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Compare Francis Marion University vs South Carolina State University

Florence, SC · Orangeburg, SC

Francis Marion UniversitySouth Carolina State University
Cost
Price after aid (average)$11,386/yr$18,097/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$9,723/yr$16,846/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$27,000$31,000
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$9,449/yr$16,968/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$11,582/yr$20,449/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$13,788/yr$22,587/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$17,435/yr$24,523/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$286/mo$329/mo
Room & board (on campus)$9,432/yr$9,000/yr
Room & board (off campus)$9,432/yr$10,000/yr
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$1,238/yr$2,000/yr
Other living costs (on campus)$4,376/yr$8,000/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$23,850/yr$30,015/yr
Tuition (in-state)$11,160/yr$11,060/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$21,544/yr$21,750/yr
Students with Pell Grants38%70%
Students taking federal loans38%67%
Getting in
Students who get accepted86%83%
SAT range (middle 50%)870–1115No data reported
SAT average1015No data reported
ACT range (middle 50%)16–24No data reported
ACT sections (middle 50%)English 15–23 · Math 16–21No data reported
Admissions data fromFall 2023Fall 2023
Applications received3,4899,830
Students accepted2,8698,034
Students who enrolled6321,079
Accepted students who enroll22%13%
Enrolled who sent SAT scores19%No data reported
Enrolled who sent ACT scores15%No data reported
High-school GPARequiredRequired
High-school transcriptRequiredRequired
EssayOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Recommendation lettersOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Class rankOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
College-prep programOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Demonstrated competenciesNot consideredNot considered
Work experienceNot consideredOptional (considered if sent)
English proficiency testRequiredRequired
Other admission testsNot consideredNot considered
Legacy consideredNot consideredNot considered
SAT/ACT policyOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate43%37%
Freshmen who come back70%56%
Typical earnings 10 years in$43,888/yr$38,262/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$29,906–$65,809$22,900–$55,233
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)45%38%
White students graduating49%33%
Black students graduating37%37%
Hispanic students graduating48%0%
Asian students graduating54%No data reported
Typical earnings 6 years in$36,304/yr$30,064/yr
Earn more than a HS grad63%54%
Graduate on time24%21%
Pell students who graduate39%37%
First-gen students who finish42%36%
Low-income students who finish36%34%
Students who transfer out37%27%
Typical earnings 8 years in$38,848/yr$34,470/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsBusiness, Management & Marketing 22% · Health Professions 21% · Psychology 11%Business, Management & Marketing 17% · Family & Consumer Sciences 13% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 12%
Most popular programBusiness, Management & Marketing — 22% of degreesBusiness, Management & Marketing — 17% of degrees
2nd most popular programHealth Professions — 21% of degreesFamily & Consumer Sciences — 13% of degrees
3rd most popular programPsychology — 11% of degreesBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 12% of degrees
4th most popular programBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 10% of degreesHomeland Security & Protective Services — 8% of degrees
5th most popular programEducation — 9% of degreesEducation — 7% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions — $103,703/yrEducational Administration and Supervision — $84,200/yr
Degrees in STEM19%24%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment2,6282,934
Students per professor13 : 119 : 1
Graduate students420292
Average professor pay$8,506/mo$8,174/mo
Full-time professors68%100%
Fully onlineNoNo
Accredited bySouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on CollegesSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Median family income$30,782$22,852
SettingRural (fringe)Town (distant)
LocationFlorence, SCOrangeburg, SC
RegionSoutheastSoutheast
Founded19571896
Public or privatePublicPublic
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationMaster's Colleges & Universities: Medium ProgramsMaster's Colleges & Universities: Small Programs
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students3.1%0.1%
Men36%45%
Women64%55%
White students46%1.2%
Black students38%90%
Hispanic or Latino students6.5%0.1%
Asian students1.3%0.2%
Two or more races4.1%4.3%
Other / not reported1.3%3.8%
Special typeNoneHBCU
First-generation students36%36%
Part-time students5.9%8.4%
Students age 25+8.2%4.6%
Spent on teaching per student$13,853/yr$8,130/yr
Endowment$51.8M$19.7M
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusYes — dorms on campus
Beds in campus housing1,5391,460
Required to live on campusNoNo
Room charge (campus housing)$4,670/yr$6,400/yr
Meal plan charge$4,228/yr$3,290/yr
Meal plan offeredYesYes
Meals per weekVaries by week21 meals/week
Academic calendarSemesterSemester
Federal designationNoneLand-grant institution
Study abroadYesYes
Undergraduate researchYesNo
ROTCYes — ArmyYes — Army
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditNoNo
Credit for life experienceNoYes
Online classesYesYes
Whole degrees onlineNoYes
Weekend & evening classesNoYes
Teacher certificationYesYes
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyYesYes
Job placement for graduatesYesYes
On-campus day careYesNo
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesNoNo
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolYesNo
Credit for military trainingYesYes
Student veteran organizationNoNo
Tuition payment planYesYes
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionNoNo
Prepaid tuition planNoNo
Athletics
Athletics data from2024-252024-25
College sports levelNCAA Division II without footballNCAA Division I-FCS
Football teamNoYes
Varsity teams1310
Student athletes372375
Athletic scholarships$2.3M$2.6M
Athletics budget$6.3M$13.9M
Athletics revenue$6.3M$13.9M
Recruiting spend$26,214$154,166

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.