University of the Ozarks vs Arkansas Baptist College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but University of the Ozarks comes closer — median earnings $44,384 against a $69,440 total, vs $28,418 at Arkansas Baptist College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of the Ozarks | Arkansas Baptist College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,360 | $10,627 |
| Total net cost | $69,440 | $42,508 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,384 | $28,418 |
| Median debt | $20,875 | $25,375 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$148,960 | -$441,348 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, University of the Ozarks or Arkansas Baptist College?
Arkansas Baptist College, at $10,627 a year after aid versus $17,360 — a gap of $6,733 a year, or $26,932 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do University of the Ozarks or Arkansas Baptist College graduates earn more?
University of the Ozarks graduates report a median $44,384 ten years after entry, $15,966 more than the $28,418 at Arkansas Baptist College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, University of the Ozarks or Arkansas Baptist College?
University of the Ozarks: its completers carry a median $20,875 in federal loans versus $25,375 at Arkansas Baptist College, a difference of $4,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
51% of students finish at University of the Ozarks, against 7% at Arkansas Baptist College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.