OBU vs. IWU

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

 OBU IWU
Location Arkadelphia, AR Marion, IN
Setting Distant Town Distant Town
Enrollment 1,784 2,603
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #474 #299
Religious Affiliation Southern Baptist Wesleyan - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website obu.edu indwes.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 OBU IWU
Tuition (In State) $30,500 $29,684
Tuition (Out of State) $30,500 $29,684
Room & Board $8,800 $10,050
Avg Net Price $21,677 $21,755
Avg Grant Aid $22,181 $20,194
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

 OBU IWU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,063 3,946
Admitted 1,492 3,422
Acceptance Rate 72.3% 86.7%
Enrolled % 29.8% 16.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.72 3.61
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Average Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/28 21/27
SAT Range 1020/1200 1000/1190
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 IWU
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (20%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Business (56%)
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (3%)
  • Education (3%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (3%)

Outcomes

 OBU IWU
Graduation Rate 63% 70%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,400 $54,300
Making Student Loan Payments 71% 55%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $24,104
Median Loan Payment $232 $249

Diversity

 OBU IWU
% Men 41% 34%
% Women 59% 66%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 85% 73%
% Black 7% 19%
% Hispanic 4% 4%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 2%
% International 2% 0%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

 OBU IWU
% In-State 63% 60%
% Out-of-State 35% 39%

Campus

 OBU IWU
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

  • Indiana Wesleyan University is larger than than OBU based on total student enrollment (2,603 students vs. 1,784 students)

OBU vs. IWU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, OBU or IWU?

  • Ouachita Baptist University is 2.7% more expensive to attend than IWU for in-state tuition ($30,500.00 vs. $29,684.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.7% higher at OBU than Indiana Wesleyan University ($30,500.00 vs. $29,684.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Ouachita Baptist University than IWU ($21,677 vs. $21,755)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ouachita Baptist University are 14.2% lower than costs at Indiana Wesleyan University ($8,800 vs. $10,050)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Ouachita Baptist University as Indiana Wesleyan University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ouachita Baptist University students is 9.8% larger than aid received Indiana Wesleyan University ($22,181 vs. $20,194)

OBU vs. IWU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Ouachita Baptist University (1120) is 34 points higher than at IWU (1086)
  • Incoming OBU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at IWU (24)
  • Accepted freshman OBU students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at IWU (3.61)
  • IWU has a higher acceptance rate (86.7%) than OBU (72.3%)

OBU vs. IWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at IWU is higher than Ouachita Baptist University (70% vs. 63%)
  • Graduates from Indiana Wesleyan University earn on average $10,900 more per year than OBU graduates after ten years. ($54,300 vs. $43,400)
  • Ouachita Baptist University students graduate with a $1,604 lower median federal student loan debt than IWU graduates. ($22,500 vs. $24,104)
  • OBU graduates are paying $17 less per month on federal student loans than IWU graduates. ($232 vs. $249)
  • More OBU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IWU students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 55%)

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