Fisk University vs Philander Smith College
Fisk University and Philander Smith College, both historically Black institutions with rich histories, offer unique educational experiences to their students. Fisk, located in Nashville, Tennessee, boasts a higher acceptance rate (68%) compared to Philander Smith's 56%. Fisk's student body is slightly larger, with an undergraduate enrollment of 800 students, while Philander Smith has a more intimate community of 600 undergraduates. Both institutions offer a range of popular majors, including Business, Education, and Social Sciences, but Fisk has a slightly higher graduation rate (55%) compared to Philander Smith's 48%. To help you make an informed decision about your higher education journey, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these differences and more. Explore the table to discover which institution aligns best with your academic goals and personal preferences.
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![]() Fisk University |
![]() Philander Smith College |
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Overview |
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Location | Nashville, Tennessee | Little Rock, Arkansas |
Campus setting | City: Large | City: Midsize |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 63.0% | 55.0% |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | Methodism | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 61.1% | Open Admission |
Application fees | $25 | |
SAT range | 1060 - 1360 | N/A |
ACT range | 19 - 26 | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | 35.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 47.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 4,281 | |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,616 | |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 297 | |
Yield rate | 11.4% | |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | |
High school GPA | Required | N/A |
Recommendation letters | Required | N/A |
High school transcript | Not required | N/A |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | N/A |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $39,206 | $31,724 |
Average net price | $25,582 | $14,396 |
Tuition | $20,928 | $11,804 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$6,568
Meal plan:
$4,932
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Room/dormitory:
$5,192
Meal plan:
$3,058
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
74.0%
Average amount $12,402 |
98.0%
Average amount $11,505 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
56.0%
Average amount $5,805 |
57.0%
Average amount $5,451 |
Students taking out private loans |
1.0%
Average amount $16,521 |
0.0%
Average amount $0 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
914
Men 33.4% Women 66.6% |
710
Men 36.1% Women 63.9% |
Graduate students |
28
Men 32.1% Women 67.9% |
N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Very Low
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Very Low
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Out-of-state students | 70.3% | N/A |
International students | 11.7% | 5.4% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | City: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | 842 | 522 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Tennessee Illinois Georgia California Michigan | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 15:1 | 12:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 45.7% | 28.2% |
Dropout rate | 54.3% | 68.8% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biological and Physical Sciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
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