Ouachita Financial Aid

2025-2026 Ouachita Institutional Aid

University scholarships may be combined (according to eligibility requirements) up to a maximum of the total tuition, fees, housing and food charges for the year. University scholarship and discounts are not cash refundable.

Ouachita Merit Scholarships

Students will be considered for the following group of scholarships, grants and discounts based on the student’s acceptance to the university prior to their entering year at Ouachita. These scholarships are awarded until the residential component of the student's first degree is complete, up to a maximum of eight semesters. (Semester Scholarship amounts will not be advanced or disbursed early if a degree is completed in fewer than eight semesters.) Ouachita's application for admission is required for consideration.

Merit scholarships are awarded to incoming first-time Fall 2025 freshmen based on their high school GPA through the seventh semester of study. An ACT score is required for the President’s Scholarship only. We accept ACT scores through the February test date. A 2.00 cumulative GPA is required to maintain scholarship eligibility each year.

Transfer Student Scholarship

• $12,500 per year available with a transfer GPA above 3.5
• $10,000 per year available with a transfer GPA between 3.0 and 3.49
• $7,500 per year available with a transfer GPA between 2.5 and 2.99
• $5,000 per year available with a transfer GPA between 2.0 and 2.49
• 2.0 cumulative GPA required to maintain; available up to eight semesters, less prior full-time semesters attended at another institution

 

---

National Merit Ouachita Baptist University Scholarship

• college sponsor of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation
• annually designates a minimum of three $1000 awards per year to National Merit Finalists
• Finalists must select Ouachita as first choice school with National Merit Scholar Corporation by March 1 to be considered for award.
• cannot be chosen for another NMSC or corporate sponsor award

 

Southern Baptist Church Matching Grant

• up to $500 matched by Ouachita per year ($250 per semester)
• original scholarship must come from any Southern Baptist church, with Ouachita church match grant form included.
• 2024-25 Church Matching Form

 

Minister's Child and Spouse Award

• $2,000 per year
• available to dependent children and spouses of active, retired or deceased full-time ministers in Southern Baptist churches and current associational missionaries, as well as dependents of chaplains endorsed by the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board and employees of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention in positions that require approval by the Executive Board
• 2.0 cumulative GPA to maintain

 

Missionary Dependent Award

• $5,000 per year
• renewable over four years
• available to U.S. citizens who are dependent students of full-time cross-cultural evangelical missionaries serving outside U.S. and Canada
• can be stacked with merit based aid from the university
• letter verifying service by the sending organization is required
• The scholarship is awarded at the discretion of the university, which holds the right to limit the number of discounts offered in any given year.
• For more information, visit https://obu.edu/thirdculturekids/

 

Legacy Award

• $1,000 per year
• awarded to students who have at least one parent who attended Ouachita
• 2.0 cumulative GPA to maintain

 

---

The following scholarships, grants and discounts are awarded to students for a maximum of eight semesters through various application processes or auditions with the appropriate program directors. 

 

Art & Design Scholarship

• up to $3,000 per year
• Art Education, Graphic Design and Studio Art
• awarded based on portfolio of work and a brief essay
• Application is available at Art and Design Scholarship Guide & Application.
• Annual deadline is second Friday of November.

 

Athletic Scholarship

• up to tuition, fees, housing and food per year
• stackable with Ouachita merit scholarship
• offered to each of Ouachita's NCAA athletic teams
• Individual coaches may be contacted by calling the Athletic Department at (870) 245-5181.

 

Band Scholarship

• up to $3,000 per year
• awarded based on performance
• must make appointment with Austin Motley for an audition: [email protected]
• 2.0 cumulative GPA to maintain

 

Baptist Children's Home Award

• up to tuition, fees, housing and food when combined with any federal aid for which the student is eligible
• awarded to students who are dependents of the Arkansas Baptist Children's Home
• Letter of support from the director of the Arkansas Baptist Children's Home & Family Ministries must be submitted to Office of Financial Aid for verification of eligibility.
• 2.0 cumulative GPA to maintain

 

International Study Scholarship

• founding available for students interested in pursuing an international study program approved by the university
• Contact the Director of International Education for further information.

 

Music Scholarship

• School of Performing Arts scholarships awarded based on performance in piano, organ, voice, wind, percussion or stringed instruments, and high school GPA (college GPA for transfer students)
• Students who intend to major in music and who successfully audition for a vocal or instrumental scholarship will be offered a Performing Arts Scholarship. Audition information: http://obu.edu/music/audition/
• For more information on scholarship auditions, contact Caroline Taylor, Dean, School of Performing Arts, or call (870) 245-5139.

 

Ouachita Student Foundation Scholarship

• OSF Scholarships are awarded by a committee of students representing the Ouachita Student Foundation.
• Only those residential campus students classified as juniors and above (59+ hours) by Fall 2025 may apply for a 2025 OSF Scholarship.
• If you have previously received an OSF Scholarship, you must reapply each year.
• Applications are due by 5 p.m. on March 1, 2025. Recipients will be notified by mail in April.
• Apply at obu.edu/osf/osf-scholarships.php.

 

Spirit Squad Scholarship

• awarded based on audition with director
• stackable with other Ouachita aid, not to exceed tuition
• 2.0 cumulative GPA to maintain
• For more information, visit the Spirit Squads athletics page.

 

Theatre Arts Scholarship (Performing and Designing)

• up to $3,000 per year
• awarded based on an audition, portfolio of work and an interview
• must make appointment with the scholarship: contact Eric Phillips, Professor of Theatre Arts for an audition

 

Tiger Network Leadership Scholarship

• $1,000 for first year
• 2.75/4.0 high school GPA 
• Recipients will participate in leadership activities.
• applicants nominated by Ouachita graduate or alumnus/alumna
• Learn more at obu.edu/tigernetwork.

 

Trio Program Scholarship

• $1,000 per year
• awarded annually to an outstanding participant in the TRIO program
• Applications are available in the Trio Programs office.
• 2.0 cumulative GPA to maintain

 

Youth Speaker's Scholarship

• $400 to $600 (one year only)
• awarded to winners and runners-up of the tournament sponsored by the Arkansas Baptist State Convention
• Notification from the state convention must be sent to the Office of Financial Aid.

 

Scholarships Available to Returning Ouachita Students

Current students may apply to receive the following scholarships during their sophomore, junior or senior years at Ouachita:

 

Byron and Carol Eiseman Endowed Pre-Law Scholarship

To receive the Eiseman scholarship:

• recipient must meet the academic standards of Ouachita Baptist University, have established a record of academic excellence and be a good citizen of the Ouachita campus community.
• recipient must be enrolled as a full-time junior or senior at Ouachita.
• recipient must be preparing to enter law school upon graduation from Ouachita.
• recipient must understand the importance of integrity and excellence.
• recipient must be of good witness to non-believers and exemplify Matthew 6:28.

Please return completed form to [email protected] for award consideration. If you have any questions, contact Bryan McKinney in the Hickingbotham School of Business.

View Application