Williams Baptist University

What Williams Baptist University does

Williams Baptist University (WBU) is a private, non-profit Christian university headquartered in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, founded in 1941 by Dr. H.E. Williams as Southern Baptist College and renamed Williams Baptist University in 2013. The institution delivers Christ-centered undergraduate, graduate, and online education through more than 25 majors across ten academic departments (Business, Christian Ministries, Education, English, Health & Physical Ed, History, Liberal Arts, Music, Natural Sciences, Psychology), plus fully online Master of Arts in Teaching and Master of Science in Education programs priced at $430 per credit hour. WBU's distinctive structural offering is the Williams Works work-college model, in which students work 16 hours per week on campus or at community employer partners to fully cover tuition and fees, anchored operationally by Eagle Farms, a 10-plus acre university-owned working farm that supplies Williams Corner, an on-campus retail outlet.

The university serves four primary customer segments — first-time freshmen, transfer students, graduate students (predominantly online), and international students — with nearly 99% of students receiving financial aid and scholarship tiers ranging from $5,000 to $12,000 annually based on academic merit. WBU's technology stack is limited to standard higher-education systems: Blackbaud for the student portal/campus app, Parchment for transcript ordering, and PayMyTuition for international payment processing. There is no proprietary technology product or AI capability. Auxiliary revenue from housing, dining, and retail is layered on tuition, while grants and donations — most notably a $4 million Mabee Foundation award (2023) and $1.9 million from the Arkansas Division of Higher Education (2024) — fund capital projects including an $8 million wellness center.

Commercially, WBU pursues a direct-to-consumer admissions model supported by campus tours, preview days, multi-platform social media, a president-hosted Lifework podcast, and a regional community-discount program (Williams BLUE). A February 2026 workforce partnership with Black River Technical College (BRTC) and the 2026 launch of an accelerated 3-year Agribusiness bachelor's degree mark the most recent strategic efforts to align the university with Arkansas's state workforce strategy and to expand the addressable student base beyond the northeast Arkansas core.

Name

Williams Baptist University

Legal name

Williams Baptist University

Website

https://williamsbu.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1941

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Williams Baptist University is a private, non-profit Christian university in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, offering undergraduate, graduate, and online programs with a Williams Works work-college model that lets students earn tuition through 16 hours of weekly campus work.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

akta.pro primary industry

Religiously Affiliated Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAF)

Keywords

• Private Christian university
• Higher education services
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate teacher education
• Work college programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Walnut Ridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue stream from undergraduate and graduate tuition and mandatory fees charged to enrolled students
2. Grants and Donations: Significant philanthropic revenue from foundations and donors, including the $4 million Mabee Foundation grant for the wellness center
3. Auxiliary Services: Revenue from housing, dining, and campus retail operations

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Williams Baptist University is a private, non-profit Christ-centered university offering undergraduate degrees across 10+ academic departments and fully online graduate programs in education. Its distinctive Williams Works work-college program allows students to work 16 hours per week to have tuition and fees completely covered, supported by the on-campus Eagle Farms agricultural operation and community employer partnerships.

Product overview

Williams Baptist University (WBU) is a Christ-centered private university offering a comprehensive educational portfolio. The institution operates as a platform with distinct programs: the core Williams Works work-college model provides debt-free education through on-campus employment, with Eagle Farms as its agricultural centerpiece. Academic offerings include undergraduate majors across Business, Christian Ministries, Education, Liberal Arts, Music, Natural Sciences, and Psychology, plus graduate programs (Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Science in Education). The university recently launched an accelerated 3-year Agribusiness degree. Additional offerings include Eagle Athletics (19 NAIA varsity sports), Performing Arts programs, and Williams Corner retail operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Williams Works: A work-college program where students work 16 hours per week to have tuition and fees completely covered. The program includes job opportunities at Eagle Farms, Williams Corner market, chicken egg operation, The Hotel Rhea, Lawrence Medical Center, Custom Pak, and financial firms.
• Eagle Farms
• Eagles
• College City USA
• Williams Teacher Education Program (WTEP)

