OBU vs. HBU

Deciding between Ouachita Baptist University and Houston Christian University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Ouachita Baptist University
Houston Christian University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • OBU Arkadelphia, AR
  • HBU Houston, TX
  • Setting
  • OBU Distant Town
  • HBU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • OBU 1,858
  • HBU 4,276
  • Type
  • OBU Private 4 Year
  • HBU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • OBU #485
  • HBU #837
  • Religious Affiliation
  • OBU Southern Baptist
  • HBU Southern Baptist
  • Status
  • OBU Non-profit
  • HBU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • OBU
  • HBU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • OBU $34,500
  • HBU $39,430
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • OBU $34,500
  • HBU $39,430
  • Room & Board
  • OBU $9,720
  • HBU $12,928
  • Average Net Price
  • OBU $24,532
  • HBU $21,282
  • Average Grant Aid
  • OBU $22,830
  • HBU $28,870
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • OBU 100%
  • HBU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • OBU 2,155
  • HBU 8,455
  • Admitted
  • OBU 1,455
  • HBU 7,139
  • Acceptance Rate
  • OBU 67.5%
  • HBU 84.4%
  • Enrolled
  • OBU 28.9%
  • HBU 10.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • OBU 1180
  • HBU 1090
  • Typical ACT score
  • OBU 25
  • HBU 20
  • Average High School GPA
  • OBU 3.72
  • HBU 3.46
  • Typical High School Grades
  • OBU A-
  • HBU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • OBU Challenging
  • HBU Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • OBU Low
  • HBU
  • ACT Range
  • OBU 22/28
  • HBU 17/24
  • SAT Range
  • OBU 1070/1280
  • HBU 990/1190
  • Submit Test Scores
  • OBU Test optional
  • HBU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • OBU
  • HBU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • OBU 14:1
  • HBU 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • OBU
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (20%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • HBU
    • Business (21%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Health Professions (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • OBU 63%
  • HBU 45%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • OBU $43,400
  • HBU $51,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • OBU 71%
  • HBU 54%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • OBU $22,500
  • HBU $24,166
  • Median Loan Payment
  • OBU $232
  • HBU $249

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • OBU 44%
  • HBU 36%
  • % Women
  • OBU 56%
  • HBU 64%
  • Racial Diversity
  • OBU Very Low
  • HBU Very High
  • HBCU
  • OBU No
  • HBU No
  • % White
  • OBU 85%
  • HBU 27%
  • % Asian
  • OBU 1%
  • HBU 10%
  • % Black
  • OBU 7%
  • HBU 19%
  • % Hispanic
  • OBU 4%
  • HBU 30%
  • % Native American
  • OBU 1%
  • HBU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • OBU 0%
  • HBU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • OBU 0%
  • HBU 5%
  • % International
  • OBU 2%
  • HBU 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • OBU 0%
  • HBU 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • OBU 62%
  • HBU 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • OBU 35%
  • HBU 6%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • OBU Yes
  • HBU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • OBU No
  • HBU No
  • Meal Plan
  • OBU Yes
  • HBU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • OBU No
  • HBU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • OBU No
  • HBU No

Comparable Facts

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

Houston Christian University is larger than OBU based on total student enrollment (4,276 students vs. 1,858 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Ouachita Baptist University is located in Arkadelphia, AR (Distant Town setting); Houston Christian University is in Houston, TX (Large City setting).
  • Ouachita Baptist University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Houston Christian University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Ouachita Baptist University 14:1; Houston Christian University 18:1.

OBU vs. HBU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, OBU or HBU? 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 Houston Christian University than OBU ($21,282 vs. $24,532).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ouachita Baptist University are 24.8% lower than at Houston Christian University ($9,720 vs. $12,928).
  • Houston Christian University is 14.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than OBU (about $4,930 more per year; $39,430.00 vs. $34,500.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.3% higher at HBU than at Ouachita Baptist University (about $4,930 more per year; $39,430.00 vs. $34,500.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Ouachita Baptist University as at Houston Christian University (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Houston Christian University students is 26.5% larger than aid received by Ouachita Baptist University students ($28,870 vs. $22,830).

OBU vs. HBU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, OBU or HBU? 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 HBU and OBU.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Ouachita Baptist University (1180) is 90 points higher than at HBU (1090).
  • Incoming OBU students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (25 vs. 20 at HBU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Ouachita Baptist University 1070/1280; Houston Christian University 990/1190.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Ouachita Baptist University 22/28; Houston Christian University 17/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: OBU - Test optional; HBU - Test optional.
  • Enrolled freshman OBU students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at HBU (3.46).
  • HBU has a higher acceptance rate (84.4%) than OBU (67.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.9% at OBU vs. 10.5% at HBU.

OBU vs. HBU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for OBU and HBU? 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.

  • Ouachita Baptist University's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Houston Christian University's (45%).
  • Graduates from Houston Christian University earn a median of about $8,200 more per year than OBU graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,600 vs. $43,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ouachita Baptist University graduates have a $1,666 lower median loan debt than HBU graduates ($22,500 vs. $24,166).
  • Among borrowers, OBU graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HBU graduates ($232 vs. $249).
  • More OBU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HBU students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 54%)

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.