Philander Smith College
Philander Smith University is a private HBCU in Little Rock, Arkansas, offering undergraduate, graduate (MBA), and continuing-education programs, with a recent expansion into a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program serving traditional students, working adults, and healthcare career seekers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1877
- HeadquartersLittle Rock, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Philander Smith College does
Philander Smith University is a private, nonprofit historically Black university (HBCU) located in Little Rock, Arkansas, founded in 1877 as Walden Seminary and renamed Philander Smith College before adopting its current university designation. The institution offers undergraduate programs across six academic divisions (Arts & Humanities, Business Administration, Education, Natural & Physical Sciences, Social Sciences, and General Education), graduate programs including a one-year MBA and a recently launched Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), and a continuing-education portfolio (PSMI, Weekend & Evening College, WISE P3, CNA training). Its business model is primarily tuition-driven, with full-time undergraduate tuition set at $5,902 per semester (~$11,804 annually) plus housing and meal plans, supplemented by federal financial aid administration and substantial philanthropic and grant funding — including a $19 million unrestricted gift from MacKenzie Scott in November 2025, a $7 million federal earmark, and a $3.9 million Windgate Foundation endowed scholarship grant in 2026.
The university serves a diverse student body including traditional undergraduates, graduate students, transfer and international students, working adults in continuing-education programs, and healthcare career seekers pursuing nursing credentials. Distribution occurs through on-campus delivery, a growing online offering (via the Savant platform and internal online courses), and direct admissions supported by campus visit programs, the S.T.A.R.T. summer bridge scholarship program, and the UNCF partnership. Operational technology is standard higher-ed enterprise software — Jenzabar JICS for student information, PowerFAIDS Net Partner for financial aid, and Parchment/National Student Clearinghouse for transcript services — with no disclosed proprietary platform, AI/ML capabilities, or external software product revenue. Governance rests with an independent Board of Trustees; the institution is currently led by its 15th president, Dr. Maurice D. Gipson, installed in late 2025.
Philander Smith College firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Philander Smith College
- Legal name
- Philander Smith University
- Website
- https://philander.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1877
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Philander Smith University is a private HBCU in Little Rock, Arkansas, offering undergraduate, graduate (MBA), and continuing-education programs, with a recent expansion into a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program serving traditional students, working adults, and healthcare career seekers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Philander Smith College industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education Services
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private Nonprofit HBCUs (EDAHAMAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Health Sciences & Medical-Serving HBCUs (Nursing/Allied Health/Public Health) (EDAHAMAI)
Keywords
Where Philander Smith College is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Little Rock
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Philander Smith College business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Revenue generated from student tuition, fees, room, and board charges. Philander Smith University charges full-time tuition at $5,902 per semester for 12-16 credit hours, with additional fees for various services and programs.
- Financial Aid Administration: The university administers federal student aid programs including Pell Grants, SEOG, and federal loans (Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, Parent PLUS).
- Grant Funding: Significant philanthropic and grant revenue including $19 million MacKenzie Scott gift, $3.9 million Windgate Foundation grant, $7 million federal investment, and $8.3 million for BSN program development.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Semester | Full-time undergraduate tuition (12-16 credit hours) |
| Unit Pricing | Semester | Part-time undergraduate per credit hour |
| Subscription | Session | Summer School |
| Per seat | Semester | MBA Program |
| Subscription | Semester | Room - RLC, Panther Village, Barracks |
| Subscription | Semester | Room - Suites |
| Subscription | Semester | Board (10 Meal Plan) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Annual | Room Reservation Fee |
| Other | Annual | Presidential Scholarship |
| Other | Annual | Thomas Mason Scholarship |
| Other | Semester | George Taylor Scholarship |
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Philander Smith College product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Philander Smith University is a private historically Black university (HBCU) that delivers undergraduate, graduate, continuing education, and allied-health credentialing programs through on-campus and online formats. Its portfolio spans six undergraduate divisions, an MBA program, a new Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program, and workforce development offerings such as the Philander Smith Management Institute (PSMI) and Weekend & Evening College. The university charges tuition per semester or per credit hour and supplements revenue with federal financial aid administration and philanthropic grants.
Product overview
Philander Smith University is a private historically Black university (HBCU) founded in 1877, offering a portfolio of undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs. The institution operates as a single-brand university offering multiple academic programs including the new Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, Master of Business Administration (MBA), and Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training. Supporting services include student housing (Suites A&B, Barracks historic building, Panther Village), health services, career services, and the S.T.A.R.S. retention program. The institution maintains an active alumni network through the National Alumni Association and Pre-Alumni Council, hosting the annual National Alumni Convention.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program A 124-credit-hour, 8-semester Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program approved by the Higher Learning Commission (May 2025). Designed to prepare nurses for Arkansas healthcare facilities, including clinical rotations, a nursing apprenticeship program, and scholarship opportunities with service components.
- Master of Business Administration (MBA) A one-year, 36-credit-hour graduate business degree with concentrations in Project Management or Management, offered in online and face-to-face formats at $600 per credit hour.
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Program Nursing assistant training program approved by the Arkansas Department of Human Services, preparing students for the state certification exam to become Certified Nursing Assistants.
- Undergraduate Degree Programs Bachelor's degree programs across six academic divisions: Arts & Humanities, Business Administration, Education, Natural & Physical Sciences, Social Sciences, and General Education, with majors including English, Philosophy and Religion, and Visual and Performing Arts.
