Philander Smith University Scholarships (2026–2027)
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Last Updated on October 29, 2026- Tuition, housing, and average family net price
- Automatic merit ranges and qualifier benchmarks
- Flagship and hidden-gem awards
- Honors and stacking strategy
📊 Admissions Snapshot
- Acceptance Rate: ~100%
- Middle 50% ACT: N/A
- Middle 50% SAT: N/A
- Average GPA: N/A
Philander Smith has open admission. Graduate from high school (or pass the GED, or finish a state-approved homeschool program), send your transcript, and you’re in. That’s why you won’t see a real acceptance rate or a test-score range on this page. The part families miss is what happens when the transcript is thin. Students with a high school GPA under 2.0, or an ACT score under 18 in English, reading, or math (SAT under 500), come in provisionally admitted. To become fully admitted, they have to complete the S.T.A.R.T. Summer Bridge Program (or another PSU academic support program), earn a C or better in foundation courses, and sign an academic success contract.
Comparing multiple schools? Try the Scholarship Tool to search by GPA, test scores, and state →
📌 Philander Smith University at a Glance
- Optional to get in is not optional for money. PSU says ACT and SAT scores are for course placement, but scholarships are awarded on the GPA and test scores sent with the admission application. No scores, no merit offer.
- “Qualifying” is not the same as “guaranteed.” PSU says meeting the minimums does not guarantee an award, that offers weigh financial need as well as grades, and that you need an admission deposit to reserve the offer.
- PSU money goes on last. Institutional scholarships are applied after Pell, state aid, and other grants, and they are non-refundable. If outside money covers more of the bill, the PSU scholarship covers less.
- The money date is March 1, not June 30. The Apply page lists a June 30 fall priority date and the catalog says March 1. Ignore the gap and treat March 1 (the FAFSA priority date) as your real deadline, because limited funds go to complete files first.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. Philander Smith University is test-optional for admission, but scholarships can work differently (see the next question).
Do you need test scores for scholarships at Philander Smith University? Scores are optional to get in, but scholarship offers are based on the GPA and ACT/SAT sent with the admission application, so send them.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: N/A; SAT: N/A.
Average net price? About $14,082/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity? No. It is a private school, so everyone pays the same rate.
CollegeReadyParent Arkansas State Aid Guide: https://collegereadyparent.org/arkansas/
Philander Smith Scholarships and Grants: https://www.philander.edu/admissions/types-of-aid/scholarships-and-grants/
CollegeScorecard / Admissions: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/
💰 Cost of Attendance at Philander Smith University: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in October 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest Philander Smith University has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.
Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly $500 to $1,200 more than the total below.
✔ Same price for every student, no matter which state you live in.
| Tuition & mandatory fees | $13,064 |
| Housing & meals (typical) | $10,000 |
| Total billed cost | $23,064 |
Average federal net price: $14,082 per year. This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
PSU bills by the semester. A full-time freshman living on campus in a standard room sees about $11,732 per semester before aid: $5,902 tuition, $630 in mandatory fees, $3,000 for the room, $2,000 for the meal plan, and the $200 yearly room reservation. Suites run $11,982. A commuter pays $6,532. Add a one-time $150 freshman orientation fee and a $35 room key fee the first semester, plus $75 for each math or science lab.
These are PSU’s latest posted rates (the 2025-2026 schedule, approved in September 2025). PSU hasn’t published a 2026-2027 schedule yet, and tuition has held at $5,902 per semester since 2023-2024.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Philander Smith University
Do out-of-state students pay more at Philander Smith?
No. Philander Smith is a private university, so a student from Tennessee or Texas pays the same tuition as a student from Little Rock. The only Arkansas-only advantage is state aid like the Academic Challenge Scholarship.
Has tuition been going up?
Not lately. Full-time tuition has been $5,902 per semester on PSU’s posted schedules for 2023-2024, 2024-2025, and 2025-2026. That could change when the next schedule comes out, but it’s been unusually steady for a private school.
Are textbooks included?
Mostly, yes. Every student pays a $100 per semester book rental charge, and PSU provides textbooks online for that flat fee. That’s a real savings compared with buying books course by course.
