PSC vs. Hood

Comparable Facts

Compare Philander Smith University in Little Rock, AR with Hood College in Frederick, MD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Hood College is larger than PSC based on total student enrollment (2,101 students vs. 780 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Philander Smith University is located in Little Rock, AR (Midsize City setting); Hood College is in Frederick, MD (Small City setting).
• Philander Smith University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Hood College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Philander Smith University 11:1; Hood College 10:1.

PSC vs. Hood Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PSC or Hood? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Philander Smith University than Hood ($14,082 vs. $23,350).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Philander Smith University are 38.3% lower than at Hood College ($10,000 vs. $16,200).
• Hood College is 266.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than PSC (about $34,686 more per year; $47,700.00 vs. $13,014.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 266.5% higher at Hood than at Philander Smith University (about $34,686 more per year; $47,700.00 vs. $13,014.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hood College than at Philander Smith University (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Hood College students is 165.7% larger than aid received by Philander Smith University students ($37,957 vs. $14,283).

PSC vs. Hood Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, PSC or Hood? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Hood and PSC.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: PSC - Not reported; Hood - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Hood Aug 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Hood students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at PSC (3.04).

PSC vs. Hood Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for PSC and Hood? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Hood College's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Philander Smith University's (31%).
• Graduates from Hood College earn a median of about $20,500 more per year than PSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,300 vs. $26,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Hood College graduates have a $4,000 lower median loan debt than PSC graduates ($27,000 vs. $31,000).
• Among borrowers, Hood graduates have an estimated $41 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PSC graduates ($279 vs. $320).
• More Hood graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PSC students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 35%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.