“Arkansas's flagship Baptist liberal arts university — 139 years of integrating Christian faith with academic excellence on a 200-acre campus.”
Ouachita Baptist University (OBU) is a private Baptist-affiliated liberal arts university founded in 1886, located on a 200-acre campus in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Affiliated with the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, OBU is the state's flagship Baptist liberal arts institution combining its 139-year Christian heritage with a comprehensive academic curriculum and exceptional career outcomes. With approximately 1,729 undergraduates and a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio, OBU offers an intentionally Christian liberal arts experience grounded in faith integration across disciplines. OBU's curriculum spans the natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, business, education, music, and theology, with strong programs in pre-health pathways (one of Arkansas's strongest pre-medical pipelines), business, education, music, and Christian studies. The university's Pruet School of Christian Studies is among the most respected undergraduate ministry preparation programs in the South. With 89% of enrolled undergraduates receiving grants or scholarships averaging $28,811, OBU makes a Christian liberal arts education accessible to students from many backgrounds. International students benefit from OBU's welcoming Christian community and global engagement programs. Campus life at OBU centers on the Tigers community in NCAA Division II athletics through the Great American Conference. The Tigers compete across multiple sports including football, basketball, baseball, and the iconic Battle of the Ravine football rivalry with neighboring Henderson State University — one of the nation's most storied small-college football rivalries. Students live on campus in residence halls and Greek housing, with extensive opportunities for Christian spiritual life, music ensembles, and engagement with the Arkadelphia community. The purple and gold school colors and Baptist heritage shape campus identity. With 174 years of educating Christian leaders for Arkansas and beyond, OBU offers a distinctive Christian liberal arts experience.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
National Universities
US News 2026
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceEarly Action
Non-binding; priority scholarship review
Regular Decision
Rolling admissions
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$36,646
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Distinguished Christian ministry preparation program — among the most respected undergraduate Christian studies programs in the South.
Practical Christian business education with strong placement in Arkansas and Southern employers.
Strong sciences with pre-health pathways and high acceptance rates to medical, dental, and pharmacy programs.
Distinguished music program (one of the strongest small-college music programs in the South), plus visual arts and theatre.
Programs in literature, history, communication, plus comprehensive teacher preparation.
4 years
Distinguished Christian ministry preparation program preparing students for careers in pastoral ministry, missions, and Christian leadership.
4 years
One of Arkansas's strongest pre-health pipelines with high acceptance to medical and pharmacy schools at UAMS and beyond.
4 years
Distinguished School of Fine Arts music program with conservatory-quality choral and instrumental ensembles.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $34,500
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