Does my freshman have to live on campus?
If your family lives more than 30 miles from campus, yes, with exceptions for students with children, students 24 or older or married, and hardship cases. Everyone living on campus must carry a meal plan, and the housing contract runs the full year. One thing to ask about: the fee schedule lists the room reservation at $200, while the catalog says $235.
Is the average net price really around $14,082?
That’s the federal figure for first-time, full-time students who received grants or scholarships in 2023-2024. Most PSU students get grant aid, so many families land near that number. Your own price depends on your FAFSA results and whether your student qualifies for merit.
What if we can’t pay the whole balance up front?
After financial aid is applied, PSU lets you pay 40% of what’s left at registration and the rest in three monthly installments, with a $100 deferred payment fee. Just don’t miss clearance: students who aren’t financially cleared before classes start are charged a $400 late registration fee.
Can Arkansas students use state scholarships here?
Yes. Philander Smith is on the state’s 2026 approved list for the Academic Challenge Scholarship and the Governor’s Scholars Program. In the SAMS portal it still shows up under its old name, Philander Smith College.
https://www.philander.edu/admissions/cost-and-aid/tuition/
https://www.philander.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2025_2028_New-Catalog_04-20.pdf
https://sams.adhe.edu/File/ApprovedInstitutions_2026.pdf
📅 Philander Smith Scholarship Timeline (Simple Version)
- Fall of senior year: Apply for admission and send the official transcript and ACT or SAT scores. Those numbers decide the merit offer.
- March 1: FAFSA priority date (school code 001103). PSU weighs need in its scholarships, and limited funds go to complete files first.
- March 15 to May 1: S.T.A.R.T. Summer Bridge registration window (2026 dates; watch for 2027 dates).
- July 1: Arkansas students: SAMS application and FAFSA due for Academic Challenge.
Parent rule of thumb: there’s no published scholarship deadline at PSU, so March 1 is your deadline. Waiting until summer leaves you competing for whatever is left.
Automatic Merit Scholarships: Philander Smith University
| Award | GPA | ACT / SAT | Worth | To Keep It |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Mason | 3.5+ | 25 / 1230 | Full tuition and fees | 3.2 GPA, 30 hours a year |
| George Taylor | 3.0+ | 20 / 1130 | $6,000 a year | 3.0 GPA, 30 hours a year |
Heads up for SAT takers: the George Taylor SAT minimum (1130) is noticeably higher than what a 20 ACT converts to (about 1040). If your student is close to the line on the SAT, the ACT may be the easier path to the same award.
Automatic Merit: FAQs (Philander Smith University)
If my student hits the Thomas Mason or George Taylor numbers, is the money guaranteed?
No. PSU says eligibility doesn’t guarantee an award, and it bases institutional scholarships on both academic merit and financial need. Send scores with the application, file the FAFSA by March 1, and pay the admission deposit so the offer is reserved.
Do we really need to send ACT or SAT scores if they’re optional?
Yes, if you want merit money. Scores are optional for admission, but scholarships are awarded based on the GPA and scores submitted with the admission application.
What if my student retests after applying?
PSU’s page ties awards to the scores submitted with the admission application. If a new score pushes your student over a line, send it to admissions right away and ask, before you deposit, whether the offer can be re-evaluated.
How does my student keep the scholarship?
Earn at least 30 credit hours each fall and spring year and keep a 3.2 GPA for Thomas Mason or a 3.0 for George Taylor. If the offer letter says something different, the letter wins.
Will Academic Challenge add on top of Thomas Mason?
Not exactly. Arkansas puts Academic Challenge first in line, and PSU applies its own scholarships after all other aid. Because Mason covers whatever tuition and fees are left, state money mostly reduces what PSU has to pay rather than lowering your bill further. The state award still matters for housing and meals, which Mason doesn’t cover.
Is there anything for students below a 3.0?
