
Florence, SCpublicwww.fmarion.edu/
Admit rate has ranged 68%–86% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Francis Marion University is a public liberal arts institution in Florence, South Carolina, that operates with a straightforward, accessible mission. It’s a place where a broad, 86% acceptance rate opens the door to a practical, career-focused education, particularly strong in the health sciences, business, and education. The campus vibe is active and community-oriented, offering a traditional college experience at a notably affordable net price, though its graduation rate signals a journey where student support and persistence are key parts of the story.
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
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Outcomes & value
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Campus & location
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Francis Marion's admissions process is designed to be accessible. With an of 86%, the university is categorized as "less selective." The middle 50% of admitted students who submit test scores have an SAT range between 870 and 1115, or an ACT range of 16 to 24. A significant portion of admitted students have strong high school GPAs, with over half reporting a GPA of 3.75 or higher. The application requires proper completion of all materials alongside a $41 non-refundable fee. The university does not have an open admission policy, requiring the reporting of admissions procedures. While sources discuss Early Decision strategies in general, none of the provided sources specify whether FMU offers Early Decision, nor do they provide data on rate or whether demonstrated interest is a considered factor in admissions.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
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Academics at FMU are built on a strong liberal arts foundation, supporting over 75 majors and courses of study. The curriculum is designed to give every student a foundation in the liberal arts and humanities. The most popular majors reflect a strong orientation toward professional and pre-professional tracks. For 2024 graduates, the most popular majors were Biology/Biological Sciences (12%), Registered Nursing (10%), Psychology (10%), and Business. Other sources list Healthcare Management, Business, Nursing, Psychology, and Biology as the most popular degrees. The student-to-faculty ratio is 13:1. The university has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report for over two decades, with undergraduate programs in business, engineering, nursing, and psychology receiving national recognition.
Life at FMU is portrayed as an immersive college experience, whether students live on campus or commute. The Office of Student Life seeks to develop the student experience through platforms for self-expression and personal growth. The Campus Activities Board (CAB) plans social, cultural, and educational events aimed at creating lasting memories and diverse opportunities. The campus calendar is active, featuring movie nights, watch parties for big games, and various student events throughout the year. Student organizations, campus traditions, leadership opportunities, events, and service projects are central to connecting students. Reviews on housing, food, athletics, and clubs are available, indicating a typical residential campus life with organized activities.
The graduation rate at Francis Marion University is a central metric for student achievement. The six-year graduation rate for past cohorts has been reported in the high 30-percent range (e.g., 37.4% for Fall 2011, 39.3% for Fall 2012). More recent overall graduation rates are reported at 43%. The four-year graduation rate is notably lower, at 24%. Data on post-graduation earnings varies by source; one reports a median salary for graduates six years after graduation as $36,304, while another cites a median alumni salary of $37,675. The College Scorecard provides a wealth of data on typical earnings of graduates, among other outcomes.
Francis Marion University markets itself as "South Carolina's Most Affordable National University," and financial aid is a key part of that promise. A calculator is provided to estimate the after subtracting estimated grant and scholarship aid. The university states that 98% of full-time beginning undergraduates receive grant or scholarship aid. Average total aid awarded is reported as $11,988 per year, comprising federal, state, and institutional grants. The average net price after aid is a critical figure for affordability. Financial assistance is awarded once a student is enrolled in at least 6 undergraduate credit hours. The university automatically determines eligibility for federal Direct Stafford Loans (subsidized and unsubsidized) via the FAFSA. None of the provided sources indicate that FMU has a "no-loan" financial aid policy or that it meets 100% of demonstrated financial need without loans.
Francis Marion University stands out for its unambiguous commitment to providing an accessible, practical, and affordable public university education in South Carolina. Its identity is not built on exclusivity but on open gates—an 86% —leading to a curriculum deeply rooted in liberal arts but laser-focused on in-demand career paths like nursing, biology, and business. The campus life engine is deliberately stoked, with a dedicated Office of Student Life and CAB ensuring there's "always something happening," from movie nights to leadership programs, fostering a tight-knit community. While its graduation rates point to the challenges inherent in its mission, FMU's value proposition is clear: a recognized, ranked education (with national nods for business, nursing, engineering, and psychology) at a that makes a four-year degree a tangible reality for a broad swath of students. It's a university that chooses impact over prestige, measuring success in graduates and healthcare professionals for the region rather than in rejection letters.