baptist University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.36%, among the highest in the country. About 9.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 25.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $88,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.36%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 25.6%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 9.2%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $119,969
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $5,417,946
- Investment Income
- $-1,710,085
Top Programs
The fields Ouachita Baptist University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 18% $53,202 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 12% $27,745 early-career
- Health Professions 11%
- Communications 8% $44,210 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 7% $44,210 early-career
- Education 7% $44,852 early-career
- Psychology 6% $26,347 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 2%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Ouachita Baptist University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Ouachita Baptist University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, Ouachita Baptist University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 68% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,211. The graduation rate is roughly 66%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Ouachita Baptist University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Ouachita Baptist University is $34,500, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $22,409. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $15,207 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,050 in federal student loans.
Is Ouachita Baptist University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Ouachita Baptist University earn a median of $51,673, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Ouachita Baptist University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Ouachita Baptist University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.36%, among the highest in the country. About 9.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 25.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $88,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Ouachita Baptist University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Ouachita Baptist University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.67, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Ouachita Baptist University.
- John Brown UniversitySiloam Springs, AR · Close peer69% grad $53,907 earn 76% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Caldwell UniversityCaldwell, NJ · Close peer58% grad $53,843 earn 71% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Lincoln Memorial UniversityHarrogate, TN · Close peer52% grad $49,956 earn 63% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Union UniversityJackson, TN · Close peer68% grad $53,990 earn 60% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Stetson UniversityDeLand, FL · Close peer63% grad $51,642 earn 72% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Millikin UniversityDecatur, IL · Close peer57% grad $51,262 earn 67% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Ouachita Baptist University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Ouachita Baptist University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.67, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note