Philander Smith College

1 Trudie Kibbe Reed Drive, Little Rock, AR

School Description

Provided by 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.

< Collapse

Philander Smith College

From Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

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.

History

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.

Rankings and Education Conservancy

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.

< Collapse

Read the full entry on Wikipedia

Quick Facts

Chance of Admission:
Location:
Southeast
Setting:
Mid-size City Setting
Type:
Private
Affiliation:
United Methodist
Size:
Small (Under 2,000 Undergrad)

Students & Campus Life

Undergraduate Enrollment:
887
On Campus Housing:
Available
Full Time Students:
87%
Athletic Programs:
Unavailable
> More Students & Campus Life

Expenses

Average Tuition:
$ 7,822
Students Receiving Aid:
96%
> More Expenses & Financial Aid

Admissions

Application Fee:
$ 25
Selectivity:
Open Admissions
> More Admissions

Students

General
Full-Time vs. Part-Time
Full-Time 87%
Part-Time 13%
Men vs. Women
Women 65%
Men 35%
Race/Ethnicity
African-American 98%
Other 2%
Hispanic 0%
Asian 0%
Caucasian 0%
Geography
In State vs. Out-of-State
In-State 61%
Out-of-State 39%
Top States for Incoming Freshman
Arkansas 61%
Illinois 16%
Texas 5%
California 5%
Tennessee 4%
Percent of Students International: 1%

Housing

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:
 $ 7,822    
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads:
 $ 6,950    
Required Fees for Full-Time Undergrads:
 $ 1,055    
Financial Aid Avg. Amount Received % of Students Receiving Aid  
Federal Grants:
 $ 3,695 82%  
State and Local Grants:
 $ 1,300 4%  
Institutional Grants:
 $ 3,506 36%  
Student Loans:
 $ 4,654 80%  
Any Aid:
   96%  

Selectivity (Undergraduate Only)

Acceptance Rate: 100% (Open Admissions)
Test Scores  
SAT Scores:  
% of Students Submitting SAT Scores: 12%
Bottom 25th Percentile: Verbal: 310, Math: 330
Top 75th Percentile: Verbal: 440, Math: 410
ACT Scores:  
% of Students Submitting ACT Scores: 87%
Bottom 25th Percentile: Composite: 13, Verbal: 11, Math: 14
Top 75th Percentile: Composite: 18, Verbal: 16, Math: 16

Application Requirements (Undergraduate Only)

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

Photos