Oklahoma Baptist University is a private Christian liberal arts school in Shawnee, about 30 minutes east of Oklahoma City, affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. Most families notice two things right away. The sticker price runs close to $48,000 a year with housing, and every admitted freshman gets at least $15,000 a year back in academic money. That floor is what puts OBU on the list for families who would never look twice at a private school’s posted price.
🏆 Full tuition available (University Scholar, Allen & Martin), plus the Bison Pact for Oklahoma's Promise students
Average Net Price
$23,839/year
Average paid.
Automatic Merit
$15,000–$20,000/yr, guaranteed
No separate application.
Scholarships Tracked
23 opportunities
9 automatic · 3 competitive · 11 hidden gem
Typical Qualifiers
GPA 3.75+ or ACT 25+ for the top $20,000 tier
Entry-level benchmarks for automatic merit.
Testing Policy
Test-optional (merit uses GPA or test)
Automatic merit has a no-test path
Scores required for competitive awards
No superscore.
Key Deadlines
Priority: Dec 31 • FAFSA: Feb 1
Full-Tuition / Full-Ride
University Scholar, Allen & Martin (competitive)
Honors College
Honors Program Available
Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA Only
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at Oklahoma Baptist (Read This First)
Everyone gets at least $15,000. An admitted full-time freshman with a 3.24 GPA or lower and an 18 ACT or lower still receives the $15,000 Academic Grant. That is $60,000 over four years before anyone looks at need.
It is GPA or test, not both. The top $20,000 Founder’s tier takes a 3.75 GPA or a 25 ACT. A student with a 3.8 and no test score lands at the top.
Test-optional stops at the full-tuition door. University Scholar, Allen, and Martin all require an ACT, SAT, or CLT score, and the applications are due January 1 of senior year.
Full tuition replaces everything else. Winners give up the $20,000 academic award and every other OBU dollar, and they still owe general fees, housing, and meals.
The Bison Pact needs 15 hours. Oklahoma’s Promise students get tuition and general fees covered, but only at 15 hours a semester, with a FAFSA filed before March 1 every year. Athletes on athletic aid are not eligible.
Athletic aid shrinks the rest. Athletes on OBU athletic aid keep their academic award but lose every other OBU scholarship.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. Oklahoma Baptist University is test-optional for admission, but scholarships can work differently (see the next question).
Do you need test scores for scholarships at Oklahoma Baptist University? Tests are optional for admission and for the $15,000 to $20,000 academic awards, which OBU awards on GPA or ACT/SAT/CLT. The three full-tuition competitions (University Scholar, Allen, Martin) require a test score.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 17-24; SAT: 1070-1240.
Average net price? About $23,839/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
No. It is a private school, so everyone pays the same rate.
💰 Cost of Attendance at Oklahoma Baptist University: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in November 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest Oklahoma Baptist University has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.
Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly $1,000 to $2,400 more than the total below.
✔ Same price for every student, no matter which state you live in.
All students: billed cost per year
$48,060
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$38,830
Housing & meals (typical)
$9,230
Total billed cost
$48,060
Average federal net price: $23,839 per year.
This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
One Price for Everyone, Plus an Oklahoma Bonus
OBU charges the same tuition whether your student comes from Shawnee or Seattle, so there is no out-of-state premium to fight. Oklahoma residents get extra help on top: the Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grant ($2,000 a year when parents’ AGI is $50,000 or less), the Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant (up to $2,000 for Pell-eligible students), and Oklahoma’s Promise, which unlocks OBU’s Bison Pact. See our Oklahoma state aid guide for the full rules. Out-of-state families should plan around OBU’s guaranteed academic award and need-based aid.
Our housing line uses a standard double in Agee or WMU ($2,060 a semester) plus the residence meal plan ($2,555 a semester). Kerr is the cheapest hall at $1,990 a semester.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Oklahoma Baptist University
Does OBU charge out-of-state students more?
No. OBU is private, so everyone pays the same tuition and fees. The difference for out-of-state families is the state money: OTEG, OTAG, Oklahoma’s Promise, and the Bison Pact are only for Oklahoma residents.
What is included in the $38,830?
Tuition plus OBU’s general fees (student services, technology, and student life) for a full-time student in fall and spring. Housing, meals, books, and summer classes are extra.
Why does OBU’s own budget show more for housing than this table?
OBU’s cost of attendance estimate uses $10,260 for housing and food. That is a budget figure for financial aid. Our $9,230 is what OBU actually bills for a standard double room and a residence meal plan. Pick Kerr and you save about $140 a year; pick an apartment and you pay more.
What does a typical family actually pay?
The federal average net price is about $23,839 a year after grants and scholarships. Do your own quick math: the direct bill is about $48,060, and the guaranteed academic award takes $15,000 to $20,000 off before any need-based aid.
Is the Bison Pact really free college?
It makes tuition and general fees free for Oklahoma’s Promise students. Housing, meals, and books still cost money, so plan on roughly $10,000 a year for living on campus.
