Business Administration, Management and Operations at Philander Smith University

Starting at $27,413—nearly $12,000 below Arkansas's median for business programs—Philander Smith's business degree faces a steep uphill climb. While earnings do grow by 30% over four years to reach $35,509, that's still about $3,500 below what graduates from other Arkansas business programs typically earn right after graduation. The program ranks in just the 25th percentile statewide, meaning three-quarters of comparable Arkansas programs produce better-earning graduates.

The $27,622 debt load isn't excessive by national standards, creating an almost 1-to-1 ratio with first-year earnings. But context matters: when your starting salary is this low, manageable debt still creates financial strain. Compare this to University of Arkansas business graduates earning $56,456 or even Arkansas Tech at $39,866—the opportunity cost of choosing Philander Smith becomes clear. The school serves a predominantly Pell Grant population (71%), which speaks to its mission, but that doesn't change the economic reality facing graduates.

With fewer than 30 graduates in this dataset, these numbers might not tell the full story. However, unless you have specific reasons to believe your child's outcome will differ significantly—strong internship connections, a particular career path where this school excels—the data suggests exploring other Arkansas business programs that could deliver substantially higher returns on a similar investment.