Ouachita announces another increase for Spring ’24 enrollment
February 08, 2024 - Felley Lawson
Ouachita Baptist University has reported its highest spring enrollment in more than 40 years with a total Spring 2024 headcount of 1,722.
The university has sustained momentum in student recruitment and retention, maintaining steady growth with a total enrollment surge of 20% since 2016 in contrast to reports of declining enrollment in colleges and universities nationwide.
“Record numbers of students are finding exceptional value in the Ouachita experience. Our 4-year graduation rate continues to exceed that of public colleges and universities in the state, and 99 percent of our graduates are employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation,” said Dr. Ben Sells, Ouachita president. “Taking into account our strong commitment to academic and Christian excellence, the value is even greater.”
Total enrollment includes undergraduate residential students, undergraduate online students, graduate students and high school students taking Ouachita courses for concurrent credit.
Undergraduate residential enrollment for the semester is 1,491. Ouachita has recently launched or expanded undergraduate degree programs in high demand fields including nursing, engineering and criminal justice; the university is also preparing to launch new programs, such as a wildlife & conservation degree emphasis within the Department of Biology that will begin in Fall 2024.
Spring enrollment has grown 82% in Ouachita’s low-residency graduate programs since they were added in the 2020-2021 school year. These include the state’s first Master of Arts and Master of Science programs in applied behavior analysis, as well as a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Science in exercise science. A Master of Arts in counseling with a specialization in clinical mental health is set to launch in the fall.
Ouachita Baptist University, a private liberal arts university, is in its 138th year as a Christ-centered learning community. Ranked nationally by U.S. News & World Report, Ouachita reported its highest headcount in 57 years during the Fall 2023 semester. Learn more about the university’s highly personal approach at www.obu.edu.
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