Ouachita Baptist University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Ouachita Baptist University charges a net price of $22,409/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $89,636. Graduates earn a median $51,673 ten years after entry, $3,313/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 27.1 years — a 20-year net return of -$23,376, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Ouachita Baptist University's 27.1-year payback ranks #1,121 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 12% of them, and #7 of 47 in Arkansas.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $22,409/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $89,636 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $51,673 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $3,313/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $21,050 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 27.1 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$23,376 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Ouachita Baptist University's own numbers. Net price $22,409 × 4 years = $89,636 total. Median earnings $51,673 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $3,313 a year of premium. $89,636 ÷ $3,313 = 27.1 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$23,376. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Ouachita Baptist University students graduate with?
A median $21,050 in federal loans among completers, or 41% of the $51,673 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Ouachita Baptist University students graduate?
61% finish their degree — 39% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $89,636 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $146,944 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Ouachita Baptist University expensive compared with other Arkansas colleges?
Its $22,409 net price runs $10,043 above the $12,366 median across the 47 Arkansas colleges we profile, or $40,172 more across the full degree.