Will the price go up for 2027-28?
OBU sets rates each year and had not posted 2027-28 costs as of November 2026. Plan for a modest increase. The academic award is quoted as a flat four-year amount ($60,000 to $80,000), so it does not grow with tuition.
Fall of senior year: Apply to OBU. The academic award comes with the acceptance, with no separate form.
December 31: Last day for seniors to sign up for Oklahoma’s Promise, which is the key to the Bison Pact.
January 1: Full-tuition applications due (University Scholar, Allen, Martin).
February 1: Oklahoma’s Promise income documents due, and OBU asks full-tuition finalists to have the FAFSA filed.
Early March: Fine arts auditions wrap up.
Before March 1, every year: FAFSA for Bison Pact students.
Parent rule of thumb: the automatic money takes care of itself. The dates that cost families real money are the Oklahoma’s Promise sign-up and the January 1 full-tuition deadline.
Automatic Merit Scholarships at Oklahoma Baptist University
OBU awards academic money at admission, with no separate application. Each tier is reached by GPA or test score, so a test-optional student can still land at the top. Students get one academic award, renewable with a 2.0 college GPA for up to four years. The amounts below are OBU’s 2026-27 grid; a fall 2027 grid had not been posted as of November 2026.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
Start with your state. The awards in this first group come from the state, not the college. They are decided by residency and the FAFSA, and they stack on top of whatever automatic merit award the college gives below. If you live out of state, use the toggle above and these will step aside.
State AidApp Required
Rising Scholars Award
📅 Deadline: State Regents application opens in October of senior year; award letters from late February ✓ Renews (3.25 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
Oklahoma resident who scores at or above the 99.5 percentile on the ACT or SAT, or is a National Merit Scholar, National Merit Finalist, or U.S. Presidential Scholar. An official ACT superscore is accepted and the science section is not part of the sum (the fall 2026 line was 103 across English, math, and reading). The CLT counts if taken at an in-person site. National Merit Semifinalist status alone does not qualify. The student must start college the fall semester right after high school graduation. Formerly the Academic Scholars Program.
✚
Stacking & Combining
OBU's own page still lists this at $5,700 a year, which was the regional-university rate for students who started in 2025 or earlier. The State Regents have not published an amount for private colleges like OBU for fall 2027 starters, so confirm the figure with OBU before counting on it. The cash stacks with OBU's academic award or a full-tuition scholarship, up to the cost of attendance.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Oklahoma's top testers and National Merit Finalists who file the State Regents application themselves. Nobody files it for the student, and high schools are not told who won. Automatic qualifiers can transfer to any Oklahoma college at any time.
State AidApp Required
Oklahoma's Promise
📅 Deadline: Application by Dec 31 of senior year (8th to 11th graders asked to apply by Jun 30); income documents due Feb 1 of senior year ✓ Renews (5 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 2.5+ GPAOklahoma resident who applies in 8th through 12th grade, no later than December 31 of senior year and before high school graduation. At sign-up, the parents' federal adjusted gross income from the most recent completed tax year must be at or under $60,000 with one or two dependent children, $70,000 with three or four, or $80,000 with five or more. Children of Oklahoma public school classroom teachers with at least 10 years of certified service qualify under a higher limit of 700% of the federal poverty level. By graduation the student must finish the 15-unit core curriculum with a 2.50 GPA in those courses and a 2.50 GPA overall, meet the college's regular admission standards, and be a U.S. citizen or lawfully present.
✚
Stacking & Combining
At OBU, Oklahoma's Promise pays a set per-credit-hour rate toward tuition, and OBU's rate for fall 2027 has not been published. Its bigger value here is that it unlocks OBU's Bison Pact, which covers the rest of tuition and general fees after other aid. Enroll at 15 hours a semester, because the Promise pays by the hour and the Bison Pact will not cover the shortfall.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Families under the income line who get both pieces in on time: the application by December 31 and the tax return by February 1. An application without its documents enrolls no one. In college, students lose it to the yearly income check (any year the parents' AGI tops $100,000 pays nothing and still counts against the five years), to a skipped FAFSA, to the 129-paid-hour cap, or to Satisfactory Academic Progress. Seniors who are one core course short, often a lab science, are the most common late miss.
State AidAutomatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grant
📅 Deadline: No separate application; file the FAFSA early, because returning students are paid first ✓ Renews (5 yrs)
$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 All UndergradOklahoma resident enrolled full time at an eligible private, nonprofit Oklahoma college, with parents' AGI of $50,000 or less (student and spouse AGI for independent students) and unmet need as set by the college. No Pell requirement. Not available after a first bachelor's degree. The FAFSA must list Oklahoma as the state of residence.
