Philander Smith University

https://www.philander.edu

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    2024 Undergraduate Tuition
    $11,804
    2024 Average Net Price
    $14,082
    After Financial Aid
    2024 Enrolled Students
    780
    84.7% Full-Time
    2024 Graduation Rate
    30.4%
    89 Graduates

    About

    Philander Smith University is a higher education institution located in Pulaski County, AR. In 2024, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at Philander Smith University were General Business Administration & Management (35 degrees awarded), General Biological Sciences (14 degrees), and Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Administration (13 degrees).

    In 2024, 124 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Philander Smith University. 61.3% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 38.7% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was black or african american (110 degrees), 27.5 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (4 degrees).

    The median undergraduate tuition at Philander Smith University is $11,804, which is $−16,374 less than the national average for Baccalaureate Colleges ($28,178).

    Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse FieldsBaccalaureate Colleges

    Costs

    In 2024, the median undergraduate tuition at Philander Smith University is $11,804, which is $16,374 less than the national average for Baccalaureate Colleges ($28,178).

    After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $14,082.

    In 2024, 88% of undergraduate students attending Philander Smith University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 58% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

    Tuition Costs

    $11,804
    2024 Undergraduate Tuition

    In 2024, the cost of tuition at Philander Smith University was $11,804. The cost of tuition at Philander Smith University is $−16,374 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Baccalaureate Colleges ($28,178).

    This chart compares the tuition costs of Philander Smith University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

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    Average Net Price

    $14,082
    2024 Value
    6.03%
    1 Year Growth

    In 2024 Philander Smith University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $14,082. Between 2023 and 2024, the average net price of Philander Smith University grew by 6.03%.

    This chart compares the average net price of Philander Smith University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

    Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

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    Other Student Expenses

    $12,188
    Room and Board
    $1,200
    Books and Supplies

    The average yearly cost of room and board at Philander Smith University was of $12,188 in 2024. The cost of room and board increased by 17.5% between 2023 and 2024.

    During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,200. The cost of books and supplies did not change during the same period.

    This chart compares the average student costs at Philander Smith University (in red) with that of similar universities.

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    Financial Aid by Income Level

    88%
    Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
    58%
    Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

    88% of undergraduate students at Philander Smith University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2024. This represents a decline of 5.38% with respect to 2023, when 93% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

    This chart compares the average award discount at Philander Smith University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

    The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

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    Enrollment

    Philander Smith University had a total enrollment of 780 students in 2024. The full-time enrollment at Philander Smith University is 661 students and the part-time enrollment is 119. This means that 84.7% of students enrolled at Philander Smith University are enrolled full-time.

    The enrolled student population at Philander Smith University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 79.1% Black or African American, 6.41% White, 3.08% Hispanic or Latino, 1.28% Two or More Races, 0.385% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.256% American Indian or Alaska Native.

    Students enrolled at Philander Smith University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly Black or African American Female (46.4%), followed by Black or African American Male (33.2%) and White Male (2.91%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly Black or African American Female (62.8%), followed by Black or African American Male (32.6%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (2.33%).

    Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

    84.7%
    Full-Time Enrollment

    The total enrollment at Philander Smith University in 2024, both undergraduate and graduate, is 780 students. The full-time enrollment at Philander Smith University is 661 and the part-time enrollment is 119. This means that 84.7% of students enrolled at Philander Smith University are enrolled full-time compared with 78.9% at similar Baccalaureate Colleges.

    This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Philander Smith University (in red) compares to similar universities.

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    Retention Rate over Time

    66%
    2024 Retention Rate

    Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Philander Smith University was 66%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Baccalaureate Colleges (75%), Philander Smith University had a retention rate lower than its peers.

    This chart shows the retention rate over time at Philander Smith University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

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    Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

    Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2024)
    1. Black or African American
      617 enrolled students
    2. White
      50 enrolled students
    3. Hispanic or Latino
      24 enrolled students

    The enrolled student population at Philander Smith University is 79.1% Black or African American, 6.41% White, 3.08% Hispanic or Latino, 1.28% Two or More Races, 0.385% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.256% American Indian or Alaska Native. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Baccalaureate Colleges is 50.5% White, 15.6% Hispanic or Latino, and 13.2% Black or African American.

    Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 11 students (1.41%) did not report their race.

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    Graduates

    In 2024, 28 more women than men received degrees from Philander Smith University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Philander Smith University is black or african american (110 degrees awarded). There were 27.5 times more black or african american recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (4 degrees).

    The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Philander Smith University is General Business Administration & Management (35 degrees awarded), followed by General Biological Sciences (14 degrees) and Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Administration (13 degrees).

    In 2024,  the most specialized majors across all degree types at Philander Smith University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Protective Services (13 degrees awarded), Biology (14 degrees), and Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (5 degrees).

    Common Jobs by Major

    Accountants & auditors
    Most Common Job

    The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Philander Smith University are Accountants & auditors (1,036,493 people), Other managers (905,987 people), Financial managers (548,041 people), Chief executives & legislators (439,986 people), and Physicians (434,775 people).

