FAQ
Paying for college is a big concern for most families. We want to make sure you and your parents understand Ouachita’s financial aid process. Here are some key things you need to know:
- Ouachita Aid
- The application for admission to Ouachita is also the application for Ouachita academic scholarships and grants. You will be considered for available university scholarships at the time of acceptance to the university. Make sure we have your official transcript and test scores.
- Merit Aid is based on your GPA through your 7th semester (December of your senior year) and the highest composite ACT/SAT score through the February test date of your senior year.
- You can go to the Ouachita Scholarship Calculator to see what Merit Aid you would qualify for with your current GPA and ACT/SAT scores.
- Federal Aid
- Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid.) This application is for all federal aid including Pell grants, federal student loans and federal work study.
- Ouachita will obtain FAFSA information as soon as the federal government releases the information.
- Ouachita begins sending award notices to accepted applicants with a complete FAFSA application on file in December each year. Updated award notices will be posted to your Ouachita INFO portal if you receive additional aid from Ouachita or outside sources.
- State Aid
- Apply for Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship through the Arkansas Department of Higher Education web site with the YOUniversal application. You must apply for this scholarship by June 1, but don’t wait. Do it today!
- Apply for Governor’s Distinguished (ACT score of 32 or above) by February 1. These are competitive academic scholarships available through ADHE.
- Private Aid
- These are scholarships funded by entities outside of Ouachita and outside of the federal
or state government. These can be highly beneficial, but will take some effort on
the student’s behalf to find and apply. Many require essays. Private scholarship deadlines
are approaching quickly. If you are still looking for these scholarships, here are
some great resources:
- Ouachita’s Website featuring private aid our current students are receiving
- Your high school guidance counselor
- Your local chamber of commerce
- Internet search Engines: See the bottom bullet, “Free Scholarship Searches”, on Ouachita’s private aid portion of our web site.
- While the Student Financial Services office does try to screen the scholarship sites, Ouachita is not responsible for the information contained on these sites nor the validity of the scholarships. Remember, you should never have to pay to apply for a scholarship.
- These are scholarships funded by entities outside of Ouachita and outside of the federal
or state government. These can be highly beneficial, but will take some effort on
the student’s behalf to find and apply. Many require essays. Private scholarship deadlines
are approaching quickly. If you are still looking for these scholarships, here are
some great resources:
Prebilling for the fall semester of study is posted to the student INFO portal at the time of preregistration each semester. (Preregistration occurs in April for the next fall semester and October timeframe for the spring semester of study.)
An updated account statement is posted to the student’s Ouachita web portal account monthly. A monthly e-statement will also be sent to emails on file. Please check the ‘contact 1’ and ‘contact 2’ email addresses listed in the student web portal for accuracy.
Students with credits on their student accounts may request a refund check at any time during the semester. Refund checks will begin being released the week after classes start. Students may request through the Ouachita info portal. Refund checks are printed on Thursday each week; any check requested by 3 p.m. on Tuesday will be available for pick up in Student Financial Services office after 1 p.m. on Friday. ID cards will be required for check pickup.
OBU Dollars can be purchased in Student Financial Services and used in the bookstore, for additional printing/copying and Chick-fil-A, Tacos 4 Life, Dr. Jack's or Tiger Express.
Payments may be made with cash, check, money order, credit/debit card or electronic check. Account payments may be made:
- *Preferred payment method* – Online Payment Option through the student’s or parent’s web portal account
- By phone at (870) 245-5570
- By mail addressed to Ouachita Baptist University, Box 3774, Arkadelphia, Arkansas 71998
Full Residential Student Meal Plan: Residential students pay a package rate that covers a standard, shared dorm room and a full meal plan. Full meal plans include unlimited access to the Ouachita Commons and up to $500 in charges at one our Student Center locations (Chick-fil-A, Tacos 4 Life, Tiger Grill or Dr. Jack's Coffeehouse).
Commuters/Ouachita apartment residents may choose the full meal plan or one of our smaller commuter meal plan options. The commuter meal plan option can be chosen during Online Check-In each semester from the INFO portal or contact SFS for assistance. Students on full scholarships will be expected to maintain meal plan coverage or their university scholarship will be adjusted accordingly.
Student IDs are preloaded each semester with $15 for copies/printing. Students may also choose to add OBU dollars to student ID cards which may be used in the bookstore or one of our dining options.
Checks up to a maximum of $250 can be cashed in Student Financial Services. A student ID must be presented. Also, there are several banks in town that provide checking and savings accounts to students.
Mailing addresses and email contacts can be changed from the student’s INFO portal or in the Registrar’s Office.
A student may give permission to access student records by updating contact details in the parent portal section.
Ouachita’s email account is the official method of communication with students. Students are advised to set up their accounts early and monitor them regularly.
You may authorize books to be charged to your student account through the INFO portal.
Ouachita contracts with BBA for book purchases. Books are purchased online.
Book expenses average approximately $550 per semester (amounts vary according to class schedules).
Student Resources
- Student Employment Opportunities
- View Student Account INFO
- Dipert Emergency Fund
- Lawrence Burns Emergency Fund
Tools
Office Location & Hours
First Floor of Cone-Bottoms, Suite 130
Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m. (Summer hours may vary.)
Phone: 870.245.5570
Email: [email protected]
We are available for phone calls, in person meetings or video calls.