Head-to-head comparison
Harding University vs Ouachita Baptist University: which has better ROI?
Option A Searcy, AR
Harding University
- Net price / year
- $22,130
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,876
- Payback
- 19.6 yrs
Option B Arkadelphia, AR
Ouachita Baptist University
- Net price / year
- $22,409
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,673
- Payback
- 27.1 yrs
Harding University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $88,520 in 19.6 years versus 27.1 years at Ouachita Baptist University, on median earnings of $52,876 vs $51,673 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Harding University | Ouachita Baptist University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,130 | $22,409 |
| Total net cost | $88,520 | $89,636 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,876 | $51,673 |
| Median debt | $26,500 | $21,050 |
| Payback | 19.6 yrs | 27.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $1,800 | -$23,376 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Harding University or Ouachita Baptist University?
Harding University, at $22,130 a year after aid versus $22,409 — a gap of $279 a year, or $1,116 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Harding University or Ouachita Baptist University graduates earn more?
Harding University graduates report a median $52,876 ten years after entry, $1,203 more than the $51,673 at Ouachita Baptist University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Harding University or Ouachita Baptist University?
Ouachita Baptist University: its completers carry a median $21,050 in federal loans versus $26,500 at Harding University, a difference of $5,450. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
69% of students finish at Harding University, against 61% at Ouachita Baptist University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.