OBU vs. University of St Thomas

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

OBU University of St Thomas
Location Arkadelphia, AR Houston, TX
Setting Distant Town Large City
Enrollment 1,784 3,588
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #474 #479
Religious Affiliation Southern Baptist Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website obu.edu stthom.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

OBU University of St Thomas
Tuition (In State) $30,500 $31,724
Tuition (Out of State) $30,500 $31,724
Room & Board $8,800 $9,760
Avg Net Price $21,677 $19,207
Avg Grant Aid $22,181 $23,181
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 91%

Admission

OBU University of St Thomas
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,063 1,123
Admitted 1,492 1,086
Acceptance Rate 72.3% 96.7%
Enrolled % 29.8% 47.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.72 3.53
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Average Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/28 24/29
SAT Range 1020/1200 1010/1300
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 15, 2025

Academics

OBU University of St Thomas
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (20%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Psychology (9%)

Outcomes

OBU University of St Thomas
Graduation Rate 63% 44%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,400 $57,200
Making Student Loan Payments 71% 59%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $22,000
Median Loan Payment $232 $227

Diversity

OBU University of St Thomas
% Men 41% 42%
% Women 59% 58%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 85% 28%
% Black 7% 7%
% Hispanic 4% 40%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 2%
% International 2% 10%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

OBU University of St Thomas
% In-State 63% 95%
% Out-of-State 35% 3%

Campus

OBU University of St Thomas
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of St Thomas is larger than than OBU based on total student enrollment (3,588 students vs. 1,784 students)

OBU vs. University of St Thomas Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, OBU or University of St Thomas?

  • University of St Thomas is 4% more expensive to attend than OBU for in-state tuition ($31,724.00 vs. $30,500.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4% higher at University of St Thomas than Ouachita Baptist University ($31,724.00 vs. $30,500.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of St Thomas than OBU ($19,207 vs. $21,677)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ouachita Baptist University are 10.9% lower than costs at University of St Thomas ($8,800 vs. $9,760)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Ouachita Baptist University than University of St Thomas (100% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of St Thomas students is 4.5% larger than aid received Ouachita Baptist University ($23,181 vs. $22,181)

OBU vs. University of St Thomas Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Ouachita Baptist University (1120) is 17 points higher than at University of St Thomas (1103)
  • Incoming OBU students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at University of St Thomas (25)
  • Accepted freshman OBU students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at University of St Thomas (3.53)
  • University of St Thomas has a higher acceptance rate (96.7%) than OBU (72.3%)

OBU vs. University of St Thomas Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, OBU or University of St Thomas? 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 University of St Thomas and OBU.

  • The graduation rate at OBU is higher than University of St Thomas (63% vs. 44%)
  • Graduates from University of St Thomas earn on average $13,800 more per year than OBU graduates after ten years. ($57,200 vs. $43,400)
  • University of St Thomas students graduate with a $500 lower median federal student loan debt than OBU graduates. ($22,000 vs. $22,500)
  • University of St Thomas graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than OBU graduates. ($227 vs. $232)
  • More OBU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of St Thomas students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 59%)

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