What Ouachita Baptist University is like

What it's like

Ouachita Baptist University is a small, faith-centered liberal arts institution in rural Arkansas with a strong athletic tradition. Founded in 1886, it maintains deep Christian identity through affiliation with the Arkansas Baptist State Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention. The campus sits along the Ouachita River in Arkadelphia, a setting that shapes its regional character.

Academic feel

OBU is ranked 151st among 183 national liberal arts colleges by U.S. News & World Report. The university holds accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission with specialized program accreditations in business (AACSB), teacher education (NCATE), music, athletic training, and dietetics. Research activity spans medicine, business, economics, engineering, art history, and social psychology, suggesting breadth across disciplines.

Strengths

• First university in Arkansas to offer an NCAA Division II wrestling program, launching in 2010. The program achieved immediate national success with Dallas Smith earning a four-time All-American distinction and the program's first national championship in 2015.[1]
• Football program has won multiple Great American Conference championships, including the inaugural 2011 season and subsequent titles in 2014, 2017, 2018, and 2019.[1]
• Comprehensive accreditation across multiple specialized program areas including business (AACSB), teacher education (NCATE), music, athletic training, and dietetics.[1]
• Student newspaper The Signal has received Gold Medalist rating from Columbia Scholastic Press Association and Pacemaker awards from Associated Collegiate Press.[1]

Traditions

• The university's name derives from the Ouachita River, which forms the eastern campus boundary, reflecting the school's deep ties to its Arkansas location.[2]
• School colors are purple and gold with Tiger as the mascot, establishing consistent athletic identity across all varsity sports.[1]

Recent news

In April 2025, faculty passed a vote of no confidence in university president Ben Sells, who was appointed in 2016 from Taylor University. The board of trustees reaffirmed its support for Sells the following day, signaling leadership stability despite faculty concerns.