Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University has added a new top merit award, the Trustee’s Scholarship, worth $23,000 a year for students who begin classes in Fall 2027. Students qualify for the new award level with a minimum score of 29 on the ACT, 1330 on the SAT or 95 on the CLT.

The university now awards six tiers of merit scholarships, with 100% of new students receiving merit aid in addition to possible federal, state and private aid. Ouachita will consider updated GPAs through the end of a student’s senior fall semester and new test scores through February. A senior who raises a GPA or test score before those dates can move into a higher scholarship level.

“Students who work hard in high school should see that effort count when they choose a college,” said Dr. Ben Sells, Ouachita president. “Our merit aid recognizes those achievements and the hard work of families who save and sacrifice for college. Families often tell me they find Ouachita comparable in actual costs with large state universities when they do the math and consider the scholarships we have available.”

For the 2027–28 academic year, Ouachita’s merit scholarships are:

Trustee’s Scholarship (new)

$92,000 four-year value ($23,000 per year)
Minimum ACT score of 29 ACT (or equivalent SAT/CLT)
Potential eligibility based on test score

President’s Scholarship

$84,000 four-year value ($21,000 per year)
Minimum ACT score of 25 ACT (or equivalent SAT/CLT)
Potential eligibility based on test score

Founder’s Scholarship

$72,000 four-year value ($18,000 per year)
High school GPA of 3.85–4.0

Dean’s Scholarship

$64,000 four-year value ($16,000 per year)
High school GPA of 3.55–3.849

Collegiate Scholarship

$52,000 four-year value ($13,000 per year)
High school GPA of 3.0–3.549

Opportunity Award

$20,000 four-year value ($5,000 per year)
High school GPA of 2.5–2.999

At Ouachita, merit aid can be combined with many types of financial aid, such as Pell Grants, Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarships, work-study and private scholarships.

Families wishing to learn more about tuition and financial aid can visit obu.edu/understanding-cost for information and resources.

Ouachita is in its 141st year as a Christ-centered learning community in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. The university hosts visit days and scheduled tours through the Office of Admissions Counseling at obu.edu/visit. For more information contact [email protected] or 870-245-5110.

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