OBU vs. Tarleton

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

OBU Tarleton
Location Arkadelphia, AR Stephenville, TX
Setting Distant Town Remote Town
Enrollment 1,784 14,092
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #474 #871
Religious Affiliation Southern Baptist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website obu.edu tarleton.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

OBU Tarleton
Tuition (In State) $30,500 $4,416
Tuition (Out of State) $30,500 $14,208
Room & Board $8,800 $10,328
Avg Net Price $21,677 $13,755
Avg Grant Aid $22,181 $8,463
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 79%

Admission

OBU Tarleton
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,063 5,788
Admitted 1,492 5,039
Acceptance Rate 72.3% 87.1%
Enrolled % 29.8% 48.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.72 3.21
Typical High School Grades A- B
Admissions Standards Average Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/28 18/24
SAT Range 1020/1200 950/1150
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 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

OBU Tarleton
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (20%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Business (20%)
  • General Studies (18%)
  • Agriculture (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

OBU Tarleton
Graduation Rate 63% 39%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,400 $45,500
Making Student Loan Payments 71% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $19,750
Median Loan Payment $232 $204

Diversity

OBU Tarleton
% Men 41% 36%
% Women 59% 64%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 85% 68%
% Black 7% 8%
% Hispanic 4% 18%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 3%
% International 2% 0%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

OBU Tarleton
% In-State 63% 97%
% Out-of-State 35% 3%

Campus

OBU Tarleton
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Tarleton State University is larger than than OBU based on total student enrollment (14,092 students vs. 1,784 students)

OBU vs. Tarleton Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, OBU or Tarleton?

  • Ouachita Baptist University is 590.7% more expensive to attend than Tarleton for in-state tuition ($30,500.00 vs. $4,416.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 114.7% higher at OBU than Tarleton State University ($30,500.00 vs. $14,208.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Tarleton State University than OBU ($13,755 vs. $21,677)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ouachita Baptist University are 17.4% lower than costs at Tarleton State University ($8,800 vs. $10,328)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Ouachita Baptist University than Tarleton State University (100% vs. 79%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ouachita Baptist University students is 162.1% larger than aid received Tarleton State University ($22,181 vs. $8,463)

OBU vs. Tarleton Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Ouachita Baptist University (1120) is 161 points higher than at Tarleton (959)
  • Incoming OBU students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Tarleton (21)
  • Accepted freshman OBU students have a 0.51 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at Tarleton (3.21)
  • Tarleton has a higher acceptance rate (87.1%) than OBU (72.3%)

OBU vs. Tarleton Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at OBU is higher than Tarleton State University (63% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Tarleton State University earn on average $2,100 more per year than OBU graduates after ten years. ($45,500 vs. $43,400)
  • Tarleton State University students graduate with a $2,750 lower median federal student loan debt than OBU graduates. ($19,750 vs. $22,500)
  • Tarleton graduates are paying $28 less per month on federal student loans than OBU graduates. ($204 vs. $232)
  • More OBU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tarleton students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 56%)

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