✚
Stacking & Combining
OBU is an approved OTEG college: a flat $1,000 a semester for full-time Oklahoma residents whose parents' AGI is $50,000 or less. Returning students are paid first, so file the FAFSA early. Stacks with Pell, OTAG, Oklahoma's Promise, and OBU aid.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Low-income Oklahoma students at the 12 participating private colleges. In 2025-26 the University of Tulsa had 303 recipients and Oral Roberts had 256. Returning students have absolute priority, so new students compete for whatever is left after renewals.
State AidAutomatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant
📅 Deadline: No separate application; each college's FAFSA priority date decides who is considered ✓ Renews
$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 All UndergradOklahoma resident who is eligible for a Pell Grant in the current term and has unmet financial need. Full-time, part-time, and less-than-half-time students can qualify at most colleges. The FAFSA is the application. Each college makes the final award decision.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Up to $2,000 a year at OBU for Pell-eligible Oklahoma residents with unmet need. OBU gets a fixed pot from the state and decides amounts, so file the FAFSA before OBU's February 1 priority date.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Pell-eligible students who file the FAFSA before the college's priority date. OTAG is no longer first come, first served statewide: when a college runs short, it may favor students with the most unmet need, continuous enrollment, few hours left to graduate, or no other state aid. Colleges spent over 98% of the money in 2025-26.
One award, not a pile. Colleges apply your student's single best automatic award. Automatic scholarships almost never stack with each other, though some stack with housing, departmental, or outside money. The stacking notes on each card tell you which.
Automatic
Founder's Academic Scholarship (3.75+ GPA)
📅 Deadline: No separate deadline; awarded at admission ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
$20,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.8+ GPAFirst-time, full-time traditional undergraduates. A 3.75-4.0 high school GPA qualifies on its own. Fully online students are not eligible.
✚
Stacking & Combining
One academic award per student: OBU gives the single tier your student qualifies for. It stacks with OBU denominational, talent, and need-based aid, plus Pell, OTAG, OTEG, and Oklahoma's Promise. A full-tuition scholarship replaces it. Athletes on athletic aid keep this award but lose other OBU scholarships.
💡
Strategic Detail
$80,000 over four years. Amount is from OBU's 2026-27 grid; a fall 2027 grid had not been posted as of November 2026.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Any admitted full-time freshman with a 3.75 or higher high school GPA. No test score is needed, because OBU awards on GPA or test, so a strong GPA alone reaches the top tier.
📅 Deadline: No separate deadline; awarded at admission ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
$20,000/yr
✔ Stackable
✎ ~25 ACT✎ ~1200 SATACT 25+, SAT 1200+, or CLT 83+. OBU has not published whether it superscores, so send every score report.
✚
Stacking & Combining
One academic award per student. Stacks with OBU denominational, talent, and need-based aid and with federal and state aid. A full-tuition scholarship replaces it.
💡
Strategic Detail
$80,000 over four years. 2026-27 grid.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Admitted freshmen whose best ACT is 25 or higher (SAT 1200, CLT 83), whatever their GPA. This is the path for a student with solid scores and a GPA under 3.75.
Automatic
Trustee's Academic Scholarship (3.50-3.74 GPA)
📅 Deadline: No separate deadline; awarded at admission ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
$17,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.5+ GPAHigh school GPA of 3.50 to 3.74.
✚
Stacking & Combining
One academic award per student. Stacks with OBU denominational, talent, and need-based aid and with federal and state aid. A full-tuition scholarship replaces it.
💡
Strategic Detail
$68,000 over four years. 2026-27 grid.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Admitted freshmen with a 3.50 to 3.74 GPA. If their ACT reaches 25 (SAT 1200, CLT 83), the test path moves them up to the $20,000 Founder's tier.
📅 Deadline: No separate deadline; awarded at admission ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
$17,000/yr
✔ Stackable
✎ ~22 ACT✎ ~1100 SATACT 22-24, SAT 1100-1199, or CLT 72-82.
✚
Stacking & Combining
One academic award per student. Stacks with OBU denominational, talent, and need-based aid and with federal and state aid. A full-tuition scholarship replaces it.
💡
Strategic Detail
$68,000 over four years. 2026-27 grid.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Admitted freshmen with an ACT of 22 to 24 (SAT 1100-1199, CLT 72-82) whose GPA does not already land them higher. One more ACT point at 25 is worth $3,000 a year.
Automatic
President's Academic Scholarship (3.25-3.49 GPA)
📅 Deadline: No separate deadline; awarded at admission ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
$16,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.3+ GPAHigh school GPA of 3.25 to 3.49.
✚
Stacking & Combining
One academic award per student. Stacks with OBU denominational, talent, and need-based aid and with federal and state aid. A full-tuition scholarship replaces it.
💡
Strategic Detail
$64,000 over four years. 2026-27 grid.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Admitted freshmen with a 3.25 to 3.49 GPA. A test score in a higher band moves them up.
📅 Deadline: No separate deadline; awarded at admission ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
$16,000/yr
✔ Stackable
✎ ~19 ACT✎ ~1000 SATACT 19-21, SAT 1000-1099, or CLT 58-71.
