Philander Smith University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Philander Smith University charges a net price of $14,224/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $56,896. Median earnings ten years after entry are $38,427, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Philander Smith University does not clear its cost — it ranks #22 of 47 Arkansas colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $14,224/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $56,896 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $38,427 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$9,933/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $24,736 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$255,556 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Philander Smith University's own numbers. Net price $14,224 × 4 years = $56,896 total. Median earnings $38,427 fall $9,933 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $56,896 bill in about 5.7 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Philander Smith University students graduate with?
A median $24,736 in federal loans among completers, or 64% of the $38,427 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Philander Smith University students graduate?
30% finish their degree — 70% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $56,896 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $189,653 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Philander Smith University expensive compared with other Arkansas colleges?
Its $14,224 net price runs $1,858 above the $12,366 median across the 47 Arkansas colleges we profile, or $7,432 more across the full degree.