College of the Ouachitas (OBU)

410 Ouachita St, Arkadelphia, AR

About
College of the Ouachitas, located in Malvern, Arkansas, was founded in 1969 and was originally a vocation school that provided career training known as Ouachita Vocational Technical School. The school operated until 1991 when it became Ouachita Technical College. The conversion to college was approved by the Governor Bill Clinton and was assisted by Henderson State University  in order to ensure that programs were able to offer college level credits and became fully accredited as a post secondary institution in 1997.

Academics
College of the Ouachitas offers a variety of courses that allow students to explore and pursue their interests and establish a path toward their desired goals. Academic transfer programs allow students to earn credits toward a bachelor's degree over the course of two years, followed by transferring to a four year institution to complete their education. Career training programs allow students to obtain an education in a high demand field or industry that assists in entry into the workforce as a qualified professional. Programs take between one and two years to complete and result in a certificate or associate degree.

Programs offered include:

• Nursing
• Nursing Assistant
• Criminal Justice
• General Studies
• Accounting

Admissions and Financial Aid
College of the Ouachitas is an open enrollment institution that allows any individual interested to enroll by completing an application and paying all fees. Students should supply transcripts and test scores and may be required to take a placement exam. Students should also participate in new student orientation and meet with counselor prior to registration. Financial aid is available in the form of loans, grants and scholarships and is awarded based on need as determined by the information provided by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).