Admit rate has ranged 53%–71% 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.
Furman University is a selective liberal arts college in Greenville, South Carolina, known for its rigorous academics, intimate class sizes, and picturesque campus. With an 83% four-year graduation rate and strong pre-professional programs, Furman blends traditional liberal arts with career preparation, though its student life culture has been critiqued as overly conventional. The university meets 86% of students' financial need, making its $34,947 average net price more accessible than its sticker cost suggests.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Demonstrated competencies
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
2,379
In-state tuition
$59,770
Out-of-state tuition
$59,770
Campus Safety
95% feel 'extremely safe'
Avg Class Size
14
Acceptance Rate
43%
4-Year Grad Rate
83%
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$68,635
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.3×
Median debt at graduation
$23,250
Graduation rate
79%
First-year retention
91%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
83%
Pell (lower-income) share
35%
First-generation share
12%
Endowment / student
$347,936
Financial health
2.3 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Economics$57,318
Business Administration, Management and Operations$47,260
Accounting and Related Services$42,682
Communication and Media Studies$40,140
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$37,568
Political Science and Government$36,668
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
6
Per 1,000 students
2.52
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.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
104
Summer high
87°F
Winter low
37°F
Annual rain
50.4"
Annual snow
2.4"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
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.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
144
Scholarly works
4,617
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.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
0.7%
Bottom → top quintile
31%
From bottom quintile
2%
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.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Furman University?
Furman University's acceptance rate is approximately 43% (Greenville, SC), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Furman University?
Admitted students at Furman University typically score 1260–1430 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Furman University cost?
At Furman University, the average net price (after aid) is about $30,308 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Furman University?
Furman University enrolls approximately 2,379 undergraduate students.
Where is Furman University located?
Furman University is located in Greenville, SC.
Admissions
Furman's admissions process is selective, with a 43% Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. from 10,813 applicants for the Class of 2029. The middle 50% SAT range is 1260-1430 (or 25-31 ACT), with 55% of admitted students applying Test-optionalA policy where you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you don't, the rest of your application carries more weight.. The average GPA hovers around 3.67, and 10% of the incoming class were valedictorians. Early Action is offered, with a Regular Decision deadline of January 15.
Furman offers over 70 majors and minors, emphasizing undergraduate research (39% participation) and senior capstones (90% completion). Signature features include:
Small classes: Average size of 14 students
Pre-professional strength: Strong track record for graduate school placement
: Faculty-led research projects available as early as freshman year
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.
English Language and Literature, General$35,060
Religion/Religious Studies$33,993
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.
Hands-on learning
Writing-intensive curriculum: 100% of programs require writing across disciplines
Notably, students can design their own majors, and the university highlights its 1:1 faculty advising.
Activities: The Furman University Student Activities Board (FUSAB) organizes concerts, comedians, and lectures, though some students describe the programming as 'milquetoast' (The Paladin student paper)
Safety: 95% of students report feeling 'extremely safe' on campus (Niche)
Housing: Dorms are noted to be 'very old and outdated' (Niche)
Clubs: Over 150 student organizations exist, from cultural groups to recreational sports
The honor code requires academic honesty, and the administration maintains strict policy enforcement.
While Furman's sticker price is high, financial aid is robust:
Net price: $34,947 after aid (US News)
Aid distribution: 86% of students receive some form of aid, with 83% getting grants averaging $23,041
Loans: Only 32% of students take out loans
Need-based: The university meets 86% of demonstrated financial need
The Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. Calculator helps families estimate actual costs.
Furman distinguishes itself through: 1. Undergraduate focus: With no graduate programs, resources concentrate on undergrads—evident in 1:1 faculty mentoring and early research opportunities 2. Location: Greenville provides internship access while maintaining a traditional college-town feel 3. Outcomes: Its 83% four-year graduation rate outperforms many peers 4. Balance: Combines liberal arts rigor (100% writing-intensive curriculum) with pre-professional preparation
The trade-off? Some students find campus culture overly conventional, but for those seeking a structured, high-achieving environment with strong support, Furman delivers.
Furman University logo · sourceLocation | About | Furman University · sourceFurman campus makes another 'Most Beautiful' list, Greenville City EDC takes note - News · sourceFurman University | Top Private Liberal Arts University in Greenville, SC · source
