Campus & Student Life at Philander Smith College

Home to about 799 undergraduates in 2020, Philander Smith is a very small, private college located in Little Rock, Arkansas. This urban setting might be best suited for students who like the fast-paced city life. Should you tire of the campus however, Philander Smith offers a “study abroad” program. Please note, some classes/degrees offered by Philander Smith can be taken “online” so keep that in mind when reviewing this report. For more context, you might also check out our Philander Smith Guide to Distance and Online Learning.

Philander Smith is an "Historically Black College or University" (HBCU)

The Higher Education Act of 1965 established historically black colleges and universities as institutions whose principal mission was the education of African-Americans. Today, the HBCU designation does not necessitate that Philander Smith is exclusively or even predominantly African-American (though it currently is). Thanks to integration efforts, there are HBCUs with non-black majorities and non-HBCUs with black majorities. For more information you can review the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Philander Smith College is Affiliated With the United Methodist Faith.

Some, but not all, schools with a religious affiliation may require a statement of faith or religious studies component. Contact the school to see what their requirements are. If an affinity with the United Methodist faith interests you, check out our ranking of The Best United Methodist Colleges and Universities.

Philander Smith Has a Disability Services Site

Individuals with disabilities make up 7.0% of the student population at Philander Smith. For more information on policies and accommodations that the college provides to ensure all students get the opportunity to participate, you can visit Philander Smith Disability Services.

Philander Smith for the Military

While not a "service academy", Philander Smith does offer support for veterans and those seeking a career in the armed forces. Undergraduates have access to one or more ROTC programs. For more information, check out our Philander Smith for Veterans Guide.

Freshmen Living Arrangements at Philander Smith College

Philander Smith offers on-campus housing, but freshmen are not required to take advantage of it. In the end though, most do choose to live in the dorms.

* Data compiled from students who received financial aid, including loans.

Full-time vs. Part-time Studies at Philander Smith College

Philander Smith has a comparatively very small, student body. There were 799 undergraduates in 2020. Full-time attendance was 699 (87.5%). Part-time attendance was 100 (12.5%).

Philander Smith College is Ranked #2,261 for Overall Diversity

Compared to other colleges and universities across the nation, Philander Smith is less diverse than average in terms of overall diversity. We rank Philander Smith #2261 out of 3,451.

The chart below shows each element that we looked at to determine this ranking, and how that metric compares to the national average. 100 would indicate excellent diversity in each category, and 1 would mean poor diversity.

You can learn more about the diversity of the student body at Philander Smith by looking closer at the ethnic,  gender,  age, and geographic diversity metrics from the Philander Smith Diversity Guide.

Philander Smith College Competes in the NIAA

Philander Smith has a total of 45 student athletes, 25 men and 20 women who compete in inter-collegiate athletics.

Athletics Financing

For more information about athletics including per-team sizes, coaching and scholarships check out our Guide to Philander Smith College Athletics