OBU vs. Harding University vs. John Brown University

Compare Ouachita Baptist University, Harding University, and John Brown University side by side. Review cost and aid, selectivity and test-score context, academics, campus setting, and post-graduation benchmarks to see which option lines up with your goals. Data comes from the same catalog CollegeSimply maintains across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities.

Ouachita Baptist University
Harding University
John Brown University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • OBU Arkadelphia, AR
  • Harding University Searcy, AR
  • John Brown University Siloam Springs, AR
  • Setting
  • OBU Distant Town
  • Harding University Distant Town
  • John Brown University Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • OBU 1,858
  • Harding University 4,696
  • John Brown University 2,350
  • Type
  • OBU Private 4 Year
  • Harding University Private 4 Year
  • John Brown University Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • OBU #485
  • Harding University #470
  • John Brown University #316
  • Religious Affiliation
  • OBU Southern Baptist
  • Harding University Churches of Christ
  • John Brown University -
  • Status
  • OBU Non-profit
  • Harding University Non-profit
  • John Brown University Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • OBU
  • Harding University
  • John Brown University

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • OBU $34,500
  • Harding University $26,262
  • John Brown University $31,756
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • OBU $34,500
  • Harding University $26,262
  • John Brown University $31,756
  • Room & Board
  • OBU $9,720
  • Harding University $9,060
  • John Brown University $10,362
  • Average Net Price
  • OBU $24,532
  • Harding University $22,806
  • John Brown University $21,537
  • Average Grant Aid
  • OBU $22,830
  • Harding University $16,763
  • John Brown University $23,173
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • OBU 100%
  • Harding University 98%
  • John Brown University 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • OBU 2,155
  • Harding University 2,714
  • John Brown University 1,647
  • Admitted
  • OBU 1,455
  • Harding University 1,914
  • John Brown University 1,254
  • Acceptance Rate
  • OBU 67.5%
  • Harding University 70.5%
  • John Brown University 76.1%
  • Enrolled
  • OBU 28.9%
  • Harding University 44.6%
  • John Brown University 30.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • OBU 1180
  • Harding University 1170
  • John Brown University 1210
  • Typical ACT score
  • OBU 25
  • Harding University 24
  • John Brown University 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • OBU 3.72
  • Harding University 3.71
  • John Brown University 3.77
  • Typical High School Grades
  • OBU A-
  • Harding University A-
  • John Brown University A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • OBU Challenging
  • Harding University Challenging
  • John Brown University Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • OBU Low
  • Harding University Low
  • John Brown University
  • ACT Range
  • OBU 22/28
  • Harding University 20/29
  • John Brown University 21/28
  • SAT Range
  • OBU 1070/1280
  • Harding University 1050/1290
  • John Brown University 1070/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • OBU Test optional
  • Harding University Required
  • John Brown University Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • OBU
  • Harding University
  • John Brown University

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • OBU 14:1
  • Harding University 13:1
  • John Brown University 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • OBU
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (20%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Harding University
    • Business (19%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • John Brown University
    • Business (47%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • OBU 63%
  • Harding University 63%
  • John Brown University 66%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • OBU $43,400
  • Harding University $44,800
  • John Brown University $53,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • OBU 71%
  • Harding University 71%
  • John Brown University 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • OBU $22,500
  • Harding University $27,000
  • John Brown University $21,943
  • Median Loan Payment
  • OBU $232
  • Harding University $279
  • John Brown University $226

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • OBU 44%
  • Harding University 44%
  • John Brown University 42%
  • % Women
  • OBU 56%
  • Harding University 56%
  • John Brown University 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • OBU Very Low
  • Harding University Low
  • John Brown University Low
  • HBCU
  • OBU No
  • Harding University No
  • John Brown University No
  • % White
  • OBU 85%
  • Harding University 83%
  • John Brown University 74%
  • % Asian
  • OBU 1%
  • Harding University 1%
  • John Brown University 2%
  • % Black
  • OBU 7%
  • Harding University 4%
  • John Brown University 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • OBU 4%
  • Harding University 4%
  • John Brown University 6%
  • % Native American
  • OBU 1%
  • Harding University 1%
  • John Brown University 2%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • OBU 0%
  • Harding University 0%
  • John Brown University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • OBU 0%
  • Harding University 2%
  • John Brown University 3%
  • % International
  • OBU 2%
  • Harding University 6%
  • John Brown University 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • OBU 0%
  • Harding University 0%
  • John Brown University 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • OBU 62%
  • Harding University 28%
  • John Brown University 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • OBU 35%
  • Harding University 68%
  • John Brown University 49%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • OBU Yes
  • Harding University Yes
  • John Brown University Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • OBU No
  • Harding University No
  • John Brown University No
  • Meal Plan
  • OBU Yes
  • Harding University Yes
  • John Brown University Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • OBU No
  • Harding University Yes
  • John Brown University No
  • Daycare Facility
  • OBU No
  • Harding University No
  • John Brown University No

Comparable Facts

Compare Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, AR with Harding University in Searcy, AR on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Harding University is larger than OBU based on total student enrollment (4,696 students vs. 1,858 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Ouachita Baptist University is located in Arkadelphia, AR (Distant Town setting); Harding University is in Searcy, AR (Distant Town setting).
  • Ouachita Baptist University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Harding University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Ouachita Baptist University 14:1; Harding University 13:1.

OBU vs. Harding University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, OBU or Harding University? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harding University than OBU ($22,806 vs. $24,532).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Harding University are 6.8% lower than at Ouachita Baptist University ($9,060 vs. $9,720).
  • Ouachita Baptist University is 31.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harding University (about $8,238 more per year; $34,500.00 vs. $26,262.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 31.4% higher at OBU than at Harding University (about $8,238 more per year; $34,500.00 vs. $26,262.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ouachita Baptist University than at Harding University (100% vs. 98%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ouachita Baptist University students is 36.2% larger than aid received by Harding University students ($22,830 vs. $16,763).

OBU vs. Harding University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, OBU or Harding University? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Harding University and OBU.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Ouachita Baptist University (1180) is 10 points higher than at Harding University (1170).
  • Incoming OBU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (25 vs. 24 at Harding University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Ouachita Baptist University 1070/1280; Harding University 1050/1290.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Ouachita Baptist University 22/28; Harding University 20/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: OBU - Test optional; Harding University - Required.
  • Enrolled freshman OBU students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at Harding University (3.71).
  • Harding University has a higher acceptance rate (70.5%) than OBU (67.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.9% at OBU vs. 44.6% at Harding University.

OBU vs. Harding University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for OBU and Harding University? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • The graduation rate at OBU is the same as at Harding University (63% vs. 63%).
  • Graduates from Harding University earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than OBU graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $43,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ouachita Baptist University graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than Harding University graduates ($22,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, OBU graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Harding University graduates ($232 vs. $279).
  • More OBU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harding University students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 71%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.