    The most specialized majors at Philander Smith University in 2024 are Protective Services (13 degrees awarded), Biology (14 degrees), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (5 degrees), Public Administration and Social Service (6 degrees), and Business (52 degrees) (as of 2024).

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    Highest Paying Jobs by Major

    Surgeons
    Highest Paying Job

    The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Philander Smith University are Surgeons, Physicians, Cardiovascular technologists and technicians, Geoscientists and hydrologists, except geographers, and Photographic process workers & processing machine operators

    The most specialized majors at Philander Smith University are Protective Services (13 degrees awarded), Biology (14 degrees), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (5 degrees), Public Administration and Social Service (6 degrees), and Business (52 degrees) (as of 2024).

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    Common Industries by Major

    General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals
    Most Common Industry

    The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Philander Smith University are General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (937,064 people), Elementary & secondary schools (848,123 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (689,451 people), Computer Systems Design (648,657 people), and Justice, public order, & safety activities (545,459 people).

    The most specialized majors at Philander Smith University are Protective Services (13 degrees awarded), Biology (14 degrees), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (5 degrees), Public Administration and Social Service (6 degrees), and Business (52 degrees) (as of 2024).

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    Majors Awarded

    IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Philander Smith University.
    Most Common (2024)
    1. General Business Administration & Management
      35 degrees awarded
    2. General Biological Sciences
      14 degrees awarded
    3. Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Administration
      13 degrees awarded

    In 2024, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Philander Smith University was General Business Administration & Management with 35 degrees awarded.

    This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at Philander Smith University according to their major.

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    Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

    48
    Degrees Awarded to Men
    in 2024
    76
    Degrees Awarded to Women
    in 2024

    In 2024, 48 degrees were awarded to men at Philander Smith University, which is 0.632 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (76).

    This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Philander Smith University by degrees awarded.

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    Most Common Male Majors

    In 2024, 22 degrees were awarded to men at Philander Smith University in General Business Administration & Management, which is 0.733 times less than the 30 female recipients with that same degree.

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    Most Common Female Majors

    In 2024, 30 degrees were awarded to men at Philander Smith University in General Business Administration & Management, which is 1.36 times more than the 22 male recipients with that same degree.

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    Time to Complete

    16%
    100% Completion Time
    30%
    150% Completion Time

    In 2024, 16% of students graduating from Philander Smith University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 30% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 31% within 200%.

    The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Baccalaureate Colleges Carnegie Classification group.

    Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

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    Race & Ethnicity by Share

    Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2024)
    1. Black or African American
      110 degrees awarded
    2. Hispanic or Latino
      4 degrees awarded
    3. Two or More Races
      3 degrees awarded

    The most common race/ethnicity at Philander Smith University is black or african american (110 degrees awarded). There were 27.5 times more black or african american recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (4 degrees).

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    Race & Ethnicity by Sex

    Most Common Sex Demographic (2024)
    1. Black or African American Female
      101 degrees awarded
    2. Black or African American Female
      98 degrees awarded
    3. Black or African American Female
      89 degrees awarded

    The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Philander Smith University is black or african american female (101 degrees awarded). There were 1.03 times more black or african american female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american female (98 degrees).

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    Operations

    Philander Smith University has an endowment valued at nearly $14.8M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 1.55M (10.5%) compared to the 7.58% average return (3.75M on 49.5M) across all Baccalaureate Colleges.

    In 2024, Philander Smith University had a total salary expenditure of 25.5M. Philander Smith University employs 13 Assistant professors, 11 Associate professors and 9 Instructors. Most academics at Philander Smith University are Male Assistant professor (9), Female Instructor (7), and Female Associate professor (6).

    The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Philander Smith University are: Management, with 22 employees, Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services, with 12 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 11 employees.

    Endowment

    $14.8M
    2024 Endowment
    9.71%
    decline from 2023

    Philander Smith University has an endowment valued at about $14.8M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The endowment of Philander Smith University declined 9.71% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $34.6M lower than than the median endowment of Baccalaureate Colleges according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

    This line chart shows how the endowment at Philander Smith University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

    The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields Carnegie Classification grouping.

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    Salary Expenditure

    $8.56M
    2024 Salaries
    1.38%
    decline from 2023

    In 2024, Philander Smith University paid a median of $8.56M in salaries, which represents 33.6% of their overall expenditure ($25.5M) and a 1.38% decline from the previous year. This is compared to a 16.2% growth between 2022 and 2023, and a 6.28% decline between 2021 and 2022.

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    Instructional Salaries

    $2.8M
    Instructional Salaries
    38
    Number of Employees

    In 2024, Philander Smith University paid a total of $2.8M to 38 employees working as instructors, which represents 32.7% of all salaries paid.

    This is compared to a median of $522k (3.48%) for similar Baccalaureate Colleges.

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    Occupations by Share

    In 2024, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Philander Smith University were Management with 22 employees, Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services with 12 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 11 employees.

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