✚
Stacking & Combining
One academic award per student. Stacks with OBU denominational, talent, and need-based aid and with federal and state aid. A full-tuition scholarship replaces it.
💡
Strategic Detail
$64,000 over four years. 2026-27 grid.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Admitted freshmen with an ACT of 19 to 21 (SAT 1000-1099, CLT 58-71) whose GPA does not already land them higher.
Automatic
Academic Grant (guaranteed floor)
📅 Deadline: No separate deadline; awarded at admission ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
$15,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Must be admissible to OBU. Covers GPA 3.24 or below, ACT 18 or below, SAT 999 or below, or CLT 57 or below.
✚
Stacking & Combining
One academic award per student. Stacks with OBU denominational, talent, and need-based aid and with federal and state aid. A full-tuition scholarship replaces it.
💡
Strategic Detail
$60,000 over four years. 2026-27 grid.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Every admitted full-time freshman who does not reach a higher tier. A GPA of 3.24 or below and an ACT of 18 or below still earns $15,000 a year.
Full TuitionAutomaticincome limitin state
Bison Pact (Oklahoma's Promise students)
📅 Deadline: File the FAFSA before March 1 every year to keep it ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
✔ Stackable
⚠ Oklahoma's Promise students only
First-time freshmen and transfers (fall 2024 or later) who qualify for Oklahoma's Promise, which means Oklahoma residents who signed up by December 31 of senior year under the program's family income limit.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Last-dollar: it pays whatever tuition and general fees are left after Oklahoma's Promise, Pell, OTAG, OTEG, and OBU scholarships. If other aid already covers tuition and fees, it pays nothing. It does not cover housing, meals, books, or summer terms. Not available to athletes receiving athletic aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
Covers tuition plus general fees (student services, technology, and student life fees) for fall and spring. OBU scholarships stay the same for up to eight semesters while the student keeps Bison Pact eligibility.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Oklahoma's Promise students who enroll full time at 15 hours a semester, take only hours that count toward their degree, file the FAFSA before March 1 every year, and keep satisfactory academic progress. Dropping below 15 hours shrinks the award, because Oklahoma's Promise pays by the credit hour and OBU will not make up the difference.
Automatic⚠ Transfer Onlytransfer
Transfer Academic Scholarship
📅 Deadline: No separate deadline; awarded at admission ✓ Renews (2 GPA)
$11,000–$15,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ Transfer students only
🎓 TransferBased on transfer college GPA. Transfers with fewer than 24 college hours must also meet freshman admission requirements.
✚
Stacking & Combining
One academic award per student. Stacks with OBU need-based aid, the Bison Pact, and federal and state aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
2026-27 transfer grid.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Transfer students admitted full time. College GPA sets the amount: $11,000 at 2.49 and below, $13,000 at 2.50-2.99, $14,000 at 3.00-3.59, and $15,000 at 3.60 and above.
Data last verified Nov 6, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Note: Each tier is shown twice, once for the GPA path and once for the test path, because OBU accepts either one. OBU does not publish a superscore policy, so send every score report. Oklahoma residents will also see state aid cards above, and the Bison Pact appears here for Oklahoma’s Promise students.
Does my student need an ACT or SAT score for the academic award?
No. OBU awards its academic scholarships on GPA or ACT/SAT/CLT, and not having a score does not block an award. Scores only become required for the three full-tuition competitions.
What if the GPA and test score point to different tiers?
OBU’s grid lists a GPA band or a test band for each award, which reads as whichever gets your student higher. A 3.6 GPA with a 26 ACT should land in Founder’s on the test side. Confirm the tier on the award letter, and send a new score if it would move your student up.
Is the $15,000 really guaranteed?
Yes, for admitted full-time traditional freshmen. The Academic Grant covers everyone below the President’s tier. Fully online students are not eligible.
Can these awards stack?
Only one academic award per student. It does stack with OBU’s church, ministry, talent, and need-based awards, plus Pell and Oklahoma state grants. A full-tuition scholarship replaces it.
How does the Bison Pact work?
If your student qualifies for Oklahoma’s Promise, OBU pays whatever tuition and general fees are left after the Promise, federal and state grants, and OBU scholarships. Your student must enroll at 15 hours a semester and file the FAFSA before March 1 every year. Athletes receiving athletic aid are not eligible.
Do out-of-state students get the same awards?
Yes. The academic grid is the same for every state. Out-of-state students simply do not get the Oklahoma-only money like the Bison Pact and OTEG.
OBU’s big money is three full-tuition competitions: University Scholar (open to everyone, six awards a year), Allen Academic Scholar (Western Oklahoma), and Martin Academic Scholar (Choctaw Nation students in Oklahoma). All three require a test score, close January 1, bring finalists to campus on February 5, and announce winners by February 26.
