Philander Smith University
Philander Smith University is a private university in Little Rock, Arkansas, enrolling about 751 students. Federal completion data covers about 15 program areas at this campus. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $38,427 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $13,014
- 2024 Average Net Price: $14,224 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 751 84.3% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 30.38%
Philander Smith University: what the data shows
Common questions about Philander Smith University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Philander Smith University?
Philander Smith University is located in Little Rock, AR (ZIP 72202-3799).
NCES locale classification: Suburb.
Is Philander Smith University public or private?
Philander Smith University is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Philander Smith University cost?
Published tuition: $13,014.
Average net price after aid: $14,224.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $13,393 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $14,606 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $16,686 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $12,847 |
| $110,001+ | $15,800 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $52,056.
How big is Philander Smith University?
Total enrollment: 751 students.
About 84% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Philander Smith University?
150%-time completion rate: 30.38%.
First-year retention: 65.7%.
What do graduates of Philander Smith University earn?
Median earnings: $25,254 six years after entry; $38,427 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $24,736.
67.81% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Philander Smith University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Other/Unknown Programs (124 completions)
- CIP 520201 (52 completions)
- General Biological Sciences (14 completions)
- Criminal Justice & Corrections (13 completions)
- General Psychology (12 completions)
- CIP 131203 (7 completions)
- Social Work (6 completions)
- Computer Science (5 completions)
- Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (5 completions)
- Liberal Arts & Sciences (3 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Philander Smith University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 30.38%; median earnings $38,427 at 10 years; net price $14,224. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Costs
Tuition Costs
$13,014
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Philander Smith University was $13,014.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$14,224
2024 Value
In 2024 Philander Smith University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $14,224.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$56,896 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$14,224 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$52,056 4-Year Tuition
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional.
4-year total cost breakdown for Philander Smith University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
67.81% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
57.55% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Philander Smith University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Philander Smith University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $12,564 | $12,564 | $19,029 |
| 2014 | $12,564 | $12,564 | $13,489 |
| 2015 | $12,564 | $12,564 | $15,676 |
| 2016 | $12,714 | $12,714 | $16,514 |
| 2017 | $12,714 | $12,714 | $16,175 |
| 2018 | $13,014 | $13,014 | $14,249 |
| 2019 | $13,014 | $13,014 | $14,141 |
| 2020 | $13,014 | $13,014 | $14,046 |
| 2021 | $13,014 | $13,014 | $14,847 |
| 2022 | $13,014 | $13,014 | $17,637 |
| 2023 | $13,014 | $13,014 | $15,360 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
84.3% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Philander Smith University in 2024 is 751 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
65.7%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
20.48% 100% Completion Time
30.38% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 20.48% of students graduating from Philander Smith University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Philander Smith University.
Return on Investment
$24,736 Median Student Debt
$38,427 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
64.37% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
575.39% Return on Investment
6.4 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Philander Smith University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 Programs Reporting Data
CIP 52.0201: 52 completions
General Biological Sciences: 14 completions
Criminal Justice & Corrections: 13 completions
General Psychology: 12 completions
CIP 13.1203: 7 completions
Social Work: 6 completions
Computer Science: 5 completions
Parks, Recreation, & Leisure: 5 completions
Liberal Arts & Sciences: 3 completions
Other/Unknown Programs: 124 completions
Most popular programs at Philander Smith University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Philander Smith University graduates.
About
Philander Smith University is a private non-profit institution located in Little Rock, AR, offering 15 distinct degree programs across various academic disciplines. The institution enrolls approximately 751 students. The institution maintains a 30.38% graduation rate. Approximately 67.81% of students receive Pell Grants.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Location
Little Rock, AR 72202-3799
Region: Southeast
Insights and Analysis
Graduation Rate Considerations: The 30.38% graduation rate at Philander Smith University falls below the national average. Prospective students should carefully consider factors such as academic preparation, support services, and career outcomes when evaluating this institution.
FAQ
How much does Philander Smith University cost?
Reported in-state tuition is $13,014 and average net price is $14,224 in the latest College Scorecard data.
What do graduates of Philander Smith University earn?
Median earnings are $25,254 six years after entry and $38,427 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Philander Smith University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 30.4% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Philander Smith University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $24,736.
How big is Philander Smith University?
Total enrollment is about 751 students in the latest reporting year.
Is Philander Smith University public or private?
Philander Smith University is a private nonprofit institution located in Little Rock, AR.
Is Philander Smith University an HBCU?
Yes. Philander Smith University is flagged as a historically Black college or university (HBCU) in IPEDS.
Is Philander Smith University a tribal college?
No. Philander Smith University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Philander Smith University a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Philander Smith University does not meet that proxy (reported share 3.1%).
Is Philander Smith University religiously affiliated?
Yes. IPEDS reports a religious affiliation for Philander Smith University: United Methodist.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.