Graduates of Philander Smith University earn median 4-year earnings of $42,151, placing Philander Smith University in the 1.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Philander Smith University in the 55.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Philander Smith University #1369 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern centers on business and professional fields. Business Administration is the largest program with 43 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $43,163, representing 0.6× the national benchmark for the field. Psychology, General and Criminal Justice follow as significant enrollment drivers, while Biology, General and Teacher Education round out the core program portfolio. This concentration in Business — the institution's dominant program family — aligns with regional employer demand and supports the institution's overall earnings profile.
Graduates of Philander Smith University earn median 4-year earnings of $42,151, placing Philander Smith University in the 1.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Philander Smith University in the 55.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Philander Smith University #1369 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern centers on business and professional fields. Business Administration is the largest program with 43 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $43,163, representing 0.6× the national benchmark for the field. Psychology, General and Criminal Justice follow as significant enrollment drivers, while Biology, General and Teacher Education round out the core program portfolio. This concentration in Business — the institution's dominant program family — aligns with regional employer demand and supports the institution's overall earnings profile.
Latest FE earnings field: 10-year
Lower quartile, 10-year field
How graduate earnings grow across the currently available FE horizons.
Financial justification for the investment.
Graduates of Philander Smith University earn median 4-year earnings of $42,151, placing Philander Smith University in the 1.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Philander Smith University in the 55.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Philander Smith University #1369 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern centers on business and professional fields. Business Administration is the largest program with 43 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $43,163, representing 0.6× the national benchmark for the field. Psychology, General and Criminal Justice follow as significant enrollment drivers, while Biology, General and Teacher Education round out the core program portfolio. This concentration in Business — the institution's dominant program family — aligns with regional employer demand and supports the institution's overall earnings profile.
Program mix and student pathways explain much of the earnings story.
Philander Smith University's program mix centers on business and professional fields, reflecting the institution's focus on workforce-ready credentials. Business Administration is the largest program with 43 graduates, followed by Psychology, General, Criminal Justice, Biology, General, and Teacher Education. Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 147 students annually, the institution's program portfolio emphasizes applied professional and business-oriented fields aligned with regional employer demand. Business Administration leads the institution's earnings profile, with graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $43,163 four years after enrollment. The concentration in Business — representing 25% of graduates — anchors Philander Smith University's economic signature. This portfolio reflects the institution's positioning as a private nonprofit serving students seeking direct pathways into stable, accessible careers in business administration, accounting, management, and related professional fields. The supply and demand for college graduates provides context for how Philander Smith University's dominant program families align with regional labor-market demand in Arkansas and the broader South. For many students, the institution's program mix offers a clear connection between degree completion and employment in sectors with consistent hiring and wage stability.
Upper quartile, 10-year field
Graduates of Philander Smith University earn median 4-year earnings of $42,151, placing Philander Smith University in the 1.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Philander Smith University in the 55.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Philander Smith University #1369 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern centers on business and professional fields. Business Administration is the largest program with 43 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $43,163, representing 0.6× the national benchmark for the field. Psychology, General and Criminal Justice follow as significant enrollment drivers, while Biology, General and Teacher Education round out the core program portfolio. This concentration in Business — the institution's dominant program family — aligns with regional employer demand and supports the institution's overall earnings profile.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
