U.S. News ranks OBU among nation’s top schools graduating low-income students
November 07, 2012 - Trennis Henderson
Achieving a major milestone for the benefit of low-income students and their families,
Ouachita Baptist University has been named among the top 10 universities in the nation
that graduate low-income students.
The findings, posted by USNews.com, also show that Ouachita is the only university,
private or public, in the state of Arkansas to earn that recognition. Other universities
in that category range from the University of San Francisco to Stonehill College in
Massachusetts.
“U.S. News’ study confirms that Ouachita is one of the most affordable universities for all students,”
said Ouachita President Rex M. Horne, Jr. “With our generous financial aid, personal
attention and commitment to student success, Ouachita is exceptional among all universities,
public or private.
“We are also very pleased to report that Ouachita's graduates leave with less debt
than most university graduates,” Dr. Horne added. Recent studies show that Ouachita
students graduate with student loan debts below both the state and national averages.
Dr. Brett Powell, OBU’s vice president for administrative services, said the national
ranking “is affirmation that the programs we have in place, from financial aid to
academic support, are effective in attracting and retaining a diverse mix of students
to Ouachita.”
Noting that Ouachita offers “a wide range of financial aid options to keep costs affordable
for all students who have a desire to earn a Ouachita education,” Dr. Powell said,
“These options are based on a number of criteria, including a student’s academic profile,
financial need and leadership qualities.”
The U.S. News study cites the percentage of Pell Grant recipients who graduate compared to the
rest of the student body, according to USNews.com. Pell Grants provide federal financial
aid to undergraduates from low-income families, generally to students with family
incomes below $20,000. The graduation rate of Pell Grant recipients, coupled with
other graduation rate statistics, indicate whether schools are effectively serving
students from diverse income levels.
In addition to being ranked among the top 10 national universities and national liberal
arts colleges in that category, Ouachita has been recognized among the nation’s top
tier schools by both U.S. News and Forbes magazines. U.S. News also ranks Ouachita among the nation’s “A+ Schools for B Students.”
Ouachita Baptist University, a private liberal arts university in Arkadelphia, Ark.,
has served since 1886 as a Christ-centered learning community. With a current enrollment
of 1,532 students, Ouachita is educating students from 29 states and more than 30
nations. For more information, visit www.obu.edu.
By Trennis Henderson, OBU Vice President for Communications
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