Philander Smith University

Philander Smith University logo
#6000 / #1584
Global Influence / U.S. Influence

Philander Smith University at a Glance

U.S. influence rank
#1584
Tuition and fees (2025–26)
$13,014
Graduation rate
36%
Undergraduates (fall 2024)
751

Reviewed by , Vice President and Academic Editor. Influence ranks come from our InfluenceRanking™ methodology; other figures come from federal data, with the year shown under each section. Report an error

Philander Smith University Featured Rankings

About Philander Smith University

According to Wikipedia, Philander Smith University is a private historically black college in Little Rock, Arkansas. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and is a founding member of the United Negro College Fund . Philander Smith College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Philander Smith University Admissions, Retention, and Graduation Information

Retention RateGraduation Rate
66%36%

Source: U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and NCES); acceptance rate for fall 2024; test scores for fall 2024; applications and enrollment for fall 2023; retention for students who started in fall 2023; graduation rate within six years for students who started in 2019.

How Much Does Philander Smith University Cost To Attend?

Tuition and fees (in-state)
$13,014
Average Net Price by Family Income (2021–22)
IncomeAverage Net Cost
0 - 30K$22,078
30K - 48K$22,352
48K - 75K$22,192
75K - 110K$22,110
110K+$22,147

Source: U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and NCES); tuition and fees for 2025–26; net price for 2024–25, for first-time, full-time students receiving financial aid.

How Much Do Philander Smith University Graduates Make?

Ten years after starting college, former Philander Smith University students who received federal financial aid earn a median of $40,195 a year, and 93% of those not still in school are working.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; students who started college in 2011–12 or 2012–13, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars.

Philander Smith University's Demographics

Students enrolled at any time during the 2023–24 school year, including part-time and online students.

Student BodyUnder-GradsGraduates
1,00197526

Source: National Center for Education Statistics; 12-month enrollment for 2023–24.

Where is Philander Smith University?

Philander Smith University is located at 900 W. Daisy Bates Drive, Little Rock, AR 72202-3799.

How Safe is Philander Smith University?

Relative to its enrollment, Philander Smith University has a violent crime rate of less than 0.01% and a property crime rate of less than 0.01%. Little Rock has a violent crime rate of 1.67% and a property crime rate of 5.25%. Sources: campus: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety and Security data, on-campus offenses in 2024 (violent: murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault; property: burglary, motor vehicle theft and arson, which excludes ordinary theft); city: FBI Crime Data Explorer, offenses reported to the city police in 2024.

What Is Philander Smith University Known For?

Philander Smith University is known for its academic work in the following disciplines:

Philander Smith University's Top Areas of Influence With Degrees Offered

Each rank compares how much Philander Smith University's faculty and alumni have shaped a field with other schools, using Wikipedia, Wikidata and scholarly citation databases such as Crossref and Semantic Scholar. World and U.S. ranks reflect modern influence; the historical rank counts influence across all time. How we rank influence

Mathematics
#3790
World Rank
#3822
Historical Rank
#963
USA Rank

Philander Smith University ranks #963 in the U.S. and #3790 worldwide for influence in Mathematics.

math Degrees
Chemistry
#4778
World Rank
#4787
Historical Rank
#1162
USA Rank

Philander Smith University ranks #1162 in the U.S. and #4778 worldwide for influence in Chemistry.

chemistry Degrees
Criminal Justice
#3754
World Rank
#3757
Historical Rank
#1917
USA Rank

Philander Smith University ranks #1917 in the U.S. and #3754 worldwide for influence in Criminal Justice.

criminal-justice Degrees
Psychology
#5963
World Rank
#5973
Historical Rank
#2232
USA Rank

Philander Smith University ranks #2232 in the U.S. and #5963 worldwide for influence in Psychology.

psychology Degrees
Philosophy
#7715
World Rank
#7749
Historical Rank
#2296
USA Rank

Philander Smith University ranks #2296 in the U.S. and #7715 worldwide for influence in Philosophy.

philosophy Degrees
Political Science
#10264
World Rank
#10270
Historical Rank
#2429
USA Rank

Philander Smith University ranks #2429 in the U.S. and #10264 worldwide for influence in Political Science.

political-science Degrees
Education
#10976
World Rank
#10982
Historical Rank
#2989
USA Rank

Philander Smith University ranks #2989 in the U.S. and #10976 worldwide for influence in Education.

education Degrees
Biology
#12935
World Rank
#12949
Historical Rank
#3532
USA Rank

Philander Smith University ranks #3532 in the U.S. and #12935 worldwide for influence in Biology.

biology Degrees

Who Are Philander Smith University's Most Influential Alumni?

Philander Smith University's most influential alumni include professors and professionals in the fields of Religious Studies, Medical, and Criminal Justice. Here are some of Philander Smith University's most famous alumni:

Joycelyn Elders
Joycelyn Elders
An American pediatrician, public health administrator, and former Surgeon General of the United States.
James H. Cone
James H. Cone
An American theologian.
Robert Williams
A Psychology professor, born 1930.