Not in this tier. Look at the S.T.A.R.T. Summer Bridge Scholarship and the National Alumni Association Scholarship in Hidden Gems below. Arkansas residents should also check their eligibility for Academic Challenge in SAMS.
https://www.philander.edu/admissions/types-of-aid/scholarships-and-grants/
https://www.philander.edu/admissions/new-freshman/
https://www.philander.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2025_2028_New-Catalog_04-20.pdf
https://adhe.edu/about/scholarships
🏆 Flagship Scholarships (Competitive Scholarships)
✅ How PSU Money Fits With Everything Else
| Aid Type | Order Applied | Parent Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Pell and other federal grants | Applied before PSU money | Always worth having, but it can shrink what a PSU scholarship pays out. |
| Arkansas state aid | First in line by state law | Academic Challenge and Governor’s Scholars go on first. PSU fills in after. |
| Presidential, Mason, Taylor | Last, non-refundable | These cover what’s left on the bill. They never turn into a refund check. |
| Outside scholarships (UNCF, church, local) | Applied before PSU money | Ask financial aid in writing how an outside award changes your package before you accept it. |
Big picture: at Philander Smith, the scholarships are designed to close the gap on the bill, not to stack into extra cash. For a family with high need, that often means the sticker price nearly disappears. For a family with low need, it means the Presidential or Mason award is doing most of the work by itself.
❓ Presidential Scholarship FAQs
What does the Presidential Scholarship cover?
Tuition, fees, room, board, and books. There’s no stipend, so personal expenses and travel are still on the family.
Is there an application or a deadline?
No separate application and no published deadline. Eligible admitted students are invited to interview. Apply early, send scores with the application, and file the FAFSA by March 1 so your student is in the pool before funds are committed.
Can international students get it?
No. PSU excludes international students from the Presidential Scholarship, but they can still be considered for the Thomas Mason and George Taylor Scholarships.
How does a student keep it?
Maintain a 3.4 cumulative GPA and earn at least 30 credit hours each fall and spring year.
If my student interviews and doesn’t get it, is there a backup?
A student who meets the Presidential minimums also clears the Thomas Mason bar (3.5 and 25 ACT). Ask admissions whether your student is being considered for both, so you’re not left waiting on one decision.
How should my student prepare for the interview?
PSU’s mission is about leadership, service, and social justice, so expect questions in that direction. Our Brag Sheet Builder helps your student organize activities and service before they walk in.
https://www.philander.edu/admissions/types-of-aid/scholarships-and-grants/
https://www.philander.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2025_2028_New-Catalog_04-20.pdf
https://adhe.edu/about/scholarships
McKinley Newton Honors Academy at Philander Smith
Philander Smith doesn’t have an honors college. It has the McKinley Newton Honors Academy, started in 2001 and named for one of the school’s most admired teacher-administrators. There’s no application. It works by invitation, and the invitation is based on subject scores rather than the overall composite.
- Who gets invited: Incoming fall, first-time freshmen with an ACT score of 22 or higher in both English and Math (or SAT 600+ in both)
- First year: Honors students move through a team-taught, integrated set of courses together as a group
- After that: Priority enrollment in special seminars, plus research, field trips, honors conferences, and internships
Honors Scholarships
This institution does not offer designated Honors College scholarships at this time.
PSU doesn’t attach a separate scholarship to the Honors Academy. The money for high achievers is the Thomas Mason and Presidential Scholarships covered above. If PSU adds Honors-specific awards, they’ll appear here automatically.
- 3/2 Engineering: Three years of science at PSU, then two at the University of Arkansas, ending with two degrees.
- 4+1 Public Health: Selected students can start a Master of Public Health with UAMS as early as junior year.
- Ark-LSAMP: A STEM support program for students in science and math majors.
Honors Academy: FAQs (Philander Smith University)
Does my student need to apply to the Honors Academy?
No. Students who meet the score requirements receive an invitation. Accepting it starts what PSU calls a lifelong affiliation with the Academy.
Why does it matter whether my student’s scores were sent?
Because the invitation is based on ACT or SAT section scores. A student who applies without scores can’t be invited, even with a strong GPA.
Does the Honors Academy come with money?
Not on its own. Honors students are usually the same students in line for the Thomas Mason or Presidential Scholarship, which is where the dollars are.
Who do we contact with questions?
