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South Carolina's Francis Marion University (FMU) is a public institution located in the town of Florence. The undergraduate population is just over 3,600, providing ample space to grow but also supporting a tight-knit community. These students can pick from over 75 majors or other academic programs that span the schools of business, education, liberal arts, and health sciences. Thus, Francis Marion students spend much of their time preparing for a very bright future.
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Overview of Francis Marion University (FMU)
However, FMU students are able to spend quality time outside of class as well. There are plenty of opportunities for expanding their horizons in the athletic and social spheres. To help them, FMU offers the Smith University Center which houses a gymnasium, fitness center, game room, and a swimming pool. Here, students can congregate, play ping-pong, or conduct a meeting of their favorite campus club.
Students can find fellowship and growth in one of the countless academic, leadership, or special interest clubs on campus. These clubs offer students an outlet for their ideas and passions while also helping them build a network of friends and future colleagues. Furthermore, clubs provide a way to build healthy habits for every student's personal and professional life.
General Information
School Type | Public |
---|---|
Campus Setting | Suburb: Small |
Campus Housing | Yes |
Student Faculty Ratio | 14:1 |
Graduation Rate | 44% |
Year Founded | 1970 |
Student Enrollment
Total Students4,240
3,800
440
Undergraduate Student
Male 1,216
Female 2,584
Graduate Student
Male 141
Female 299
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Top Rankings For Francis Marion University
FMU Acceptance Rate and Admissions
APPLICATIONS4,252
ACCEPTANCE2,891
Acceptance Rate68%
Enrollment 723
Admissions | |
---|---|
Application Fee | $41 |
High School GPA | Required |
High School Rank | Required |
High School Transcripts | Required |
College Prep Courses | Required |
Recommendations | Considered But Not Required |
Formal demonstration of competencies | Required |
SAT/ACT | Required |
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) | Required |
Application Deadline | Rolling |
Common Application Accepted | No |
FMU Tuition Cost & Financial Aid
Educational costs are a huge issue for everyone. Since FMU is a public institution, its tuition rates are lower for South Carolina residents. In fact, in-state students pay only around $12,000 for a year of tuition, books, and supplies, among other fees. Out of state students at FMU pay around $23,000 for the same academic experience.
Since living expenses hover around $11,000, South Carolina students who don't live at home face a gross cost of $24,000 for a year at FMU. Non-residents pay around $35,000. However, gross prices are only part of the story.
FMU's financial aid packages are very helpful for all students. After all applicable grants and scholarships are tallied, the overall average net price for a year at FMU runs only $12,000. This number goes down as low as $11,000 for the school's lowest income students. For households that earn over $110,000 the average net price is still affordable, with costs running only $17,000, including average living costs.
Average net price | 2018-2019 |
---|---|
Net Price | $12,973 |
Average Total Aid | $9,433 |
Students Receiving Financial Aid | 100% |
Room & Board | $8,211 |
Sticker Price
- Tuition In-State - $11,160
- Tuition Out-of-State - $21,544
- Books and Supplies - $1,157
- Room & Board - $8,211
- Other - $3,716
Academics
Francis Marion University attracts students from all over the South for its academics, campus life, and even the athletic programs. Since academics are generally at the top of everyone's list when it comes to a college search, researchers have sought the best available information to analyze. While they examine numerous metrics, the key numbers are the retention rate, graduation rate, and even transfers.
The retention rate is a measure of how many first-time, full-time students return to the Francis Marion campus for a second year. The reason this figure is so important is that when researchers see a student return to campus, they assume that student is satisfied with the school's curriculum, faculty, and campus resources. Since FMU reports 68% retention, it’s clear that students are learning and growing.
Interestingly, FMU's graduation rate is a respectable but somewhat low 44%. However, the rest of the story is that another 40% transfer out. Transfer students typically leave to find greater challenges or more specific academic programs. These highly motivated individuals thus can be assumed to become graduates, if not from FMU. Thus, FMU prepares up to 84% of its students for a diploma.
Retention
Rate
4 year
Graduation
Rate
6 year
Graduation
Rate
Student Population Total
Student Population 4,240
3,800
440
Most Popular Programs & Majors
(# of Diplomas Awarded by Subject)
Health Professions and Related Programs | 134 Total Graduates / 25% |
---|---|
Health/Health Care Administration/Management | 69 Graduates |
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | 64 Graduates |
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration, Other | 1 Graduates |
All Business Majors | 90 Total Graduates / 17% |
Business Administration and Management, General | 35 Graduates |
Accounting | 18 Graduates |
Marketing/Marketing Management, General | 17 Graduates |
Finance, General | 8 Graduates |
Management Information Systems, General | 8 Graduates |
All Biological & Biomedical Majors | 60 Total Graduates / 11% |
Biology/Biological Sciences, General | 60 Graduates |
All Psychology Majors | 58 Total Graduates / 11% |
Psychology, General | 58 Graduates |
All Education Majors | 53 Total Graduates / 10% |
Early Childhood Education and Teaching | 26 Graduates |
Elementary Education and Teaching | 18 Graduates |
Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching | 9 Graduates |
All Other Diplomas | 27% |
Outcome & Salary
There are no career guarantees for any student at FMU. However, both students and their families are interested to learn what sort of return on their educational investment they might reap with an FMU diploma. Among the top-earning graduates from FMU are the registered nursing students. These healthcare professionals report a median entry-level salary of over $60,000. At the lower end of the top five are the marketing students who start their careers with a median base salary of $34,000. In the middle of the pack are the business administration students who earn a median salary of around $35,000. Note that these salaries are entry-level and include neither bonuses nor benefits.
Graduates Salary | |
---|---|
College Grads Early Career Salary | $44,000 |
College Grads Average Salary | $55,562 |
College Grads Mid Career Salary | $77,400 |
Return on Investment (ROI) | |
---|---|
10 Year Salary Earnings Potential | $555,620 |
20 Year Salary Earnings Potential | $1,329,620 |
Cost of Education (Net Price) 4 Year | $51,892 |
10 Year Projected ROI | $503,728 |
20 Year Projected ROI | $1,277,728 |
No College Education Salary Comparison | |
---|---|
National Average Salary | $38,792 |
10 Year Projected Income | $387,920 |
20 Year Projected Income | $775,840 |
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