Campus Vibe
Business-focusedTight-knitUrbanGreek lifeHBCU
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
Campus Visits
3 upcoming visits · Next: Mon, Apr 13 · Campus Tour
—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
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
Financial Intel
Avg Net Price
$15,360
Tuition Trend
Graduate w/ Zero Debt
3700.0%
Avg Tuition Increase
3.2%/yr
Median Debt at Grad
$14,750
Campus Safety
Total Incidents (2024)
7
Peer Average
3
3-Year Trend
Emergency System
Campus security, emergency notification system
Programs (17)
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
8 Years$31,824
10 Years$38,427
10-Year Earnings by Gender
Women
$26,500
Men
$28,400
Rankings
More About This School
Varsity Sports — Panthers
Rankings
History & Fun Facts
Source: Wikipedia
Location & Lifestyle
Cost of Living
93Average
Estimated from AR state average + city premium
Climate (School Year)
Snowfall: 5"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 125
Nearest Cities
St. Louispop. 290K
292 mi(506 min)
Dallaspop. 1.3M
293 mi(508 min)
Nashvillepop. 690K
325 mi(563 min)