OBU vs. University of St Thomas

Comparable Facts

Compare Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, AR with University of St Thomas in Houston, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of St Thomas is larger than OBU based on total student enrollment (4,301 students vs. 1,858 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Ouachita Baptist University is located in Arkadelphia, AR (Distant Town setting); University of St Thomas is in Houston, TX (Large City setting).
• Ouachita Baptist University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of St Thomas is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Ouachita Baptist University 14:1; University of St Thomas 16:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ouachita Baptist University are 10.3% lower than at University of St Thomas ($9,720 vs. $10,840).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.4% higher at University of St Thomas than at Ouachita Baptist University (about $134 more per year; $34,634 vs. $34,500).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ouachita Baptist University than at University of St Thomas (100% vs. 93%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of St Thomas students is 9.1% larger than aid received by Ouachita Baptist University students ($24,902 vs. $22,830).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 4 points higher at OBU than at University of St Thomas (25 vs. 21, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both OBU and University of St Thomas.
• Typical fall application deadline: University of St Thomas Aug 15, 2027.
• Enrolled first-year students at OBU average a 3.72 high school GPA, 0.19 higher than at University of St Thomas (3.53).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.9% at OBU vs. 29.7% at University of St Thomas.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of St Thomas graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than OBU graduates ($22,000 vs. $22,500).
• Among borrowers, University of St Thomas graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than OBU graduates ($227 vs. $232).
• More OBU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of St Thomas students, three years after graduation (71% vs. 59%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.