PSC vs. CMU - CLAS

Should I go to Philander Smith College or Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if PSC or CMU - CLAS is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Philander Smith College vs. Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences comparison
Philander Smith College Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences College 3 College 4
Philander Smith College
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Overview

 PSC CMU - CLAS
Location Little Rock, AR Fayette, MO
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 769 1,080
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #781
Religious Affiliation United Methodist United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website philander.edu centralmethodist.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 PSC CMU - CLAS
Tuition (In State) $11,804 $26,360
Tuition (Out of State) $11,804 $26,360
Room & Board $8,250 $8,910
Avg Net Price $15,634 $24,828
Avg Grant Aid $10,317 $18,044
% Receiving Grant Aid 86% 100%

Admission

 PSC CMU - CLAS
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 1,166
Admitted - 1,141
Acceptance Rate 97.9%
Enrolled % 25.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.04 3.5
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/23
SAT Range 930/1090
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

 PSC CMU - CLAS
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (30%)
  • Social Sciences (18%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Human Services (9%)
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • General Studies (8%)

Outcomes

 PSC CMU - CLAS
Graduation Rate 31% 43%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $26,800 $38,600
Making Student Loan Payments 35% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,000 $16,875
Median Loan Payment $320 $174

Diversity

 PSC CMU - CLAS
% Men 41% 48%
% Women 59% 52%
Racial Diversity Extremely Low Low
HBCU Yes No
% White 0% 78%
% Black 91% 8%
% Hispanic 1% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 5% 4%
% Unknown Race 0% 4%

Students

 PSC CMU - CLAS
% In-State 58% 59%
% Out-of-State 33% 27%

Campus

 PSC CMU - CLAS
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences is larger than than PSC based on total student enrollment (1,080 students vs. 769 students)

PSC vs. CMU - CLAS Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PSC or CMU - CLAS?

  • Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences is 123.3% more expensive to attend than PSC for in-state tuition ($26,360.00 vs. $11,804.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 123.3% higher at CMU - CLAS than Philander Smith College ($26,360.00 vs. $11,804.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Philander Smith College than CMU - CLAS ($15,634 vs. $24,828)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Philander Smith College are 8% lower than costs at Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences ($8,250 vs. $8,910)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences than Philander Smith College (100% vs. 86%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences students is 74.9% larger than aid received Philander Smith College ($18,044 vs. $10,317)

Which college is harder to get into, PSC or CMU - CLAS? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CMU - CLAS or PSC .

  • Accepted freshman CMU - CLAS students have a 0.46 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at PSC (3.04)

PSC vs. CMU - CLAS Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, PSC or CMU - CLAS? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between CMU - CLAS and PSC.

  • The graduation rate at CMU - CLAS is higher than Philander Smith College (43% vs. 31%)
  • Graduates from Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences earn on average $11,800 more per year than PSC graduates after ten years. ($38,600 vs. $26,800)
  • Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences students graduate with a $14,125 lower median federal student loan debt than PSC graduates. ($16,875 vs. $31,000)
  • CMU - CLAS graduates are paying $146 less per month on federal student loans than PSC graduates. ($174 vs. $320)
  • More CMU - CLAS graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PSC students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 35%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/