Products and services

• Williams Works A work-college program allowing students to work 16 hours per week during semesters to have tuition completely covered. Includes on-campus jobs at Eagle Farms, Williams Corner market, and community partner locations. Designed for undergraduate students seeking debt-free graduation.
• Eagle Farms A 10-plus acre university-owned working fruit and vegetable farm serving as the centerpiece of the Williams Works program. Students plant, cultivate, harvest crops, and market produce at the farm, farmers market, and Williams Corner retail location. Provides hands-on agricultural experience for students.
• 3-Year Agribusiness Degree Accelerated bachelor's degree in Agribusiness requiring 90 credit hours instead of traditional 120, developed in response to Arkansas Workforce Strategy. First accelerated agribusiness program of its kind in Arkansas, with hands-on experience at Eagle Farms facility.
• Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Fully online graduate program preparing students for teaching licensure with 36 credit hours completed in 18 months. Offers certification for mid-level, secondary, and K-12 broad-range areas. Designed for working professionals seeking flexible graduate education.
• Master of Science in Education (MSE) Fully online graduate program for P-12 classroom teachers to advance their careers. Features 8-week courses with 24/7 technical support and no hidden fees. Priced at $430 per credit hour.
• Williams Baptist University Undergraduate Programs Christ-centered undergraduate education with over 25 majors and pre-professional programs including Business, Christian Ministries, Education, English, Health & Physical Ed, History, Liberal Arts, Music, Natural Sciences, Psychology, and pre-professional tracks (Pre-Dentistry, Pre-Law, Pre-Medicine, Pre-Nursing, Pre-Pharmacy, Pre-Physical Therapy, Pre-Veterinary Medicine).
• Williams Teacher Education Program (WTEP) CAEP-accredited teacher preparation program for Bachelor of Science in Education degrees meeting Arkansas state licensure requirements. Includes Elementary (K-6), Middle Level, Secondary, and K-12 education tracks. Accreditation effective fall 2022 through fall 2028.
• Eagle Athletics Intercollegiate athletics program with 19 varsity sports competing in the NAIA American Midwest Conference. Includes 16 sports for men and women such as basketball, baseball, soccer, volleyball, and softball. Offers athletic scholarships and has produced 20 conference championships and 15 All-Americans over the past 6 years.
• Performing Arts Includes Williams Singers (auditioned choir), University Band, Worship Team, Americana Band (gospel, country, bluegrass), and The Cast (theatre troupe). Students can earn scholarships for participation across music and theatre programs.
• Williams Corner University-owned retail location on Highway 67 selling Eagle Farms produce and WBU-branded products including pecans from 125 pecan trees on campus. Functions as a hands-on retail training site for Williams Works students.

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates can earn degree debt-free through Williams Works program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Black River Technical College (BRTC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 February 2026Williams Baptist University and Black River Technical College signed a workforce partnership agreement on February 17, 2026 to share resources including degrees, educational pathways, instruction, facilities, and workforce support services. The collaboration supports the Arkansas Workforce Strategy launched by Governor Sarah Sanders. WBU recently received approval to offer a bachelor's degree in agribusiness that BRTC associate's graduates could complete in one additional year. The partnership emphasizes agriculture and precision agriculture.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• John Brown University: Faith-based private university in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, offering a similar mix of undergraduate majors, graduate programs, athletics, and Christ-centered identity. Most direct geographic and mission comparable to WBU.
• Harding University: Private Christian university in Searcy, Arkansas, affiliated with Churches of Christ. Comparable size, religious affiliation, regional recruitment base, NCAA Division II athletics, and graduate program portfolio.
• Ouachita Baptist University: Baptist-affiliated private university in Arkadelphia, Arkansas with similar undergraduate, athletics, and faith-based positioning. Directly comparable as a small denominational liberal arts institution in Arkansas.
• Lyon College: Small Presbyterian-affiliated liberal arts college in Batesville, Arkansas. Comparable in size, faith affiliation, regional Arkansas recruitment, and undergraduate liberal arts focus.
• University of the Ozarks: Small private liberal arts university in Clarksville, Arkansas affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. Comparable small faith-based institution competing in the same regional Arkansas market.
• Oklahoma Baptist University: Baptist-affiliated private university in Shawnee, Oklahoma with similar undergraduate, athletics (NAIA), and graduate education programming. Strong mission and product comparability.
• Missouri Baptist University: Southern Baptist-affiliated private university in St. Louis, Missouri. Comparable faith affiliation, NAIA athletics, and undergraduate/graduate education mix to WBU.
• Shorter University: Baptist-affiliated private university in Rome, Georgia. Comparable small faith-based institution with undergraduate and graduate programs, NAIA athletics, and similar enrollment size range.
• Bryan College: Private Christian liberal arts college in Dayton, Tennessee with similar undergraduate programs, athletics, and evangelical identity. Comparable small faith-based institution business model.

Regional players

• Black River Technical College: Public community college in Pocahontes, Arkansas, partnered with WBU under the 2026 BRTC-WBU workforce agreement. Directly relevant as articulation partner and regional competitor for transfer students.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/williamsbaptist
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCslgPS3pBYXMaOu17dvrwzA
• Facebookfacebook.com/108283005862417
• TikToktiktok.com/@williamsbaptist

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Williams Baptist University