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Florence, SC · Aiken, SC
| Francis Marion University | University of South Carolina Aiken | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $11,386/yr | $11,641/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $9,723/yr | $8,987/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $27,000 | $24,275 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $9,449/yr | $8,435/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $11,582/yr | $11,440/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $13,788/yr | $16,046/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $17,435/yr | $17,502/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $286/mo | $257/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $9,432/yr | $9,182/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $9,432/yr | $11,164/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,238/yr | $1,250/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $4,376/yr | $3,006/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $23,850/yr | $21,540/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $11,160/yr | $10,760/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $21,544/yr | $21,218/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 38% | 39% |
| Students taking federal loans | 38% | 43% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 86% | 79% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 870–1115 | 980–1220 |
| SAT average | 1015 | 1120 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 16–24 | 19–26 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 15–23 · Math 16–21 | English 17–25 · Math 17–25 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 3,489 | 2,905 |
| Students accepted | 2,869 | 2,316 |
| Students who enrolled | 632 | 616 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 22% | 27% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 19% | 30% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 15% | 15% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Recommendation letters | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Not considered | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 43% | 40% |
| Freshmen who come back | 70% | 67% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $43,888/yr | $45,603/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $29,906–$65,809 | $30,146–$68,565 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 45% | 46% |
| White students graduating | 49% | 45% |
| Black students graduating | 37% | 30% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 48% | 45% |
| Asian students graduating | 54% | 50% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $36,304/yr | $39,689/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 63% | 70% |
| Graduate on time | 24% | 23% |
| Pell students who graduate | 39% | 36% |
| First-gen students who finish | 42% | 42% |
| Low-income students who finish | 36% | 39% |
| Students who transfer out | 37% | 36% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $38,848/yr | $43,669/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 22% · Health Professions 21% · Psychology 11% | Business, Management & Marketing 28% · Health Professions 20% · Psychology 8% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 22% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 28% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Health Professions — 21% of degrees | Health Professions — 20% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Psychology — 11% of degrees | Psychology — 8% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 10% of degrees | Education — 8% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Education — 9% of degrees | Computer & Information Sciences — 7% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions — $103,703/yr | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $72,714/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 19% | 17% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 2,628 | 2,962 |
| Students per professor | 13 : 1 | 16 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 420 | 733 |
| Average professor pay | $8,506/mo | $8,537/mo |
| Full-time professors | 68% | 61% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Median family income | $30,782 | $38,484 |
| Setting | Rural (fringe) | Suburb (large) |
| Location | Florence, SC | Aiken, SC |
| Region | Southeast | Southeast |
| Founded | 1957 | 1961 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs | Master's Colleges & Universities: Small Programs |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 3.1% | 2% |
| Men | 36% | 39% |
| Women | 64% | 61% |
| White students | 46% | 57% |
| Black students | 38% | 22% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 6.5% | 9.7% |
| Asian students | 1.3% | 1.5% |
| Two or more races | 4.1% | 6.4% |
| Other / not reported | 1.3% | 0.8% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 36% | 33% |
| Part-time students | 5.9% | 13% |
| Students age 25+ | 8.2% | 18% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $13,853/yr | $10,925/yr |
| Endowment | $51.8M | $36.1M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 1,539 | 986 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $4,670/yr | $5,476/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $4,228/yr | $3,260/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | No data reported |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | Yes | Yes |
| ROTC | Yes — Army | Yes — Army |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | No | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | No | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | No |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | Yes | Yes |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | Yes |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | No | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division II without football | NCAA Division II without football |
| Football team | No | No |
| Varsity teams | 13 | 10 |
| Student athletes | 372 | 222 |
| Athletic scholarships | $2.3M | $1.8M |
| Athletics budget | $6.3M | $5.9M |
| Athletics revenue | $6.3M | $5.9M |
| Recruiting spend | $26,214 | $43,457 |
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.