OBU tops graduation rate

ARKADELPHIA — Ouachita Baptist University attained the top university graduation rate in Arkansas, according to the latest data compiled by the National Center for Education Statistics.

Ouachita’s graduation rate of 70 percent is the highest among all 22 of Arkansas’ institutions of higher education, both private and public, that grant baccalaureate degrees. It is one of only five universities in the state with a graduation rate above 50 percent.

Along with Ouachita’s leading graduation rate, more than nine out of 10 of those graduates either have a job or were accepted to graduate school within six months of graduation.

“The high graduation and placement rates, a 17.9 percent increase in first-time freshmen and a focus on affordability that attracts many first-generation college students are strong indicators that Ouachita is rising, moving from strength to strength,” said Ouachita President Ben Sells.

“These milestones are a reflection of the dedicated efforts of our faculty, staff and students to pursue academic excellence in a Christ-centered learning community.”

The National Center for Education Statistics is the primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing data related to education. It is part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Educational Sciences which is the nation’s leading source for independent education research, evaluation and statistics.