Before your student spends a holiday break on essays, do the kitchen-table math. A winner gives up the $15,000 to $20,000 academic award they already have, so the real gain is the difference between OBU tuition and that award. General fees, housing, and meals are still on the bill. It is still a good deal, just a smaller one than “full tuition” sounds.
✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at OBU?
Aid Type
Stacks?
OBU Parent Translation
Academic award
One only
Your student gets the single tier they qualify for, $15,000 to $20,000.
Full-tuition scholarship
Replaces
Winners cannot receive any other OBU aid, including the academic award and athletic aid.
Church, ministry, and talent awards
Usually yes
These sit on top of the academic award. Check the award letter for the combined total.
Athletic aid
Limited
Athletes keep the academic award but lose all other OBU scholarships and the Bison Pact.
Bison Pact
Last dollar
It fills whatever tuition and general fees are left after everything else.
Pell and Oklahoma grants
Yes
Pell, OTAG, OTEG, Oklahoma’s Promise, and Rising Scholars all apply, even for full-tuition winners.
Full TuitionApp Required
University Scholar (Full Tuition)
📅 Deadline: December 31, 11:59 p.m. (University Scholar page) · 📢 Results: Finalists January 8; recipients February 26 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
✘ Not stackable
🏫 3.5+ GPA✎ ~29 ACT✎ ~1330 SAT👥 ~6 winners/yrIncoming full-time freshmen with a 3.5+ high school GPA and ACT 29+, SAT 1330+, or CLT 89+. A test score is required.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Replaces all other OBU aid.
📄
How to Apply
Apply and be admitted, then submit the scholarship application through the OBU admissions portal: one letter of recommendation, a resume of leadership and involvement, and a 500 to 1,000 word essay on one of three prompts. Finalists attend the Full-Tuition Scholarship Competition (Scholars Day), a day of academic and leadership activities in business professional dress.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec🌟 Finalist Event
💡
Strategic Detail
Covers OBU tuition only, up to 16 hours a semester for eight semesters, not summer. General fees, housing, and meals are still owed. Recipients cannot receive any other OBU aid, including the $15,000 to $20,000 academic award and athletic aid, so the real gain over a Founder's award is tuition minus $20,000. Outside money (Pell, OTAG, OTEG, Oklahoma's Promise, Rising Scholars) still applies. OBU asks finalists to file the FAFSA by February 1. Renewal GPA is not published; ask before accepting.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Six awards a year. Finalists are top testers (ACT 29+, SAT 1330+, or CLT 89+ with a 3.5 GPA) who turn in a polished essay and resume by January 1 and show leadership at the February 5 competition. Test-optional applicants cannot compete.
Full TuitionApp Requiredgeographicin state
Allen Academic Scholar (Full Tuition)
📅 Deadline: January 1 · 📢 Results: Finalists January 8; recipients February 26 ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
Full Tuition
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Western Oklahoma students only
🏫 3.5+ GPA✎ ~27 ACT✎ ~1260 SAT👥 ~1 winners/yrResident of Western Oklahoma (OBU sets the boundary; ask admissions whether your county counts). 3.5 GPA plus ACT 27, SAT 1260, or CLT 84. OBU's freshmen page and catalog list the SAT line as 1270, so aim for 1270 to be safe. A test score is required.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Replaces all other OBU aid.
📄
How to Apply
Same portal application and January 1 deadline as University Scholar. Finalists compete at the February 5 Full-Tuition Scholarship Competition.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec🌟 Finalist Event
💡
Strategic Detail
Full tuition for up to 16 hours a semester for eight semesters, renewable with a 2.00 college GPA per the OBU catalog. Recipients cannot receive other OBU aid. Western Oklahoma students who do not win can still receive need-based Allen Scholarships of $1,000 to $5,000.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students from Western Oklahoma with a 3.5 GPA and ACT 27+ (SAT 1260, CLT 84). OBU describes it as awarded to a student, so expect about one winner a year. The test bar is two ACT points lower than University Scholar, which is the reason to apply.
Full TuitionApp Requiredtribalin state
Martin Academic Scholar (Full Tuition)
📅 Deadline: January 1 · 📢 Results: Finalists January 8; recipients February 26 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Choctaw Nation citizens who live in Oklahoma
🏫 3.0+ GPA✎ ~25 ACT✎ ~1190 SAT👥 ~1 winners/yrOklahoma resident recognized by the Choctaw Nation as Choctaw. 3.0 GPA plus ACT 25, SAT 1190, or CLT 78. A test score is required.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Replaces all other OBU aid.
📄
How to Apply
Same portal application and January 1 deadline as University Scholar, plus documentation that the student is recognized by the Choctaw Nation. Finalists compete on February 5.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec🌟 Finalist Event
💡
Strategic Detail
Renewable for eight semesters. Recipients cannot receive other OBU aid. Choctaw students who do not win can still receive need-based Martin Scholarships of $1,000 to $5,000. Renewal GPA is not published on the current page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Oklahoma-resident Choctaw students recognized by the Choctaw Nation with a 3.0 GPA and ACT 25+ (SAT 1190, CLT 78). It is one award a year, and its bar is the lowest of OBU's three full-tuition awards.