- Philander Smith Management Institute (PSMI) Continuing education program offering management training as part of Weekend & Evening College, with tuition at $5,382 per semester or $450 per credit hour.
- Weekend and Evening College Flexible scheduling option for working adults offering courses on weekends and evenings with accessible tuition rates through the continuing education portfolio.
- S.T.A.R.T. Summer Bridge Program Summer transition program for incoming students that includes a $10,000 scholarship disbursed over four years, helping new students acclimate to college life and academics as a recruitment and retention tool.
- McKinley Newton Honors Academy Honors program offering enhanced academic opportunities for qualified undergraduate students.
- Student Housing (Suite A, Suite B, Barracks, Panther Village) On-campus housing including Suite A (60 residents, opened 2005), Suite B (55 residents, opened 2006), the historic Barracks building (19 residents, listed on the National Register), and Panther Village townhomes at 915 W. 16th Street housing 8-10 students each. Pricing ranges from $3,000 to $3,250 per semester with a $200 annual room reservation fee.
- Health Services Comprehensive health care program for enrolled students, including on-site RN services at no cost, supplemental health insurance, and disability support services.
Companies that use Philander Smith College
Customer profileSegments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Philander Smith College technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Philander Smith College partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Arkansas Children's HospitalcoreProvided $392,000 in direct funding and $197,000 in in-kind support through ALIGN (Arkansas Linking Industry to Grow Nurses) grant for nursing apprenticeship and clinical training partnerships.
- UNCF (United Negro College Fund)corePartnership for student recruitment, scholarship support, and alumni engagement including the Pre-Alumni Council with Miss and Mr. UNCF representatives.
- Little Rock Police DepartmentcoreEnhanced campus security presence during homecoming events and ongoing campus safety collaboration.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Philander Smith College competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Clark Atlanta University: Private HBCU in Atlanta formed by merger, comparable in scale and program mix including graduate offerings. Direct comparator for UMC-affiliated private HBCU positioning in the Southeast.
- Hampton University: Private HBCU with diversified program portfolio including nursing and health sciences. Comparable private-HBCU scale with both graduate and undergraduate health workforce programs.
- Fisk University: Small, prestigious private HBCU in Nashville. Comparable in enrollment scale and program mix; relevant benchmark for endowment-building and financial sustainability strategy.
- Dillard University: Private HBCU in New Orleans offering comparable mix of undergraduate, graduate, and pre-professional programs. Closest structural peer as a small, United Methodist-affiliated HBCU focused on liberal arts and professional preparation in the U.S. South.
- Xavier University of Louisiana: Private HBCU with nationally recognized nursing and pharmacy programs. Most directly comparable to Philander Smith's recent BSN launch trajectory, and a benchmark for HBCU healthcare workforce strategy.
- Tuskegee University: Private HBCU with strong applied/health science programs and federal funding relationships. Comparable as a small-to-mid private HBCU diversifying into health sciences and competing for similar philanthropic and federal grant pools.
- Spelman College: Elite private HBCU liberal arts college. Sets the bar for HBCU yield, retention, and donor-network engagement; relevant benchmark for branding and academic positioning.
- Morehouse College: Premier private HBCU with national name recognition. Comparable on mission-driven positioning and alumni network strength; key reference point for major-gift cultivation strategy.
Broad incumbents
- Howard University: Largest private HBCU offering comprehensive undergraduate, graduate, and health professional programs including nursing. Sets the national benchmark for HBCU health-sciences scaling and federal funding access.
Regional players
- Arkansas Baptist College: Private HBCU also located in Little Rock, Arkansas. Closest geographic competitor for local applicants and donor dollars in the same metro; competes directly for the same recruitment funnel.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Philander Smith College social profiles
Digital presencePhilander Smith College compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Philander Smith College financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Philander Smith College leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Philander Smith College funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Philander Smith College M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Philander Smith College
What does Philander Smith College do?
Philander Smith University is a private historically Black university (HBCU) that delivers undergraduate, graduate, continuing education, and allied-health credentialing programs through on-campus and online formats. Its portfolio spans six undergraduate divisions, an MBA program, a new Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program, and workforce development offerings such as the Philander Smith Management Institute (PSMI) and Weekend & Evening College. The university charges tuition per semester or per credit hour and supplements revenue with federal financial aid administration and philanthropic grants.
Is Philander Smith College a public or private company?
Philander Smith College is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Philander Smith College founded?
Philander Smith College was founded in 1877. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Philander Smith College based?
Philander Smith College is headquartered in Little Rock, United States, in the North America region.
How does Philander Smith College make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are financial Aid Administration and grant Funding.
Who are Philander Smith College's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Clark Atlanta University, Hampton University, Fisk University, Dillard University, Xavier University of Louisiana, Tuskegee University, Spelman College and Morehouse College. Howard University is listed as a broad incumbent. Arkansas Baptist College is listed as a regional player.
Does Philander Smith College have an API?
No public API is recorded for Philander Smith College.
What industry is Philander Smith College in?
Philander Smith College's product category is Higher Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAMAB, Private Nonprofit HBCUs, with a secondary code of EDAHAMAI, Health Sciences & Medical-Serving HBCUs (Nursing/Allied Health/Public Health). Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.