Henderson State University vs. OBU

Should I go to Henderson State University or Ouachita Baptist University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Henderson State University or OBU 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. Ouachita Baptist University comparison
Henderson State University Ouachita Baptist University College 3 College 4
Henderson State University Ouachita Baptist University
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Overview

Henderson State University OBU
Location Arkadelphia, AR Arkadelphia, AR
Setting Distant Town Distant Town
Enrollment 2,519 1,784
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #976 #474
Religious Affiliation - Southern Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website hsu.edu obu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Henderson State University OBU
Tuition (In State) $5,880 $30,500
Tuition (Out of State) $8,088 $30,500
Room & Board $9,558 $8,800
Avg Net Price $17,656 $21,677
Avg Grant Aid $9,580 $22,181
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 100%

Admission

Henderson State University OBU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,345 2,063
Admitted 1,657 1,492
Acceptance Rate 70.7% 72.3%
Enrolled % 24.9% 29.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.23 3.72
Typical High School Grades B A-
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Average
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 16/21 21/28
SAT Range 903/1073 1020/1200
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 OBU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (19%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (20%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

Outcomes

Henderson State University OBU
Graduation Rate 31% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,400 $43,400
Making Student Loan Payments 48% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,500 $22,500
Median Loan Payment $201 $232

Diversity

Henderson State University OBU
% Men 40% 41%
% Women 60% 59%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 66% 85%
% Black 24% 7%
% Hispanic 4% 4%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 0%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

Henderson State University OBU
% In-State 81% 63%
% Out-of-State 19% 35%

Campus

Henderson State University OBU
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 OBU based on total student enrollment (2,519 students vs. 1,784 students)

Henderson State University vs. OBU Cost Comparison

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

  • Ouachita Baptist University is 418.7% more expensive to attend than Henderson State University for in-state tuition ($30,500.00 vs. $5,880.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 277.1% higher at OBU than Henderson State University ($30,500.00 vs. $8,088.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Henderson State University than OBU ($17,656 vs. $21,677)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ouachita Baptist University are 8.6% lower than costs at Henderson State University ($8,800 vs. $9,558)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Ouachita Baptist University than Henderson State University (100% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ouachita Baptist University students is 131.5% larger than aid received Henderson State University ($22,181 vs. $9,580)

Henderson State University vs. OBU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Ouachita Baptist University (1120) is 132 points higher than at Henderson State University (988)
  • Incoming OBU students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Henderson State University (21)
  • Accepted freshman OBU students have a 0.49 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at Henderson State University (3.23)
  • OBU has a higher acceptance rate (72.3%) than Henderson State University (70.7%)

Henderson State University vs. OBU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Henderson State University or OBU? 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 OBU and Henderson State University.

  • The graduation rate at OBU is higher than Henderson State University (63% vs. 31%)
  • Graduates from Ouachita Baptist University earn on average $5,000 more per year than Henderson State University graduates after ten years. ($43,400 vs. $38,400)
  • Henderson State University students graduate with a $3,000 lower median federal student loan debt than OBU graduates. ($19,500 vs. $22,500)
  • Henderson State University graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than OBU graduates. ($201 vs. $232)
  • More OBU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Henderson State University students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 48%)

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