Data last verified Nov 6, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs
When are the full-tuition applications due?
January 1 of senior year, through the OBU admissions portal. Your student must apply and be admitted first. Finalists are told by January 8.
Can a test-optional applicant compete?
No. University Scholar, Allen, and Martin all require an ACT, SAT, or CLT score. If your student is on the fence about testing, one sitting could open all three doors.
What happens at the February 5 competition?
It is a day of academic and leadership activities on campus, and OBU asks for business professional dress. The University Scholar application also needs a letter of recommendation, a leadership resume, and a 500 to 1,000 word essay.
Who counts as “Western Oklahoma” for the Allen award?
OBU does not publish a county list. Call admissions (405.585.5000) and ask before your student writes the essay.
Does full tuition cover housing?
No. It covers tuition only, up to 16 hours a semester for eight semesters, and not summer. General fees, housing, and meals stay on the bill.
What about Oklahoma’s Rising Scholars Award?
It is the state’s award for National Merit Finalists and top testers, and it comes from the State Regents, not OBU, so it stacks with OBU money. OBU’s own page lists an older $5,700 figure, so confirm the current amount for private colleges before you count on it.
OBU’s smaller awards mostly go to families who tell OBU the right things at the right time. None of these is hard. They are just easy to skip.
Planning a ministry major? Put it on the admission application. That one box is worth $3,500 a year.
Ask your home church or Baptist association for a scholarship. OBU matches it up to $1,000 a year.
Tell OBU if a parent is a paid Baptist minister or an IMB or NAMB missionary.
Music, art, or theatre student? Finish the audition by early March.
File the FAFSA (school code 003164). Need-based Bison Grants and the Allen and Martin need awards depend on it.
Parent translation: the academic award shows up on its own. The extra $1,000 to $5,000 a year usually comes from a box checked, a church asked, or an audition scheduled.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
These awards are not automatic. Most stack with the academic award and fill the gap between the guaranteed money and the real bill. Several are tied to church, ministry, or major, so read the “who actually wins” line on each card.
Automaticministry family
MK Scholarship (Missionary Kids)
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$4,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ IMB or NAMB missionary families
Dependents of IMB or NAMB missionaries.
✚
Stacking & Combining
OBU says it can be combined with other OBU scholarships and financial aid the student qualifies for.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Children of missionaries currently with the International Mission Board or North American Mission Board, including families back from the field. Students keep it for up to four years even if a parent later leaves the board.
Automaticmajor specific
Louise M. Prichard Scholarship (Ministry Majors)
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$3,500/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ Hobbs ministry majors only
Must indicate a Hobbs ministry major on the admission application and remain in it.
✚
Stacking & Combining
OBU does not publish stacking rules for this award. It is listed alongside the academic awards, so confirm the combined total on the award letter.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Every ministry major in the Herschel H. Hobbs School of Theology and Ministry. The catch is paperwork: the student must list a Hobbs ministry major on the admission application and stay in that major.
App Requiredchurch
Church Partnership Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ Requires a church or association gift
Church or association funds must come as a check payable to OBU.
✚
Stacking & Combining
OBU matches church or association money up to $1,000 a year ($500 a semester), so the church gift plus the match can reach $2,000 a year.
📄
How to Apply
Ask your home church or Baptist association for a scholarship and have it send a check made out to OBU. OBU matches it up to $500 a semester.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students whose home church or association sends money to OBU. A $1,000 church gift becomes $2,000 a year. Most families never ask the church, which is the whole trick.
Automaticministry family
Church Staff Dependent Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$1,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ Baptist ministry families only
Parent or spouse must currently be a paid, professional denominational minister in an SBC- or NBC-affiliated body.
✚
Stacking & Combining
OBU does not publish stacking rules for this award; confirm on the award letter.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Children and spouses of paid professional ministers at a local Baptist church, Baptist association, or Baptist state convention affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention or the National Baptist Convention, plus dependents of ministers employed by those national conventions.
App Requiredauditionmajor specific
Fine Arts Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Early March (auditions) ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$500–$4,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ Must major in the area; audition required
Must major in the scholarship area. Auditions due by early March.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Can be paired with an academic award. OBU does not publish other stacking rules.
📄
How to Apply
Complete the separate art, theatre, or music scholarship application and finish the audition or review by early March.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students majoring in voice, keyboard, instrumental music, composition, art, or theatre who audition by early March and keep showing excellence. The student must major in the scholarship area.
Automaticmajor specific
OBU Engineering Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Varies Non-Renewable
$3,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ Engineering majors only
Admitted students pursuing a mechanical or electrical engineering major.
✚
Stacking & Combining
OBU does not publish stacking or renewal rules; confirm on the award letter.
