1 Trudie Kibbe Reed Drive, Little Rock, AR 72202
Website: Philander Smith College
Philander Smith College is a private, residential, co-educational, four-year undergraduate liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist church and a founding member of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). Philander is classified as a baccalaureate (liberal arts) college by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Updated in 2007, the College's emerging mission is to “graduate academically accomplished students who are grounded as advocates for social justice, determined to intentionally change the world for the better.”
The College is nestled near the progressive epicenter of downtown Little Rock which encompasses the thriving cultural and business River Market District and the William J. Clinton Presidential Center. Philander Smith College is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education, Association for Collegiate and Business Schools and Programs, and the Council on Social Work Education and currently offers four degrees: the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Business Administration, and the Bachelor of Social Work.
In the past the College’s mission has been to grant access to higher education to individuals who are, or who have the potential to be, academically talented, regardless of social, economic, or educational background. Although many of our students have stellar academic backgrounds, Philander Smith College also has the ability to nurture students who have been overlooked by other colleges. Many of our students come from low-income families and it is not uncommon that they are the first in their family to attend college. Some may also enter the college as average high school students, but emerge later with the capacity and motivation to pursue graduate and professional degrees and excel in their fields.
Philander Smith College is a private, historically black college that is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. It is located in Little Rock, Arkansas. The student body averages around 850 attendees, with around 30% of that figure attending part time. Although known historically as a school for African Americans, it accepts students of all races. However, the vast majority of its students are black.
Philander Smith College was officially founded in 1877 under the name of Walden Seminary as a means of providing education opportunities for freed slaves west of the Mississippi River. The school was renamed Philander Smith College in 1882 to recognize the financial contributions of Adeline Smith, the widow of Philander Smith. The college was chartered as a four-year college in 1883 and conferred its first bachelor’s degree in 1888. In 1943, Philander Smith was accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Philander Smith College was a pioneer during the civil rights movement as many of its students engaged in nonviolent resistance against segregation laws (such as sitting in at "whites-only" lunch counters).
Dr. Walter M. Kimbrough is the 12th and current president of Philander Smith College. Dubbed as the first college president from the hip-hop generation, at 38 he is the youngest HBCU president and one of the youngest college presidents in the nation.
Kimbrough recently joined the Education Conservancy in its criticism of U.S. News and World Report college rankings by signing a letter circulating among college presidents that asks them not to participate in the peer assessment portion of the survey.
Learn more about Bachelor’s Degree Programs
A general program that focuses on the English language, including its history, structure and related communications skills; and the literature and culture of English-speaking peoples. See more English Language and Literature Schools or Online English Language and Literature School Degree Programs
A general program that focuses on the introductory study and appreciation of music and the performing arts. Includes instruction in music, dance, and other performing arts media. See more General Music Schools or Online General Music School Degree Programs
Generally, this program prepares individuals to plan, organize, direct, and control a firm or organization. To aid them in taking a leading role in business, individuals in this program study management theory, human resources management and behavior, accounting and other quantitative methods, purchasing and logistics, organization and production, marketing, and business decision-making. See more Business Administration and Management Schools or Online Business Administration and Management School Degree Programs
Generally, this program prepares individuals to plan, organize, direct, and control a firm or organization. To aid them in taking a leading role in business, individuals in this program study management theory, human resources management and behavior, accounting and other quantitative methods, purchasing and logistics, organization and production, marketing, and business decision-making. See more Business/Managerial Operations Schools or Online Business/Managerial Operations School Degree Programs
A program that focuses on the general principles and techniques of administering a wide variety of schools and other educational organizations and facilities, supervising educational personnel at the school or staff level, and that may prepare individuals as general administrators and supervisors. See more Educational Leadership and Administration Schools or Online Educational Leadership and Administration School Degree Programs
