Philander Smith University
Little Rock, AR · Private · Midsize city · PSU
Private institution in Little Rock, AR · 842 undergraduates · $38,427 median earnings 10 years after entry.
- Top 5%Pell Grant share
- Top 22%Out-of-state tuition & fees
Stats
College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.
Cost
- Average net price
- $15,360714th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
- In-state tuition & fees
- $13,014844th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
- Out-of-state tuition & fees
- $13,014452nd cheapest of 2,042 reporting
- Cost of attendance
- $26,729799th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
- Median graduate debt
- $24,7361,215th lowest of 1,880 reporting
Outcomes
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry
- $38,4271,678th highest of 1,969 reporting
- Median earnings, 6 years after entry
- $25,2541,857th highest of 1,964 reporting
- Graduation rate (4-year)
- 32.3%1,729th highest of 2,031 reporting
- Full-time retention
- 67.3%1,371st highest of 1,853 reporting
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- —
- Average SAT
- —
- Median ACT
- —
Campus
- Undergraduates
- 8421,461st largest of 2,162 reporting
- Student-faculty ratio
- 12.0:1794th smallest of 2,159 reporting
- Pell Grant share
- 71.4%112th highest of 2,140 reporting
Nearest large-hub airport: 293 mi (DAL)
List appearances
This school doesn’t place in the top slice of any of our 111 lists. Most lists are Top 25–50, so absence here is common and says little on its own.
Best-paying fields of study
Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 16 reported programs.
| Field | Level | 1 yr | 2 yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, OtherBusiness | bachelors | $33,993 | $46,087 |
| Business Administration, Management and OperationsBusiness | bachelors | $30,771 | $25,194 |
| Social WorkPublic Administration | bachelors | $23,649 | — |
| Psychology, GeneralPsychology | bachelors | $23,351 | — |
| Biological and Physical SciencesMultidisciplinary Studies | bachelors | $23,113 | $25,774 |
| Biology, GeneralBiological Sciences | bachelors | — | — |
| ChemistryPhysical Sciences | bachelors | — | — |
| Computer Science | bachelors | — | — |
| Criminal Justice and CorrectionsHomeland Security & Law Enforcement | bachelors | — | — |
| English Language and Literature, GeneralEnglish Language & Literature | bachelors | — | — |
| Health and Physical Education/FitnessParks, Recreation & Fitness | bachelors | — | $20,140 |
| MathematicsMathematics & Statistics | bachelors | — | — |
Campus facts
- A Historically Black College or University (HBCU)source
- Religious affiliation: United Methodistsource
- Founded in 1877source
- Athletic nickname: "Panthers"source
- School colors: Green and Goldsource
- Formerly known as "Walden Seminary" (1877–1882)source
- Formerly known as "Philander Smith College" (1882–2023)source
- Athletic conference: NAIAsource
Athletics — 6 sports
NAIA Division I · NAIA
Athletic scholarships allowed · Athletic aid $455,741 (M $225,463 · W $230,278)
Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport.
Key links
- Official websitephilander.edu
- College ScorecardFederal source for every figure above (UNITID 107600)
- Compare colleges in ARRe-score with your weights
- The Most Selective Colleges in ArkansasEvery eligible four-year in this state, ranked by published admission rate
- Showdown: Philander Smith University vs University of the OzarksHigher-or-lower on real Scorecard metrics — round 1 is these two
- Sports directoryAll 6 EADA programs at this school
- Build an admissions plan8th–12th grade actions for this college — sports, activities, timeline
- MethodologyWhat these figures do and do not capture
- How to read a school page end to endStats, standings, lists, athletics, news — one profile, many jobs. Know which panel answers which question.
- Sticker price is a trapPublished tuition is a starting rumor. Net price is closer to what families actually pay.
- What acceptance rate actually measuresSelectivity is a competition statistic — not a quality score, and not your personal odds.
- A plan from eighth grade — without fake certaintySchool-anchored milestones, sports scarcity honesty, and EC playbooks — not invented admit odds.