Philander Smith College campus
Philander Smith College logo

Philander Smith College

Type 4 year, Private
Business Model Non Profit
Campus locale City: Midsize
Degrees offered Undergraduate
Calendar system Semester
Student body size Small
Dormitory capacity 522
Religious affiliation Methodism
Student to faculty ratio 12 to 1
Students retention rate 55%
On-time graduation rate 28%

Located in Little Rock, Arkansas, Philander Smith College is a private, non profit institution that offers undergraduate degrees. The college operates on a semester-based calendar system, providing students with structured academic terms.

One of the notable aspects of Philander Smith College is its open admission policy. This means that all high school graduates and individuals who hold a GED qualification are eligible to apply for admission. This inclusive approach allows a wide range of students to pursue their higher education goals, regardless of their academic background.

Philander Smith College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ensuring that the institution meets certain standards of quality and effectiveness. This accreditation also allows students to transfer credits to other accredited institutions if they choose to continue their education elsewhere.

With a students-to-faculty ratio of 12-to-1, Philander Smith College emphasizes small class sizes, fostering a supportive and interactive learning environment.

While the on-time graduation rate at Philander Smith College is reported to be 28%, it is essential to consider the context of this statistic. For comparison, Arkansas state's graduation rate for the 2021-2022 was 44% whereas the national average was 58%.

The retention rate of students at Philander Smith College is 55% , which is lower than both the state and national averages. The state average retention rate in Arkansas is 68%, while the national average is 74%. This indicates that a significant proportion of students who enroll at Philander Smith College do not continue their studies after the first year.


  • Accredited by: Higher Learning Commission
  • HBCU
  • The institution provides on-campus housing

In-State Tuition & Fees

$13,014

Cost of attendance at Philander Smith College in 2022 for students from Arkansas.

See how the college's in-state sticker price compares to 4 year Non Profit, private colleges in the state as well as nationally.

Arkansas's average $7,808
National average $30,235

Out-of-State Tuition & Fees

$13,014

Cost of attendance at Philander Smith College in 2022 for the out-of-state and international students

See how the college's out-of-state sticker price compares to 4 year Non Profit, private colleges in the state as well as nationally.

Arkansas's average $14,444
National average $30,238

Average Grant & Scholarships

In 2022, 98 of freshman students at Philander Smith College received on average $11,505 in grant and scholarships from the college, the state and/or the federal government. Below is detail stats of the aid provided to full-time, freshman students.

$11,505
Students Receiving Aid Average Amount Total Amount
Pell Grant 76 82% $5,179 $393,632
Other Federal Grant 77 83% $5,377 $414,023
State Grant/Scholarships 12 13% $1,292 $15,500
Institutional Grant/Scholarships 68 73% $9,080 $617,465
Total Grant & Scholarships 91 98% $11,505 $1,046,988

Graduation Rate

The following chart shows the graduation rate of Philander Smith College students who enrolled in 2015 and after. The stat covers all undergraduates registered as full-time students to study a 4-year bachelor's degree program for the first time.

The breakdown shows the graduation rate by race/ethnicity of US students. All international students are represented under one group.

As of August 31, 2021, the average graduation rate of Philander Smith College students is 28.2%. Female students graduated at a rate of 29.5%, whereas male students graduated at a rate of 26.7%.

28.2%

  • African American 27.8% 44 students
  • hispanic 50.0% 2 students

Sport Conferences

  • Basketball Gulf Coast Athletic Conference
  • Track and Cross Country Gulf Coast Athletic Conference

Athletic Associations

  • NAIA
    National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)

Service Offerings

Philander Smith College provides the following additional services to its students
  • Remedial services
  • Placement services for graduates
  • Academic/career counseling services
  • Employment services for students

Educational Offerings

Philander Smith College offers educational programs in the following categories. Check the programs section to learn more about specific programs that you are interested in.
  • Academic

Special Learning Opportunities

  • Weekend/evening classes
  • Study abroad
  • Teacher certification
  • ROTC - Army

Veteran Services

  • Dedicated point of contact for support services for veterans, military service-members, and their families
  • Credit for military training