Ouachita Baptist vs Union: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs. Ouachita Baptist runs $8,896 less per year; Union graduates earn $2,317 more a decade out.
Which one is right for you?
Neither school is better in the abstract — they are better for different athletes. These are the differences big enough to actually decide on.
Lean Ouachita Baptist if…
- The number on the bill matters: Ouachita Baptist lists $8,896 less per year in tuition and housing than Union, and neither charges by residency.
Lean Union if…
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Union graduates earn about $2,317 more per year a decade after enrolling.
What it costs to go there
Published sticker price from IPEDS. Almost nobody pays it — athletic, academic and need-based aid all come off the top — but the gap between two schools is a fair read on the gap between two offers.
| Measure | Ouachita Baptist | Union |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $32,480 — Ouachita Baptist leads on this measure: lower published tuition | $38,450 |
| Room & board | $9,240 — Ouachita Baptist leads on this measure: lower room & board | $12,166 |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $41,720 — Ouachita Baptist leads on this measure: lower total cost per year | $50,616 |
What you leave with
Federal College Scorecard figures for all students at the institution, not softball players specifically. Read them as a signal about the degree, not about the program.
| Measure | Ouachita Baptist | Union |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 70% | 71% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $51,673/yr | $53,990/yr — Union leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,050 | $20,714 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 41% | 38% — Union leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn |
Getting in, and what you'd walk into
Admissions and size. A coach can support your file, but at most schools they cannot admit you — the academic profile below is the bar you still have to clear.
| Measure | Ouachita Baptist | Union |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 68% | 60% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,815 | 2,674 |
| Where it is | Arkadelphia, AR | Jackson, TN |
The softball program itself
Division and conference set the ceiling; the postseason record and staff tell you what the program has actually done with it.
| Measure | Ouachita Baptist | Union |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | GAC | GSC |
| Head coach | Jeff Jackson | Sydney Sturner |
How you actually get in front of them
Camps and questionnaires are the two channels a recruit controls. Where a program runs its own camp, that camp is usually the shortest path to being evaluated by the staff that would recruit you.
| Measure | Ouachita Baptist | Union |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | — | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | Yes |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NCAA Division II, so the scholarship rules are identical: 7.2 (equivalency). Full athletic rides are rare at D2. With 7.2 equivalencies spread across a roster, nearly every scholarship is partial — but athletic aid stacks with academic and need-based aid.
What to do about it this week
Questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules, so you can submit one at any age. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.
Ouachita Baptist
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
Union
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
Ouachita Baptist vs Union: common questions
- Is Ouachita Baptist or Union cheaper?
- On published price, Ouachita Baptist is cheaper — about $41,720 a year in tuition and housing, against $50,616 at Union. That is sticker price; athletic, academic and need-based aid all come off it, so ask both coaches what an actual offer would look like.
- Which school graduates more of its students, Ouachita Baptist or Union?
- Union, at 71% against 70% at Ouachita Baptist (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Ouachita Baptist and Union offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NCAA Division II: 7.2 (equivalency). Full athletic rides are rare at D2. With 7.2 equivalencies spread across a roster, nearly every scholarship is partial — but athletic aid stacks with academic and need-based aid.
- How do I contact the coaches at Ouachita Baptist and Union?
- Union runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Ouachita Baptist, we do not hold a verified form link, so start from the program page and email the staff directly.
Cost, graduation and enrollment figures from IPEDS (U.S. Dept. of Education, 2023-24). Earnings, debt and admission rates from the federal College Scorecard. Postseason results from the NCAA Division I softball tournament records, 2021-2026. Rankings from NCAA.com and U.S. News & World Report. Figures describe the institution, not the softball roster.
We work hard to keep all data for Ouachita Baptist and Union accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
Track both programs, log every coach you contact, and see where you actually stand against each one's recruiting profile.
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