Philander Smith University

Philander Smith University graduated 6 social work students in the most recent reporting year, placing it #507 of 587 BSW-awarding colleges. Small programs like this one tend to compete on individual attention and placement relationships rather than breadth.

22.4% of students complete their degree, below the 50.4% median across BSW-awarding colleges — worth asking the department about directly. Students who finish take a median of 5 years to do it. First-time entrants complete at 31.3% against 23.3% for transfers — worth checking how transfer credits map onto the practice sequence.

The average student pays $14,082 a year after grants and scholarships — about the same as the $13,762 median across the 10 BSW colleges in Arkansas. 69.0% of first-time students receive Pell Grants, a high share that usually reflects a student body with substantial financial need — and a financial aid office practiced at handling it. Net price is the number that matters when comparing programs, not sticker tuition — and because most social work roles are with government or nonprofit employers, graduates are typically eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.