💡
Strategic Detail
OBU's page dates the award to 2023-24 and still lists it for 2026-27 entrants. It does not say whether the $3,000 renews.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Admitted students in OBU's mechanical or electrical engineering majors. It comes with the major, so check that it appears on the award letter.
App Requiredaudition
Band Award (Non-Music Majors)
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$250–$1,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ Symphonic Band members, audition required
Students not majoring in music; must be members of the Symphonic Band. Competitive.
✚
Stacking & Combining
OBU does not publish stacking rules for this award.
📄
How to Apply
Audition for the Symphonic Band.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Non-music majors who play a band instrument well, pass an audition, and stay in the Symphonic Band. Good news for the engineer or nurse who still plays trumpet.
Automaticneed based
Bison Grant and Endowed Scholarships (Need-Based)
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
Must file the FAFSA (OBU code 003164).
✚
Stacking & Combining
Fills gaps after the academic award and federal and state aid.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with unmet need after other aid, as shown on the FAFSA. Amounts vary and depend on what else the student receives, so filing the FAFSA early matters.
Automaticgeographicneed based
Allen Scholarship (Need-Based, Western Oklahoma)
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews
$1,000–$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ Western Oklahoma students only
Student from Western Oklahoma with unmet demonstrated need. FAFSA required.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Awarded on unmet need after other aid.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Western Oklahoma students with unmet need on the FAFSA. It is the consolation path for Allen finalists, and many families from the western counties never hear of it.
Automatictribalneed based
Martin Scholarship (Need-Based, Choctaw Nation)
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews
$1,000–$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ Choctaw Nation citizens who live in Oklahoma
Oklahoma resident recognized by the Choctaw Nation as Choctaw, with unmet demonstrated need. FAFSA required.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Awarded on unmet need after other aid.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Oklahoma-resident Choctaw students recognized by the Choctaw Nation who show unmet need on the FAFSA. No test score is required, unlike the full-tuition Martin Scholar award.
App Requiredathletics
Varsity Athletic Awards
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Recruited athletes only
Outstanding athletic ability; renewable. Administered by OBU athletics.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Restricted stacking.
📄
How to Apply
Contact the OBU athletic department through obubison.com.
💡
Strategic Detail
Athletes who receive OBU athletic aid keep their academic scholarship but lose every other OBU scholarship, and they are not eligible for the Bison Pact. Run the numbers before accepting a small athletic offer.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Recruited athletes. The athletic department handles the whole process, and amounts vary by sport and roster need.
Automaticrotc
Air Force ROTC Dorm Room Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Air Force ROTC scholarship holders
Air Force ROTC Type I or Type II scholarship plus active participation in the cross-town program at OU.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Covers OBU room charges on top of the Air Force ROTC scholarship.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who hold an Air Force ROTC Type I or Type II scholarship and actively take part in OBU's cross-town ROTC program at the University of Oklahoma. It covers OBU room charges, not private-room upgrades.
Data last verified Nov 6, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Hidden Gems FAQ
Do these stack with the academic award?
Most do. OBU says outright that the MK Scholarship combines with other OBU aid, but it does not publish stacking rules for the rest. Check the combined total on the award letter. None of them stack with a full-tuition scholarship.
How does the church match work?
Your church or Baptist association sends a check made out to OBU, and OBU matches it up to $500 a semester. A $1,000 church gift becomes $2,000 a year.
Do we have to be Baptist for these?
For the church match, the minister-family award, and the MK award, the connection matters. The fine arts, band, engineering, and need-based awards are open to any qualifying student.
Can athletes get these?
Usually not. Athletes who receive OBU athletic aid keep their academic award but are not eligible for other OBU scholarships, so compare the athletic offer to what your student would get without it.
Is there anything for ROTC students?
Yes. Air Force ROTC Type I or Type II scholarship holders in OBU’s cross-town program at the University of Oklahoma get their OBU room charges covered. Bring proof of ROTC participation to Student Financial Services.
OBU runs a University Honors Program, not a separate honors college. Students join one of three houses (Augustine, Lewis, or Luther) and work through Great Books, classical history, and the big questions that sit outside the normal curriculum. It is a community and a course of study, not a scholarship program.
Minimums to apply: 3.5 GPA and an ACT of 29 or SAT of 1350
What students get: small discussion classes, colloquia on specialized topics, reserved study space, and low-cost month-long travel study courses open only to Honors students
To graduate “With University Honors”: the Honors core, four colloquia, a 3.5 GPA, and an Honors capstone
Honors Program Scholarships
This institution does not offer designated Honors College scholarships at this time.
Where the honors-level money really is: OBU does not attach scholarships to the Honors Program. A student who meets the Honors bar (3.5 GPA, 29 ACT) also meets the bar for the full-tuition University Scholar competition, so put that January 1 deadline on the calendar. Note the small difference: Honors lists a 1350 SAT, while University Scholar takes a 1330.
