School Profile

Philander Smith College

School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More

Little Rock, AR

This school is more affordable than other private schools

Affordability is calculated by subtracting average financial aid from total tuition and fees.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

$11,804

Avg tuition

BestColleges.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Discover programs by subject area to find the best college for your future.

Search All Programs

Work here? Claim your school's profile

About Philander Smith College

School Type: Private

Status: Non-profit

Accreditation: Regional

HBCU: YesHistorically Black Colleges and Universities are accredited schools established prior to 1965 whose principal mission was, and is, the education of Black Americans. Explore our HBCU resource hub to learn more.

Religious Affiliation: Christian, United Methodist  While the student experience is largely unaffected at most schools with religious affiliations, some schools place more of an emphasis on religion. Learn how religious affiliations may impact students' experience.

Philander Smith College is a small private college located on an urban campus in Little Rock, Arkansas. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 799, and admissions are selective. The college offers 17 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 34%, and a student-faculty ratio of 12:1. Tuition and fees for students are $11,804.

Admissions Breakdown

Acceptance Rate Insight

Information not available

Retention Rate Insight

58% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2019 and returned in Fall 2020.

Graduation Rate Insight

34% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2014. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.

Application Considerations

Test scores --

High school transcript --

High school rank --

Letter of recommendation --

High school GPA --

Open admission Yes

Completion of college prep program --

Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL) --

Transfer Credit Policy

Dual enrollment Yes

Credit for qualified life experience* Yes

Advance placement (AP) credits Yes

*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.

SAT & ACT

ACT 25th-75th Percentile Currently Unavailable

SAT 25th-75th Percentile Currently Unavailable

Learning Environment

Student Body Stats

This school has a student body of fewer than 5,000 students.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

799

Students enrolled

99%

Online student enrollment

12:1

Student to faculty ratio

Ways Students Can Learn

Online Check Bold
On-campus Check Bold
Hybrid The program is a combination of on-campus and online learning and varies per program. Check Bold

Demographics

Black

91%

Non-U.S. Citizen

4%

Hispanic

3%

Two or more races

2%

White

0%

Unknown

Information not available

Asian

Information not available

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%

Female student population

65%

Socio-economic diversity

79% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

Explore Similar Schools

Voorhees College

Denmark, SC · Private · Non-profit

View School

Jarvis Christian College

Hawkins, TX · Private · Non-profit

View School

Harris-Stowe State University

Saint Louis, MO · Public · Non-profit

View School

Talladega College

Talladega, AL · Private · Non-profit

#4 Ranked in Best HBCU Online Programs

View School

Morris College

Sumter, SC · Private · Non-profit

#2 Ranked in Best Historically Black Colleges and Universities of 2023

View School

Miles College

Fairfield, AL · Private · Non-profit

View School

Stillman College

Tuscaloosa, AL · Private · Non-profit

View School

Dillard University

New Orleans, LA · Private · Non-profit

#5 Ranked in 6 Best HBCUs in Louisiana

View School

Lane College

Jackson, TN · Private · Non-profit

#8 Ranked in Top 10 HBCUs for Computer Science Programs

View School

Langston University

Langston, OK · Public · Non-profit

#4 Ranked in Best HBCUs for Healthcare Administration Programs

View School

Online Programs

Offers Online Programs

Yes

Online Programs

1

Total Online Enrollment

790

Student Location Breakout

Percent of Programs Online

94% On-campus

6% Online

Types of Online Programs Offered

Certificates X Bold Not offered

Associate X Bold Not offered

Bachelor's Check Bold 6% online

Graduate Certificate X Bold Not offered

Master's X Bold Not offered

Doctorate X Bold Not offered

Financial Breakdown

Students Receiving Aid

Federal Grant Aid

80%

State Grant Aid

15%

Institution Grant Aid

81%

Pell Grant

79%

Average Aid Awarded

Federal Grant Aid $5,664
State Grant Aid $1,174
Institution Grant Aid $9,623
Pell Grant Aid $5,518

Financial Outlook

$25k

Average student debt after graduation

$24k

Average salary 6 years after starting school

Varsity Athletic Teams

NAIA Division I

of the overall student body is a member of an athletic team.

Participation

Men Women
  • Track Field Outdoor
  • Track Field Xcountry
  • Volleyball
  • Basketball

Degrees Awarded by Program

Degrees given for the 2020-2021 academic year.

1

Biological And Biomedical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

2

Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

3

Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

4

Education

BA

MA

DOC

5

English Language And Literature/Letters

BA

MA

DOC

6

Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting And Related Protective Services

BA

MA

DOC

7

Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities

BA

MA

DOC

8

Mathematics And Statistics

BA

MA

DOC

9

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, And Fitness Studies

BA

MA

DOC

10

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, And Kinesiology

BA

MA

DOC

11

Philosophy And Religious Studies

BA

MA

DOC

12

Physical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

13

Psychology

BA

MA

DOC

14

Public Administration And Social Service Professions

BA

MA

DOC

15

Security And Protective Services

BA

MA

DOC

16

Social Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

Resource

Financial Aid Overview

Resource

Understanding Grants & Scholarships

Explore Rankings

Explore More Resources

Data collected from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), [2020-2021]. In the absence of IPED data, information was collected directly from the school and is accurate as of the date of collection. Contact the school directly for the most current and complete information.