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After Philander Smith University: graduation, pay and debt

Little Rock, Arkansas · Private · 751 undergrads · HBCU

32% of Philander Smith University students finish within six years, the typical student earns $40,195 ten years after starting and graduates leave with $29,375 in federal loans at the median.

The short answers

$40.2k
median pay 10 years after starting college.
32%
finish within six years.
19%
finish in four years.
66%
of first-years come back for year two.
$29.4k
median federal debt at graduation.
39%
of borrowers were paying down their loans three years after leaving.
All the federal numbers

Finishing

Finished in four yearsIPEDS, fall 2023
19%
Finished within six yearsIPEDS, fall 2023
32%
First-years who came back for year twoCollege Scorecard, fall 2024
66%
Men who finished within six yearsIPEDS, students who started in 2017
22%
Women who finished within six yearsIPEDS, students who started in 2017
38%
Students in that six-year groupIPEDS, students who started in 2017
325
Earned a degree or certificate here within eight yearsIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
30%
Still enrolled here after eight yearsIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
12%
Students in that eight-year groupIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
186

Pay after college

Median pay 6 years after starting collegeCollege Scorecard
$32,067
Median pay 10 years after starting collegeCollege Scorecard, 2022-23
$40,195
Earning more than $25,000 six years after startingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
41%

Pay is for students who got federal aid and are working, counted from the year they started college, whether or not they finished.

Debt and paying it back

Median federal debt, students who graduatedCollege Scorecard, 2024-25
$29,375
Median federal debt, everyone who borrowed (finished or not)College Scorecard, earlier release
$14,750
Median federal debt, students with a Pell GrantCollege Scorecard, earlier release
$14,890
Median federal debt, students without a Pell GrantCollege Scorecard, earlier release
$12,750
Paying down their loans 3 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, 2024-25
39%
Paying down their loans 5 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
43%
Paying down their loans 7 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
45%

Federal student loans only. Private loans and Parent PLUS loans aren't counted.

Where these numbers come from

Updated Oct 31, 2026Spot a mistake?How we get our numbers