Finance and Financial Management Services at Ouachita Baptist University

Ouachita Baptist's finance program sits squarely in the middle of the pack, with graduates earning $53,195 initially—just below both the national and Arkansas medians. Among the state's 11 finance programs, this lands in the 40th percentile, trailing schools like UA Little Rock ($60,521) and the University of Arkansas ($56,387) by meaningful margins. The $21,320 in typical debt is manageable at 0.40 times first-year earnings, slightly better than the state average, which offers some reassurance on the affordability front.

The 12% earnings growth to $59,472 by year four is solid, though the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these figures could shift considerably with different cohorts. What's notable is that graduates from this Christian liberal arts college are entering finance careers at similar starting points to those from larger state universities, suggesting the program provides adequate preparation despite fewer resources. However, parents should recognize they're paying for the broader Ouachita experience—smaller classes, faith integration—rather than premium finance-specific outcomes.

For families prioritizing a religious environment with reasonable debt, this works. But if maximizing early career earnings is the goal, the flagship University of Arkansas delivers 6% higher starting salaries, and UA Little Rock provides a 14% advantage—differences that compound significantly over a career.