OBU vs. HSU

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

 OBU HSU
Location Arkadelphia, AR Abilene, TX
Setting Distant Town Midsize City
Enrollment 1,784 1,765
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #474 #741
Religious Affiliation Southern Baptist Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website obu.edu hsutx.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 OBU HSU
Tuition (In State) $30,500 $30,694
Tuition (Out of State) $30,500 $30,694
Room & Board $8,800 $9,980
Avg Net Price $21,677 $22,636
Avg Grant Aid $22,181 $22,695
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

 OBU HSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,063 2,314
Admitted 1,492 2,042
Acceptance Rate 72.3% 88.2%
Enrolled % 29.8% 17.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.72 3.43
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Average Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/28 18/24
SAT Range 1020/1200 1010/1198
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

 OBU HSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (20%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)

Outcomes

 OBU HSU
Graduation Rate 63% 47%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,400 $46,600
Making Student Loan Payments 71% 67%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $25,989
Median Loan Payment $232 $268

Diversity

 OBU HSU
% Men 41% 44%
% Women 59% 56%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 85% 71%
% Black 7% 6%
% Hispanic 4% 15%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 4%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

 OBU HSU
% In-State 63% 96%
% Out-of-State 35% 3%

Campus

 OBU HSU
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

  • Ouachita Baptist University is larger than than HSU based on total student enrollment (1,784 students vs. 1,765 students)

OBU vs. HSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, OBU or HSU?

  • Hardin Simmons University is 0.6% more expensive to attend than OBU for in-state tuition ($30,694.00 vs. $30,500.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 0.6% higher at HSU than Ouachita Baptist University ($30,694.00 vs. $30,500.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Ouachita Baptist University than HSU ($21,677 vs. $22,636)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ouachita Baptist University are 13.4% lower than costs at Hardin Simmons University ($8,800 vs. $9,980)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Ouachita Baptist University as Hardin Simmons University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Hardin Simmons University students is 2.3% larger than aid received Ouachita Baptist University ($22,695 vs. $22,181)

OBU vs. HSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Ouachita Baptist University (1120) is 90 points higher than at HSU (1030)
  • Incoming OBU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at HSU (22)
  • Accepted freshman OBU students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at HSU (3.43)
  • HSU has a higher acceptance rate (88.2%) than OBU (72.3%)

OBU vs. HSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, OBU or HSU? 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 HSU and OBU.

  • The graduation rate at OBU is higher than Hardin Simmons University (63% vs. 47%)
  • Graduates from Hardin Simmons University earn on average $3,200 more per year than OBU graduates after ten years. ($46,600 vs. $43,400)
  • Ouachita Baptist University students graduate with a $3,489 lower median federal student loan debt than HSU graduates. ($22,500 vs. $25,989)
  • OBU graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than HSU graduates. ($232 vs. $268)
  • More OBU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HSU students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 67%)

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