OBU's tuition & fees has increased from $24,120 (2015) to $34,500 (2025), and the rate of tuition increase is 43.03% over the past 10 years. The graduate school tuition & fees has raised from - (year 2015) to $17,188 (year 2025).
The 2025 tuition & fees have risen more than 5% this year (2025) at Ouachita Baptist University.
OBU's tuition increase rate is higher than the Arkansas's average increase rate of 11.99%. Compare to all colleges in United States, it's increase rate is higher than the average increase rate of 10.99%.
Cost of Attendance (COA) Trends
The total cost of attendance (COA), including tuition & fees, books & supplies costs, and living costs, increased by 44.30% from 2015 ($34,900).
For the current academic year 2024-2025, OBU's COA is $50,360, which is increased by 6.03% from last year.
The following table and chart show changes to OBU's COA over the past 10 years.
Tuition & Fees Changes
The tuition & fees have increased 43.03% for the last 10 years , and the 2025 tuition & fees are $33,780. The following table and chart show the tuition & fees changes at Ouachita Baptist University over last the 10 years.
Books & Supplies Costs Changes
The cost of purchasing books & supplies which are required/recommended for courses $1,100, and it has not changed since 2015.
| Year | Books & Supplies | Change by Year |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $1,100 | - |
|---|
| 2016-17 | $1,100 | |
|---|
| 2017-18 | $1,100 | |
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| 2018-19 | $1,100 | |
|---|
| 2019-20 | $1,100 | |
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| 2020-21 | $1,100 | |
|---|
| 2021-22 | $1,100 | |
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| 2022-23 | $1,100 | |
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| 2023-24 | $1,100 | |
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| 2024-25 | $1,100 | |
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Living Costs Changes
The living costs including room, board, and other living expenses have increased 21.18% when a student lives on-campus facilities and 11.67% when living-off campus from the year 2015 to 2025. The following table shows the changes in living costs at Ouachita Baptist University.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | Change by Year |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $9,680 | $10,663 | - |
|---|
| 2016-17 | $9,920 | $10,755 | 2.48% |
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| 2017-18 | $10,630 | $11,230 | 7.16% |
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| 2018-19 | $10,880 | $11,230 | 2.35% |
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| 2019-20 | $11,200 | $13,280 | 2.94% |
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| 2020-21 | $11,430 | $13,670 | 2.05% |
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| 2021-22 | $12,710 | $13,670 | 11.20% |
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| 2022-23 | $13,050 | $13,900 | 2.68% |
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| 2023-24 | $13,918 | $16,838 | 6.65% |
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| 2024-25 | $14,760 | $17,676 | 6.05% |
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Compare Tuition Change to Similar Colleges
The following table compares 2025 tuition and increase rate from last year between Ouachita Baptist University and similar schools.
| 2025 | 2024 | Increase Rate |
|---|
| Ouachita Baptist University | $34,500 | $32,480 | 6.22% |
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|
| Harding University | $25,962 | $24,888 | 4.32% |
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|
| John Brown University | $31,756 | $30,832 | 3.00% |
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|
| Hendrix College | $38,200 | $36,650 | 4.23% |
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|
| Arkansas Colleges of Health Education | $0 | - | - |
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| Philander Smith University | $13,014 | $13,014 | - |
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