Philander Smith University

Little Rock, AR · Southeast

Known forEconomic diversityLow average cost

Website Admissions Apply Visit Financial aid

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 751 undergrads, where 68% receive Pell Grants, a high share compared to other colleges.

751

undergrads · larger than 28% of colleges

Diversity index

0.37

Pell Grant

68%

above the median

First generation

43%

above the median

Midsize cityNAIA · HBCU Athletic ConferenceROTCStudy abroad

More diverse · index 0.18 → 0.37 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Business Administration and Management, General (30% of graduates). 11 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 68% of colleges. 100% of faculty are full-time. Spends $6,043 a year on instruction per student.

11 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 68% of colleges

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $14,412 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $9.9K less than the national median. The 99% who received grants paid $14,082 on average; the other 1% paid the full sticker price of $28,526.

49%

$14.4K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $9.9K below the national median

Full price: $28,526 a year; tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid: Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Merit aid: 13% · avg $17K; of first-years got a grant without federal aid (a proxy: at most colleges that's merit aid)

Aid generosity

Generous

grants cover 49% of full price

Federal loans

58%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office

Cost falling · −17% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $38,427 ten years after enrolling, more than at 11% of colleges; 39% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.5 years of that salary.

39%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$38.4K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$24.7K

≈ $262/month for 10 years

Retention

66%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 39% → 30% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price fell 13% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 17%, because grants grew faster.

Cost
Falling
−17% after inflation
Diversity
More diverse
index 0.18 → 0.37

Every series, year by year

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

1
IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
2
College Scorecard
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12
3
IPEDS Admissions survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
4
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
5
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
6
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
7
IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12
8
College Scorecard Field of Study data
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
9
IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
10
IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
11
Common Data Set
Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
12
IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12
13
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
14
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
15
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
16
IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
17
IPEDS Outcome Measures survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12
18
Philander Smith University (2026)
Philander Smith University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 107600 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything