Little Rock, Arkansas · Private nonprofit · 4-year · Midsize city
Overview
Philander Smith University is a private nonprofit four-year institution based in Little Rock, Arkansas. Its campus is in a midsize city. It enrolled 780 students in fall 2024, including 755 undergraduates and 25 graduate students. It is a historically Black college or university. Its religious affiliation is United Methodist.
Philander Smith University offers bachelor's degrees and master's degrees across 18 programs. Its largest programs by number of graduates are Business Administration and Management, Biology, and Psychology, General. It awarded 91 degrees and certificates in 2024-25.
The school has an open admission policy. 66% of full-time first-year students return for a second year. The student-to-faculty ratio is 11 to 1.
Mission
Our mission is to graduate academically accomplished students, grounded as advocates for social justice, determined to change the world for the better.
Key figures
Open
Admission policy
780
Students enrolled
66%
First-year retention
91
Degrees and certificates awarded, 2024-25
18
Programs and majors
11:1
Student-to-faculty ratio
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Delivery modes
CampusOnlineHybrid
Program levels
BachelorMaster
Programs and majors offered 18
Graduate counts are degrees and certificates awarded in each program between July 2024 and June 2025. Largest fields are listed first.
Retention is for students who started in fall 2023 and returned in fall 2024.
First-year retention, full-time students
66%
First-year retention, part-time students
63%
Student-to-faculty ratio
11:1
Degrees and certificates awarded
Awards conferred between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.
Bachelor's degrees
83
Master's degrees
8
Enrollment
Students, fall 2024
780
Undergraduates, fall 2024
755
Graduate students, fall 2024
25
Full-time, fall 2024
85%
Students over the full 2024-25 year
879
Undergraduates, 2024-25
841
Graduate students, 2024-25
38
Full-time, 2024-25
84%
Size category
Under 1,000 students
Student body
Share of all students enrolled during 2024-25. Small groups can round to zero and are not listed.
Women
52%
Men
48%
White
6%
Hispanic or Latino
3%
Black or African American
80%
Two or more races
2%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
1%
International (U.S. nonresident)
7%
Race or ethnicity unknown
1%
Online and flexible learning
Distance education in 2024-25.
Programs with a fully online option
1
Online undergraduate programs
Yes
Students studying fully online
4%
Students taking some online courses
89%
Weekend or evening classes
Yes
Campus and services
Setting
Midsize city
Academic calendar
Semester
Religious affiliation
United Methodist
Carnegie classification
Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields
Athletic association
NAIA
Athletic conference
HBCU Athletic Conference
President and CEO
Dr. Maurice D.Gipson
Services and opportunities
Study abroad, ROTC, Teacher certification, Academic and career counseling, Student employment services, Job placement for graduates, Accepts AP credit, Credit for life experience
For veterans and service members
Credit for military training, Dedicated veterans contact