OBU vs. ULM

Comparable Facts

Compare Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, AR with University of Louisiana at Monroe in Monroe, LA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Louisiana at Monroe is larger than OBU based on total student enrollment (8,601 students vs. 1,858 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Ouachita Baptist University is located in Arkadelphia, AR (Distant Town setting); University of Louisiana at Monroe is in Monroe, LA (Small City setting).
• Ouachita Baptist University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Louisiana at Monroe is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Ouachita Baptist University 14:1; University of Louisiana at Monroe 18:1.

OBU vs. ULM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, OBU or ULM? 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 University of Louisiana at Monroe than OBU ($13,648 vs. $24,532).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ouachita Baptist University are 7.9% lower than at University of Louisiana at Monroe ($9,720 vs. $10,554).
• Ouachita Baptist University is 275.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than ULM (about $25,310 more per year; $34,500.00 vs. $9,190.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 62% higher at OBU than at University of Louisiana at Monroe (about $13,210 more per year; $34,500.00 vs. $21,290.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ouachita Baptist University than at University of Louisiana at Monroe (100% vs. 95%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Ouachita Baptist University students is 71.2% larger than aid received by University of Louisiana at Monroe students ($22,830 vs. $13,338).

OBU vs. ULM Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at University of Louisiana at Monroe (1260) is 80 points higher than at OBU (1180).
• Incoming OBU students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (25 vs. 21 at ULM).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Ouachita Baptist University 1070/1280; University of Louisiana at Monroe 1160/1360.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Ouachita Baptist University 22/28; University of Louisiana at Monroe 18/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: OBU - Test optional; ULM - Test optional.
• Enrolled freshman OBU students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at ULM (3.53).
• ULM has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than OBU (67.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.9% at OBU vs. 35.1% at ULM.

OBU vs. ULM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for OBU and ULM? 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 University of Louisiana at Monroe's (33%).
• Graduates from University of Louisiana at Monroe earn a median of about $2,400 more per year than OBU graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,800 vs. $43,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Louisiana at Monroe graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than OBU graduates ($20,000 vs. $22,500).
• Among borrowers, ULM graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than OBU graduates ($206 vs. $232).
• More OBU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ULM students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 49%)

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.