Henderson State University vs. OU

Should I go to Henderson State University or Ottawa University Ottawa? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Henderson State University or OU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Henderson State University vs. Ottawa University Ottawa comparison
Henderson State University Ottawa University Ottawa College 3 College 4
Henderson State University
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Overview

Henderson State University OU
Location Arkadelphia, AR Ottawa, KS
Setting Distant Town Distant Town
Enrollment 2,519 953
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #976
Religious Affiliation - American Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website hsu.edu ottawa.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Henderson State University OU
Tuition (In State) $5,880 $29,980
Tuition (Out of State) $8,088 $29,980
Room & Board $9,558 $11,934
Avg Net Price $17,656 $26,872
Avg Grant Aid $9,580 $23,303
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 100%

Admission

Henderson State University OU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,345 3,331
Admitted 1,657 2,606
Acceptance Rate 70.7% 78.2%
Enrolled % 24.9% 10%
Avg High School GPA 3.23 3.12
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/21 18/23
SAT Range 903/1073 860/1100
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 15, 2025

Academics

Henderson State University OU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (19%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Business (33%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (18%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • English and Literature (5%)

Outcomes

Henderson State University OU
Graduation Rate 31% 47%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,400 $46,400
Making Student Loan Payments 48% 46%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,500 $21,875
Median Loan Payment $201 $226

Diversity

Henderson State University OU
% Men 40% 63%
% Women 60% 37%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 66% 61%
% Black 24% 13%
% Hispanic 4% 3%
% Native American 0% 5%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 0% 14%

Students

Henderson State University OU
% In-State 81% 29%
% Out-of-State 19% 69%

Campus

Henderson State University OU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Henderson State University is larger than than OU based on total student enrollment (2,519 students vs. 953 students)

Henderson State University vs. OU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Henderson State University or OU?

  • Ottawa University Ottawa is 409.9% more expensive to attend than Henderson State University for in-state tuition ($29,980.00 vs. $5,880.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 270.7% higher at OU than Henderson State University ($29,980.00 vs. $8,088.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Henderson State University than OU ($17,656 vs. $26,872)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Henderson State University are 24.9% lower than costs at Ottawa University Ottawa ($9,558 vs. $11,934)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Ottawa University Ottawa than Henderson State University (100% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ottawa University Ottawa students is 143.2% larger than aid received Henderson State University ($23,303 vs. $9,580)

Henderson State University vs. OU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Henderson State University or OU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between OU or Henderson State University .

  • Accepted freshman Henderson State University students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.23) than students at OU (3.12)
  • OU has a higher acceptance rate (78.2%) than Henderson State University (70.7%)

Henderson State University vs. OU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Henderson State University or OU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between OU and Henderson State University.

  • The graduation rate at OU is higher than Henderson State University (47% vs. 31%)
  • Graduates from Ottawa University Ottawa earn on average $8,000 more per year than Henderson State University graduates after ten years. ($46,400 vs. $38,400)
  • Henderson State University students graduate with a $2,375 lower median federal student loan debt than OU graduates. ($19,500 vs. $21,875)
  • Henderson State University graduates are paying $25 less per month on federal student loans than OU graduates. ($201 vs. $226)
  • More Henderson State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OU students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 46%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/