Honors Program FAQs (Oklahoma Baptist University)
Does the Honors Program come with a scholarship?
No. OBU’s Honors page lists academic benefits, not money. The academic award your student already earned is unchanged either way.
Is admission automatic?
No. There is a separate Honors application linked from the Honors page. OBU does not post a deadline there, so apply early in senior year.
Can a test-optional student apply?
OBU lists an ACT or SAT score among the minimums, so plan on needing one. Ask the Honors office if your student is applying without scores.
Can out-of-state students join?
Yes. Nothing on OBU’s Honors page limits it to Oklahoma residents.
Is it a lot more work?
It is more reading and discussion, built around Great Books, and Honors students must keep a 3.5 GPA to graduate with the designation. Students who love ideas tend to call it the best part of OBU.
OBU is a small Christian liberal arts university, with about 1,500 students on Bison Hill and a 15 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. Faith runs through the whole place, and so does a practical streak. Families tend to come for a few strong pipelines: nursing, ministry, the arts, and pre-health science.
Signature Program: School of Nursing: Nursing is OBU’s most common bachelor’s degree. The bachelor’s program prepares students to become registered nurses who can practice in any state, and it is the main reason many Oklahoma families put OBU on the list.
Theology and Ministry: The Herschel H. Hobbs School of Theology and Ministry is the heart of OBU’s Baptist identity. Every ministry major there qualifies for the $3,500-a-year Prichard Scholarship.
Music and Fine Arts: The Warren M. Angell College of Fine Arts covers music, art, and theatre, with audition-based scholarships of $500 to $4,000.
Pre-Health Sciences: The Hurley School of Science and Mathematics pitches biology and chemistry as paths to medical, dental, and graduate school.
Engineering: A newer program in mechanical and electrical engineering, launched with a $3,000 scholarship for engineering majors. Ask about accreditation status if that matters for your student’s plans.
Business and Education: Solid, well-traveled paths for students who want a career-ready degree in a smaller setting.
🔗 Official Oklahoma Baptist University Links
Use OBU’s official pages below to confirm scholarship amounts, deadlines, and costs. Always go by these pages for final award terms, especially since OBU updates its grid each year.
Big picture? Oklahoma Baptist is the rare private school where the scholarship math starts in your favor. Every admitted freshman gets at least $15,000 a year, a 3.75 GPA alone reaches $20,000, and no test score is needed for any of it. Oklahoma families with Oklahoma’s Promise can get tuition and fees covered through the Bison Pact, as long as the student signs up by December 31 of senior year and stays at 15 hours.
The real decisions happen around January. High-testing students should go after the full-tuition awards, but do the math first, because a win replaces the academic award instead of adding to it. After that, it is the small stuff that adds up: the ministry major box, the church check, the audition, and a FAFSA filed on time. Get those right and OBU can cost a lot less than its sticker price says.
Was this helpful? Share it with another parent who’s comparing college costs!
Your kid did everything right. That does not mean the money follows.
Most families build a college list first and think about scholarships second, which is backwards. This free four-part series shows you where the money actually comes from, and how to build a list around it.
After the series, about once a month, sometimes twice during application season. No drip funnels, no affiliate pitches, and we never sell your information. Unsubscribe anytime.
Written by Leo Dimilo
I started CollegeReadyParent while working through college costs for my own kid, and quickly figured out that the number a school advertises and the number a family actually pays are two very different things. Since then I’ve gone school by school pulling apart award letters, scholarship pages, and cost sheets to find what families are supposed to just know. This site is the version of that research I wish someone had handed me. More about Leo →
Cookie Consent
We use cookies to improve your experience on our site. By using our site, you consent to cookies.
Contains information related to marketing campaigns of the user. These are shared with Google AdWords / Google Ads when the Google Ads and Google Analytics accounts are linked together.
90 days
__utma
ID used to identify users and sessions
2 years after last activity
__utmt
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests
10 minutes
__utmb
Used to distinguish new sessions and visits. This cookie is set when the GA.js javascript library is loaded and there is no existing __utmb cookie. The cookie is updated every time data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
30 minutes after last activity
__utmc
Used only with old Urchin versions of Google Analytics and not with GA.js. Was used to distinguish between new sessions and visits at the end of a session.
End of session (browser)
__utmz
Contains information about the traffic source or campaign that directed user to the website. The cookie is set when the GA.js javascript is loaded and updated when data is sent to the Google Anaytics server
6 months after last activity
__utmv
Contains custom information set by the web developer via the _setCustomVar method in Google Analytics. This cookie is updated every time new data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
2 years after last activity
__utmx
Used to determine whether a user is included in an A / B or Multivariate test.
18 months
_ga
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gali
Used by Google Analytics to determine which links on a page are being clicked
30 seconds
_ga_
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gid
ID used to identify users for 24 hours after last activity
24 hours
_gat
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests when using Google Tag Manager