A program that prepares individuals to teach students ranging in age from infancy through eight years (grade three), depending on the school system or state regulations. Includes preparation to teach all relevant subject matter. See more Early Childhood Education Schools or Online Early Childhood Education School Degree Programs
A program that prepares individuals to teach physical education programs and/or to coach sports at various educational levels. See more Physical Education Teaching and Coaching Schools or Online Physical Education Teaching and Coaching School Degree Programs
Students in this program study general biology at an introductory level. This major provides students with a broad overview of biology and includes instruction in general biology and programs covering a variety of biological specializations. See more Biology/Biological Sciences Schools or Online Biology/Biological Sciences School Degree Programs
A general program that focuses on the analysis of quantities, magnitudes, forms, and their relationships, using symbolic logic and language. Includes instruction in algebra, calculus, functional analysis, geometry, number theory, logic, topology and other mathematical specializations. See more General Mathematics Schools or Online General Mathematics School Degree Programs
A general program that focuses on the systematic study of political institutions and behavior. Includes instruction in political philosophy, political theory, comparative government and politics, political parties and interest groups, public opinion, political research methods, studies of the government and politics of specific countries, and studies 0f specific political institutions and processes. See more General Political Science and Government Schools or Online General Political Science and Government School Degree Programs
A general program that focuses on the scientific study of individual and collective behavior, the physical and environmental bases of behavior, and the analysis and treatment of behavior problems and disorders. Includes instruction in the principles of the various subfields of psychology, research methods, and psychological assessment and testing methods. See more General Psychology Schools or Online General Psychology School Degree Programs
A program that focuses on the systematic study of human social institutions and social relationships. Includes instruction in social theory, sociological research methods, social organization and structure, social stratification and hierarchies, dynamics of social change, family structures, social deviance and control, and applications to the study of specific social groups, social institutions, and social problems. See more Sociology Schools or Online Sociology School Degree Programs
A program that prepares individuals for the professional practice of social welfare administration and counseling, and that focus on the study of organized means of providing basic support services for vulnerable individuals and groups. Includes instruction in social welfare policy; case work planning; social counseling and intervention strategies; administrative procedures and regulations; and specific applications in areas such as child welfare and family services, probation, employment services, and disability counseling. See more General Social Work Schools or Online General Social Work School Degree Programs
A general program that focuses on computers, computing problems and solutions, and the design of computer systems and user interfaces from a scientific perspective. Includes instruction in the principles of computational science, and computing theory; computer hardware design; computer development and programming; and applications to a variety of end-use situations. See more General Computer Science Schools or Online General Computer Science School Degree Programs
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| Percent of Students International: | 1% |
| On-Campus Housing Available: | Yes |
| Percent of Students Living On-Campus: | 37% |
| Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: | No |
| Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) | Expenses | ||
Published Tuition and Fees: |
$ 8,402 | ||
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 7,450 | ||
Required Fees for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 952 | ||
| Financial Aid | Avg. Amount Received | % of Students Receiving Aid | |
Federal Grants: |
$ 3,511 | 83% | |
State and Local Grants: |
$ 1,575 | 4% | |
Institutional Grants: |
$ 6,918 | 25% | |
Student Loans: |
$ 6,742 | 88% | |
Any Aid: |
96% |
| Acceptance Rate: | 40% (Highly Selective) |
| Test Scores | |
| SAT Scores: | |
| % of Students Submitting SAT Scores: | 15% |
| Bottom 25th Percentile: | Verbal: 330, Math: 340 |
| Top 75th Percentile: | Verbal: 530, Math: 530 |
| ACT Scores: | |
| % of Students Submitting ACT Scores: | 69% |
| Bottom 25th Percentile: | Composite: 14, Verbal: 17, Math: 15 |
| Top 75th Percentile: | Composite: 20, Verbal: 20, Math: 20 |
| Application Fee: | $ 25.00 |
| Formal Demonstration of Competencies: | Not Required |
| High School Diploma or Equivalent: | Not Required |
| High School GPA: | Required |
| High School Rank: | Required |
| High School Record: | Required |
| Recommendations: | Not Required |
| TOEFL: | Required |
| Test Scores: | Required |