The Academy is run through the Provost’s office. PSU lists Dr. Shannon Clowney-Johnson at sclowney@philander.edu or 501-370-5324.
https://www.philander.edu/academics/special-programs/mckinley-newton-honors-academy/
https://www.philander.edu/academics/dual-degree-programs/
⭐ College Specialty
Philander Smith was founded in 1877 as the first effort west of the Mississippi to educate freed slaves, and it’s still a small, private, United Methodist HBCU on the edge of downtown Little Rock. With around 800 students, classes are small and professors know your student by name. Its stated mission is to graduate students grounded as advocates for social justice, and you’ll feel that in the classroom and in campus life. It became a university in 2023 after adding its first graduate program, an MBA.
Business Administration: Business is the largest major at PSU, and the School of Business, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship is ACBSP-accredited. Students can concentrate in accounting, management, marketing, entrepreneurship, or healthcare administration, and there’s now an MBA if they want to keep going.
- Nursing and Health: The Dr. Joycelyn Elders School of Allied and Public Health offers a four-year BSN (taking applications for 2026-2027) and a CNA program. Admission to the nursing major is competitive and limited by clinical sites.
- Biology and Pre-Health: Biology is the second most common major, with pre-nursing and pre-pharmacy tracks and a 4+1 path into a Master of Public Health at UAMS.
- Engineering Pathway: The 3/2 program pairs a PSU degree in biology, chemistry, computer science, or math with an engineering degree from the University of Arkansas.
- Helping Professions: Social work (CSWE-accredited), psychology, criminal justice, and teacher education (CAEP-accredited) round out the programs that place graduates into Arkansas schools, agencies, and courts.
🔗 Official Philander Smith University Links
Use Philander Smith’s official pages below to confirm admissions steps, scholarship rules, costs, and program details. Always rely on these pages and your offer letter for final amounts and terms.
-
Apply / Admissions Deadlines:
https://www.philander.edu/admissions/apply/ -
First-Time Freshman Requirements:
https://www.philander.edu/admissions/new-freshman/ -
Scholarships and Grants:
https://www.philander.edu/admissions/types-of-aid/scholarships-and-grants/ -
Applying for Financial Aid (FAFSA code 001103):
https://www.philander.edu/admissions/applying-for-aid/ -
Tuition, Fees, Room and Board:
https://www.philander.edu/admissions/cost-and-aid/tuition/ -
Net Price Calculator:
https://www.philander.edu/admissions/cost-and-aid/net-price-calculator/ -
S.T.A.R.T. Summer Bridge Program:
https://www.philander.edu/academics/special-programs/s-t-a-r-t-summer-bridge-program/ -
McKinley Newton Honors Academy:
https://www.philander.edu/academics/special-programs/mckinley-newton-honors-academy/ -
BSN Nursing Program:
https://www.philander.edu/academics/school-of-allied-and-public-health/bsn/ -
Dual Degree Programs (3/2 Engineering, 4+1 MPH):
https://www.philander.edu/academics/dual-degree-programs/
✅ Wrapping It Up
Philander Smith is one of the most affordable private colleges in Arkansas on paper. It has frozen tuition, textbooks included, and no out-of-state markup, and most students receive grant aid on top of that. It’s small, it’s historic, and it was built for students who are told to prove themselves. The merit side is simple but not automatic. Send test scores even though they’re optional, because a 3.5 and a 25 ACT can put full tuition in play and a 3.8 with a 28 opens the door to a full ride. Then get the FAFSA in by March 1, because PSU weighs need and pays its own scholarships last.
If your student needs a running start instead of a scholarship interview, S.T.A.R.T. is the program to look at, and for some students it’s required. Either way, the families who do best at PSU are the ones who ask for every offer in writing and know which piece of aid is covering which part of the bill.
Most families build a college list first and think about scholarships second, which is backwards. This free four-part series shows you where the money actually comes from, and how to build a list around it. After the series, about once a month, sometimes twice during application season. No drip funnels, no affiliate pitches, and we never sell your information. Unsubscribe anytime.Your kid did everything right. That does not mean the money follows.
Leo Dimilo
Leo is a parent who went through the college affordability maze with his own daughter and built CollegeReadyParent to give other families the plain-English version. No paywall, no lead generation, just the numbers and the fine print.
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