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PrivateUrbanHBCU

Philander Smith University

PSU

Little Rock, Arkansas 72202-3799

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Campus Vibe

Small & IntimateUrbanPrivateHBCUBusiness Focus

Known for business — close-knit campus

Philander Smith University is a private institution in Little Rock with particular strength in business and biology.

A small campus of 842 undergraduates with a 12:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.

32% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $38,427 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $15,360.

Established
1877
Type
Private historically black college
Conference
National Association of
Division
Division III

Plan Your Visit

—Acceptance
—SAT Avg
842Students
12:1Student:Faculty
32%Grad Rate
$38,427Earnings 10yr
$15,360Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

Philander Smith University Launches New Data Science Minor

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions Intel

Yield Rate

35.0%

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Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$13,014
Room & Board$10,000
Books & Supplies$1,200
Total Cost of Attendance$26,729
Average Net Price$15,360
Median Debt at Graduation$24,736
Monthly Payment (10yr)$262

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$15,661
$30–48K$14,460
$48–75K$15,092
$75–110K$20,335

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

37.3%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$14,750

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Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

7

Peer Average

3

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

2

Burglary

0

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

1

Motor Vehicle Theft

1

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

2

Drug Arrests

1

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (17)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

67%

Negative
  • •67% first-year retention rate
  • •Active student organizations
  • •Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

Student Body

Undergrads
842
Gender Split
52% / 48%
Women / Men
First Generation
43%
Pell Grant Recipients
71%

Race & Ethnicity

White 4%
Black 79%
Hispanic 4%
Two+ 1%
Int'l 8%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate32.3%
Freshman Retention67.3%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$25,254
10 Years$38,427

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#28
—
vs 2024

More About This School

Varsity Sports — Panthers

BasketballBasketball history

History & Fun Facts

  • •Philander Smith University was officially founded in 1877 under the name of Walden Seminary to provide educational opportunities for emancipated slaves west of the Mississippi River.
  • •In 1882 the school was renamed Philander Smith College in honor of the financial contributions of Adeline Smith, widow of Philander Smith.
  • •It was chartered as a four-year college in 1883 and conferred its first bachelor's degree in 1888.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

Getting There

Nearest Airports

MEM Memphis132 mi
STL St Louis297 mi
DFW Dallas-Fort Worth301 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA1257 mi · ~36h 19m drive
New York, NY1078 mi · ~31h 9m drive
Hartford, CT1166 mi · ~33h 41m drive
Providence, RI1229 mi · ~35h 30m drive
Albany, NY1135 mi · ~32h 47m drive
Syracuse, NY1038 mi · ~29h 59m drive
Rochester, NY978 mi · ~28h 15m drive
Buffalo, NY913 mi · ~26h 23m drive
Philadelphia, PA1005 mi · ~29h 2m drive
Pittsburgh, PA779 mi · ~22h 30m drive
Harrisburg, PA925 mi · ~26h 43m drive
Newark, NJ1070 mi · ~30h 55m drive
Washington, DC890 mi · ~25h 43m drive
Baltimore, MD919 mi · ~26h 33m drive
Atlanta, GA456 mi · ~13h 10m drive
Charlotte, NC648 mi · ~18h 43m drive
Raleigh, NC773 mi · ~22h 20m drive
Miami, FL950 mi · ~27h 27m drive
Orlando, FL770 mi · ~22h 15m drive
Tampa, FL745 mi · ~21h 31m drive
Nashville, TN325 mi · ~9h 23m drive
New Orleans, LA355 mi · ~10h 15m drive
Richmond, VA850 mi · ~24h 33m drive
Chicago, IL554 mi · ~16h drive
Detroit, MI723 mi · ~20h 53m drive
Minneapolis, MN709 mi · ~20h 29m drive
St. Louis, MO292 mi · ~8h 26m drive
Kansas City, MO327 mi · ~9h 27m drive
Indianapolis, IN484 mi · ~13h 59m drive
Columbus, OH624 mi · ~18h 2m drive
Cleveland, OH740 mi · ~21h 23m drive
Milwaukee, WI620 mi · ~17h 55m drive
Dallas, TX293 mi · ~8h 28m drive
Houston, TX388 mi · ~11h 13m drive
Austin, TX443 mi · ~12h 48m drive
San Antonio, TX516 mi · ~14h 54m drive
Los Angeles, CA1477 mi · ~42h 40m drive
San Francisco, CA1685 mi · ~48h 41m drive
San Diego, CA1433 mi · ~41h 24m drive
Seattle, WA1782 mi · ~51h 29m drive
Portland, OR1756 mi · ~50h 44m drive
Denver, CO779 mi · ~22h 30m drive
Phoenix, AZ1134 mi · ~32h 46m drive
Salt Lake City, UT1146 mi · ~33h 6m drive
Honolulu, HI4037 mi · ~116h 37m drive
Southern (mild winters, hot summers)

Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park
Visitor parking lot
Free parking with visitor pass
9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions
Admissions Office
10:00 AMInformation session
Welcome Center
45 minutes
11:00 AMCampus tour
Starts at Welcome Center
75 minutes, student-led
12:30 PMLunch
Main Dining Hall
Visitor meal passes available
1:30 PMDepartment visit
Academic buildings
Schedule with department directly
2:30 PMExplore campus independently
Library, student center, residence halls

Airport Transit

Memphis (MEM)132 miles
Rental car
198 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
264 min$158-264
St Louis (STL)297 miles
Rental car
446 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
594 min$356-594

Deadline Calendar

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Philander Smith University Application Checklist

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Decision Notifications

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Philander Smith University — v2 Preview — TourStack