Philander Smith University
Little Rock, AR 72202-3799
About Philander Smith University
Philander Smith University is a private university in Little Rock, Arkansas, enrolling about 751 students. Philander Smith University awards degrees and certificates tracked in federal College Scorecard and IPEDS reporting. Published tuition for full-time study is about $13,014 per year before aid; net price varies by family income. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $38,427 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Philander Smith University charges about 0.4× the national private non-profit median tuition ($13,014).
- Versus the Arkansas median, sticker tuition is about 1.8×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 30.38%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $38,427.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Philander Smith University is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 575% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philander Smith University | $13,014 | $14,224 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| Arkansas (state median) | $7,334 | $9,144 | 51 |
| Suburban (locale median) | $13,135 | $18,048 | 684 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Philander Smith University really?
Key findings
- Philander Smith University charges about 0.4× the national private non-profit median tuition ($13,014).
- Versus the Arkansas median, sticker tuition is about 1.8×.
Philander Smith University tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $13,014
Finding Philander Smith University charges about 0.4× the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $13,014. That is about 0.4× the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the Arkansas median ($7,334), sticker tuition is about 1.8×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 9% above.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private non-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Philander Smith University versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Philander Smith University versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Philander Smith University is $14,224.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $14,224 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $5,080 above the Arkansas median net price. Versus suburban campuses, net price runs $3,824 below the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At Philander Smith University, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Philander Smith University: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Philander Smith University—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$13,014
Avg. net price
$14,224
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $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. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Philander Smith University is known for
Top program completions
- Business Administration and Management, General52
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General14
- Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration13
- Psychology, General12
- Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching7
See earnings & programs for more.
Is Philander Smith University a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Philander Smith University is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Philander Smith University.
Campus
Location
Little Rock, AR
City / state
- ZIP
- 72202-3799
- NCES locale
- Suburb
Compared with Suburban campuses nationally, net price is 21% below the median for Suburban campuses ($18,048 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Southeast
- Carnegie
- Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions
Size
Enrollment
751
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 841
- Graduate
- 25
- Full-time share
- 84%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$24,736
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 67.81%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Philander Smith University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
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.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Admissions funnel data is not available for this institution.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Philander Smith University reported total enrollment of about 751 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 49% male and 51% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Black or African American (78.6%), Non-Resident Alien (8.4%), and White (6.7%). About 67.81% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 43.0% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
84.3% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Philander Smith University in 2024 is 751 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 841 students. Graduate enrollment is about 25 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.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
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.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Business Administration and Management, General: 42% male / 58% female
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 14% male / 86% female
- Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration: 23% male / 77% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Philander Smith University graduates earn a median of $38,427 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Philander Smith University.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $38,427. Median federal loan debt: $24,736. Average net price used in cost models: $14,224.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Philander Smith University graduates report median earnings of $38,427 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Philander Smith University.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (15 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Philander Smith University.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Philander Smith University graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Philander Smith University—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$16.4M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Arkansas median 2.5× the median ($6.5M)
- Southeast median 0.84× the median ($19.4M)
- U.S. median 0.62× the median ($26.4M)
- Arkansas median 2.5× the median ($7,616)
- Southeast median 2.0× the median ($9,308)
- U.S. median 1.5× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 100.0%
- Arkansas median 37.2 pp above median (62.8%)
- Southeast median 40.6 pp above median (59.4%)
- U.S. median 42.0 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $7,335
- Arkansas median 1.3× the median ($5,571)
- Southeast median 1.1× the median ($6,825)
- U.S. median near the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $6,043
- Arkansas median near the median ($6,294)
- Southeast median 0.92× the median ($6,602)
- U.S. median 0.83× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Philander Smith University at a glance
Philander Smith University
Philander Smith University is a private non-profit institution in Little Rock, AR, classified as Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Business Administration and Management, GeneralBiology/Biological Sciences, GeneralCriminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration
- Largest enrollment groups
- Black or African American78.6%Non-Resident Alien8.4%White or Caucasian6.7%
Schools near Philander Smith University
Other campuses in Little Rock, AR when available, plus nearby institutions in Arkansas.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade D) within Arkansas, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Philander Smith University located?
Philander Smith University is located in Little Rock, AR.
What is Philander Smith University's tuition?
Philander Smith University tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $13,014 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $14,224 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Philander Smith University cost?
Reported tuition is $13,014 and average net price is $14,224 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $10,000 annually.
What explains Philander Smith University's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($14,224), completion (30.4% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($38,427). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Philander Smith University?
Philander Smith University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 841 students, Black or African American (78.6%), Non-Resident Alien (8.4%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Philander Smith University?
About 43.0% of students at Philander Smith University are first-generation college students.
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.
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.
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 Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.