Ouachita Stories

With the release of the latest annual college rankings by major publications, Ouachita Baptist University continues to be recognized among the top universities in the nation.

This year’s ranking marks the second consecutive year that Ouachita has been named among U.S. News & World Report’s top tier of “Best National Liberal Arts Colleges.” It also is the fourth year in a row that Ouachita has been named among “America’s Top Colleges” by Forbes magazine.

Ouachita, which moved into U.S. News’ national rankings last year, previously was ranked for four years as the No. 1 Regional College in the South. Among this year’s best national liberal arts colleges, Ouachita is one of only three schools in Arkansas ranked by U.S. News in the top tier, along with Hendrix College and Lyon College.

“I am always pleased to see Ouachita recognized by our peers, alumni, friends and national magazines,” said Ouachita President Rex Horne. “When we were evaluated as a regional university, we were most pleased to be ranked No. 1 for four years in a row. Recently we were placed in a national category. This competition is nationwide, yet we continue to be ranked as a top tier university.

“It is best to see our rankings as a whole,” Dr. Horne added. “The story told is that Ouachita is viewed as an exceptional university.”

According to U.S. News, national liberal arts colleges “emphasize undergraduate education and award at least half their degrees in the arts and sciences, which include such disciplines as English, the biological sciences, physics, chemistry, history, political science, foreign languages, and the visual and performing arts.” Ouachita offers majors in seven academic schools in the disciplines of business, Christian studies, education, fine arts, humanities, natural sciences and social sciences.

Forbes’ annual ranking “focuses on the things that matter the most to students: quality of teaching, great career prospects, graduation rates and low levels of debt.” Ouachita, Hendrix and the University of Arkansas were the only three Arkansas schools ranked in the top half of Forbes’ listing of the nation’s 650 top universities.

Ouachita also is ranked by U.S. News among “A+ Schools for B Students” for the second consecutive year – the only national liberal arts college in the state to make the list. According to U.S. News, the A+ ranking features universities where B-level incoming students “have a decent shot at being accepted and thriving—where spirit and hard work could make all the difference.”

Affirming Ouachita’s recognition in that category, President Horne described Ouachita as “an excellent setting for a good student who wants to succeed at such an outstanding university. Congratulations to our faculty and staff for their exceptional service.”

The national recognitions come as Ouachita begins the 2012-13 academic year with a fall enrollment of 1,532 students from 29 states and more than 30 nations.

“It’s always exciting to welcome both new and returning students to campus at the beginning of the academic year,” said Dr. Stan Poole, vice president for academic affairs. “We look forward to a great year at Ouachita.”

Ouachita Baptist University, a private liberal arts university in Arkadelphia, Ark., has served since 1886 as a Christ-centered learning community. For more information, call 1-800-DIAL-OBU or visit the university website at www.obu.edu.

By Trennis Henderson, OBU Vice President for Communications