PSC vs. CCS

Deciding between Philander Smith University and College for Creative Studies? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Philander Smith University
College for Creative Studies

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • PSC Little Rock, AR
  • CCS Detroit, MI
  • Setting
  • PSC Midsize City
  • CCS Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • PSC 780
  • CCS 1,433
  • Type
  • PSC Private 4 Year
  • CCS Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • PSC
  • CCS
  • Religious Affiliation
  • PSC United Methodist
  • CCS -
  • Status
  • PSC Non-profit
  • CCS Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • PSC
  • CCS
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • PSC $13,014
  • CCS $53,350
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • PSC $13,014
  • CCS $53,350
  • Room & Board
  • PSC $10,000
  • CCS $15,272
  • Average Net Price
  • PSC $14,082
  • CCS $36,055
  • Average Grant Aid
  • PSC $14,283
  • CCS $30,108
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • PSC 99%
  • CCS 98%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • PSC -
  • CCS 1,079
  • Admitted
  • PSC -
  • CCS 992
  • Acceptance Rate
  • PSC
  • CCS 91.9%
  • Enrolled
  • PSC
  • CCS 24.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • PSC
  • CCS
  • Typical ACT score
  • PSC
  • CCS
  • Average High School GPA
  • PSC 3.04
  • CCS 3.19
  • Typical High School Grades
  • PSC B
  • CCS B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • PSC Unavailable
  • CCS Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • PSC
  • CCS
  • ACT Range
  • PSC
  • CCS
  • SAT Range
  • PSC
  • CCS
  • Submit Test Scores
  • PSC Not reported
  • CCS Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • PSC
  • CCS
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • PSC 11:1
  • CCS 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • PSC
    • Business (30%)
    • Social Sciences (18%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
    • Human Services (9%)
  • CCS
    • Visual and Performing Arts (87%)
    • Communications Technology (13%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • PSC 31%
  • CCS 57%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • PSC $26,800
  • CCS $46,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • PSC 35%
  • CCS 60%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • PSC $31,000
  • CCS $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • PSC $320
  • CCS $279
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • PSC 48%
  • CCS 34%
  • % Women
  • PSC 52%
  • CCS 66%
  • Racial Diversity
  • PSC Very Low
  • CCS Medium
  • HBCU
  • PSC Yes
  • CCS No
  • % White
  • PSC 0%
  • CCS 58%
  • % Asian
  • PSC 1%
  • CCS 4%
  • % Black
  • PSC 91%
  • CCS 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • PSC 1%
  • CCS 4%
  • % Native American
  • PSC 0%
  • CCS 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • PSC 0%
  • CCS 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • PSC 2%
  • CCS 4%
  • % International
  • PSC 5%
  • CCS 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • PSC 0%
  • CCS 11%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • PSC 40%
  • CCS 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • PSC 29%
  • CCS 19%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • PSC Yes
  • CCS Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • PSC No
  • CCS No
  • Meal Plan
  • PSC Yes
  • CCS Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • PSC Yes
  • CCS No
  • Daycare Facility
  • PSC No
  • CCS No

Comparable Facts

Compare Philander Smith University in Little Rock, AR with College for Creative Studies in Detroit, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

College for Creative Studies is larger than PSC based on total student enrollment (1,433 students vs. 780 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Philander Smith University is located in Little Rock, AR (Midsize City setting); College for Creative Studies is in Detroit, MI (Large City setting).
  • Philander Smith University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. College for Creative Studies is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Philander Smith University 11:1; College for Creative Studies 10:1.

PSC vs. CCS Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PSC or CCS? 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 CCS ($14,082 vs. $36,055).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Philander Smith University are 34.5% lower than at College for Creative Studies ($10,000 vs. $15,272).
  • College for Creative Studies is 309.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than PSC (about $40,336 more per year; $53,350.00 vs. $13,014.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 309.9% higher at CCS than at Philander Smith University (about $40,336 more per year; $53,350.00 vs. $13,014.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Philander Smith University than at College for Creative Studies (99% vs. 98%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by College for Creative Studies students is 110.8% larger than aid received by Philander Smith University students ($30,108 vs. $14,283).

PSC vs. CCS Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, PSC or CCS? 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 CCS and PSC.

  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: PSC - Not reported; CCS - Test-free.
  • Accepted freshman CCS students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.19) than students at PSC (3.04).

PSC vs. CCS Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for PSC and CCS? 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).

  • College for Creative Studies's six-year graduation rate (57%) is higher than Philander Smith University's (31%).
  • Graduates from College for Creative Studies earn a median of about $19,300 more per year than PSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,100 vs. $26,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, College for Creative Studies graduates have a $4,000 lower median loan debt than PSC graduates ($27,000 vs. $31,000).
  • Among borrowers, CCS graduates have an estimated $41 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PSC graduates ($279 vs. $320).
  • More CCS graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PSC students, three years after graduation. (60% 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.