Degrees Offered at Oklahoma Baptist University
Oklahoma Baptist University appears in our ranking of 50 Great Affordable Colleges in the Midwest.
Students who wish to attend a Christian, private college may find Oklahoma Baptist University to be an excellent choice. It offers a variety of educational options.
Students who would like to earn a bachelor’s degree can find over 60 degree programs available. These include accounting, anthropology, biochemistry, chemistry, computer science, Christian ministry, criminal justice, creative writing, global studies, history, management, and much more. All of the bachelor degree courses are available at the OBU campus with the exception of Theology & Religious Vocations, which is an online-only Bachelor degree option.
Oklahoma Baptist University also offers a variety of master’s degrees. While most degrees require the student to visit the campus for classes, there are two masters of arts degrees that are available fully online. These include the Master of Art for Intercultural Studies and the Master of Art for Christian Studies. Both degrees have two tracks. The M.S. in Christian Studies offers a leadership and apologetics track while the M.S. in Intercultural Studies offers the intercultural and orality track.
Students who would like to earn a traditional master’s degree (on campus), will find a variety of programs available including business, nursing, Christian studies, intercultural studies, and marriage and family therapy.
Graduate certificates are also available and can help students excel in their field. Students can find an MBA in Corporate Innovation, Business, Operations, Leadership, Energy Management, and Project Management. They can also find an MFT in Medical Family Therapy and an MSN in Global/Public Health or Nursing Education.
About the Oklahoma Baptist University
OBU is a university based in Shawnee, which is 30 minutes east of Oklahoma City. It’s a small liberal arts school with a Christian background. Students learn about having a thoughtful Christian view of the world while learning how to live and work in the world. They learn in a supportive community filled with Christians, and the school has high ethical and intellectual standards.
Overall Oklahoma Baptist University has 10 Bachelor degree options in 88 different study areas. It also offers eight certificate programs and five master’s degrees. Currently, there are 117 faculty, all of whom are active Christians. The student to faculty ratio is 13:1, meaning students have ample opportunity for one-on-one coaching needs.
Oklahoma Baptist University Accreditation Details
Oklahoma Baptist University is accredited by the HLC (Higher Learning Commission), which is in the North Central Association. The NCA reviews universities and colleges every 10 years, ensuring that the institution continues to meet criteria for accreditation from HLC. Oklahoma Baptist University has been accredited continually since 1952. It received its last accreditation reaffirmation in the 2007-2008 school year.
The criteria required for accreditation includes having integrity, having quality teaching options, evaluating and improving on teaching qualifications, and having a mission statement.
Some undergraduate and graduate programs are subject to specialty accreditation. Therefore, some programs are accredited by the National Association for Schools of Music, the Association of Collegiate Business Schools/Programs, the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, and the Oklahoma Office of Educational Quality/Accountability.
Oklahoma Baptist University Application Requirements
Oklahoma Baptist University offers three ways to be admitted to the university. Students can apply for regular admission if they have received a 20 or 1030 on their ACT/SAT scores, respectively. They must also have had a GPA in high school of 3.00 and rank in the upper half of their class.
Conditional admission is also available to students if they cannot meet regular admission needs. This includes getting a 17-19 on the ACT or a 910-1020 on the SAT. They must still rank in the upper half of their class and have a 3.00 GPA or higher.
Students who don’t meet the criteria for conditional or regular admission can also consider pursuits admission. The requirements include applying for admission, sending official high school transcripts, as well as their most recent ACT/SAT scores. They must also complete an essay, have a personal interview with a staff member and parent/guardian, and complete the FAFSA.
Graduate students who want to apply for admission at OBU must fill out a short application form. They can choose the most appropriate degree program and the sub-program they desire and when they’d like to start. If the application is accepted, students will learn what other documentation they should send to the school.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Attending Oklahoma Baptist University is an excellent choice for many, but students need to know how much their education is going to cost so that they are prepared. OBU’s net cost is competitive with public universities in the state. Most in-state public universities cost about $16,418 per year while OBU charges $16,703. The national private college’s average per year is about $26,704.
OBU offers a net price calculator to help students find out how much their education might cost depending on the program they’re going into and more.
To help offset costs, OBU offers a variety of graduate and undergraduate scholarships. While the college is considered one of the most affordable in the country, about 99 percent of all undergraduate students do receive financial aid in some form.
Incoming freshmen can qualify for annual awards of up to $5,000 per year, which is a total of $20,000 to pursue a four-year degree. All students must do is maintain a GPA of 2.0.
The college also offers a variety of academic and need-based scholarships, as well. Students can find a list of scholarships available on the website and can learn how to apply for them, as well.
Along with such, OBU offers other financial aid options. Grants and loans are available, as well as a work-study program and other resources. To be considered for need-based federal financial aid, students must fill out a FAFSA form, which can be found online. As many grant programs are very limited, it’s best to fill out the financial aid application early. Oklahoma Baptist University also has a variety of federal loans available, which have lower interest rates and have deferral options on the principal and interest until the student’s education is complete.