Philander Smith University

Philander Smith University is a small private non-profit baccalaureate institution located in Little Rock, Arkansas, with an undergraduate enrollment of 751. As a baccalaureate-level institution, it concentrates its academic programs at the undergraduate level, offering focused four-year degrees with direct pathways to employment or graduate study. As an independently governed, non-profit institution relying on tuition, endowment returns, and philanthropic support, it operates within the broader Arkansas postsecondary education landscape and is regionally accredited, making its credits and degrees eligible for federal financial aid. The institution maintains an open-admissions policy for most of its programs, making it accessible to a broad range of prospective students. Net price for families earning \$48,001–$75,000 averages $16,686 per year. The 4-year graduation rate is 31%, 14 percentage points below the national average of 45%. Among students who received federal financial aid, 10-year median earnings are $38,427. Median debt at graduation for federal aid recipients is $24,736. The student-to-faculty ratio is 11:1.