Private Nonprofit Graduate Good 63/100

Philander Smith University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Little Rock, Arkansas

About Philander Smith University

Philander Smith University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Little Rock, Arkansas. It enrolls 751 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Acceptance
Graduation
39.5%
Net Price
$14,224
Median Earnings (10yr)
$38,427
Enrollment
751
Student : Faculty
12:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission
Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Good
63/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes 44
Value 41
Affordability 65
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

Admissions data is not yet reported for Philander Smith University.

Acceptance Rate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Philander Smith University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $14,224 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$14,224
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
68%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
58%
Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees
$13,014
Room & Board (on-campus)
$10,000
Room & Board (off-campus)
$14,376
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,312
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,778
Total Cost of Attendance
$28,136

Application fee: $25 (one-time, due at submission)


Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

  • Under $30,000
    $13,393
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $14,606
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $16,686
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $12,847
  • Over $110,000
    $15,800

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$3,750
10% percentile
$5,500
25% percentile
$24,736
Median percentile
$27,000
75% percentile
$40,000
90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $14,890 ↓ $9,846
No Pell $12,750 ↓ $11,986
Dependent students $14,250 ↓ $10,486
Independent students $15,480 ↓ $9,256
Female students $14,250 ↓ $10,486
Male students $14,749 ↓ $9,987
Pell recipients: 17.2% (4,264 students)No Pell: 14.8% (3,652 students)Dependent students: 16.5% (4,081 students)Independent students: 17.9% (4,433 students)Female students: 16.5% (4,081 students)Male students: 17.1% (4,224 students)Overall Median$24,736
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $12,000, less than completers ($24,736), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

39% of full-time students who enrolled at Philander Smith University graduate within six years, and 67% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
39%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
67%
Returning for their second year
What this means: Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Philander Smith University earn a median of $38,427 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$38,427
Earning > $25K
64%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$23,000$28,000$32,000$36,000$40,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates
$26,500

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$28,400

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt 6.4 pts across 6 years
48.2%1yr48.6%3yr51.2%5yr54.7%7yr
What this signals: Moderate. Only 55% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Philander Smith University is home to 751 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 43% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled
751
Part-Time
16%
First-Generation
43%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
Black 78.6% 590
International 8.4% 63
White 6.7% 50
Hispanic 3.1% 23
Other 1.9% 14
Black: 78.6% (590 students)International: 8.4% (63 students)White: 6.7% (50 students)Hispanic: 3.1% (23 students)Other: 1.9% (14 students)Total751

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Philander Smith University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Midsize City Little Rock, Arkansas
Housing
Mostly residential 518 beds on campus
Adult Learners
23% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure
Designation
Historically Black College / University (HBCU)
Designation
Religiously affiliated

What You Can Study

Philander Smith University offers a varied set of programs: 15 distinct programs across 14 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

1 Program
1 Program
1 Program
1 Program
1 Program
1 Program

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Philander Smith University is 12:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$57M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$55,349
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

37 instructional faculty across 4 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank Faculty Count Share Avg Salary
Full Professors 1 3% $68,916
Associate Professors 7 19% $63,189
Assistant Professors 19 51% $53,226
Instructors 10 27% $52,540

Pros & Cons of Philander Smith University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Philander Smith University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Below-average net price
  • Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
  • Tight-knit, close community feel
  • Wide reach of need-based federal aid
  • First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
  • Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
  • Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
  • First-year retention is below typical
  • Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Best for: Based on the data, Philander Smith University is a fit for students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.

Frequently Asked Questions about Philander Smith University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Philander Smith University.

How much does Philander Smith University cost?
The average net price after aid at Philander Smith University is $14,224 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Philander Smith University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $38,427 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $14,224 per year. That's roughly 2.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Philander Smith University known for?
Philander Smith University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Biology, Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Philander Smith University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Philander Smith University are $38,427, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Philander Smith University accredited?
Yes. Philander Smith University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Philander Smith University?
Philander Smith University enrolls 751 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Philander Smith University?
Philander Smith University graduates 39% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Philander Smith University a public or private college?
Philander Smith University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Philander Smith University located?
Philander Smith University is located in Little Rock, Arkansas.
What programs does Philander Smith University offer?
Philander Smith University offers 15 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Biology, Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Philander Smith University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Philander Smith University is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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