Cleveland State vs. Francis Marion University

Should I go to Cleveland State University or Francis Marion University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cleveland State or Francis Marion University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Cleveland State University vs. Francis Marion University comparison
Cleveland State University Francis Marion University College 3 College 4
Cleveland State University Francis Marion University
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Overview

Cleveland State Francis Marion University
Location Cleveland, OH Florence, SC
Setting Large City Small Suburban
Enrollment 14,385 4,045
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #769 #942
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website csuohio.edu fmarion.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cleveland State Francis Marion University
Tuition (In State) $12,144 $10,384
Tuition (Out of State) $17,359 $20,768
Room & Board $14,197 $8,230
Avg Net Price $15,719 $12,614
Avg Grant Aid $9,436 $10,108
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 98%

Admission

Cleveland State Francis Marion University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,570 3,523
Admitted 9,872 2,921
Acceptance Rate 85.3% 82.9%
Enrolled % 16.8% 21%
Avg High School GPA 3.31 3.89
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/25 15/22
SAT Range 880/1130 890/1123
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Cleveland State Francis Marion University
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)

Outcomes

Cleveland State Francis Marion University
Graduation Rate 30% 42%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,200 $36,200
Making Student Loan Payments 47% 42%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $31,000
Median Loan Payment $222 $320

Diversity

Cleveland State Francis Marion University
% Men 46% 33%
% Women 54% 67%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 64% 46%
% Black 17% 47%
% Hispanic 5% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 5% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

Cleveland State Francis Marion University
% In-State 85% 95%
% Out-of-State 7% 4%

Campus

Cleveland State Francis Marion University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Cleveland State University is larger than than Francis Marion University based on total student enrollment (14,385 students vs. 4,045 students)

Cleveland State vs. Francis Marion University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cleveland State or Francis Marion University?

  • Cleveland State University is 16.9% more expensive to attend than Francis Marion University for in-state tuition ($12,144.00 vs. $10,384.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 19.6% higher at Francis Marion University than Cleveland State University ($20,768.00 vs. $17,359.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Francis Marion University than Cleveland State ($12,614 vs. $15,719)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Francis Marion University are 72.5% lower than costs at Cleveland State University ($8,230 vs. $14,197)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Francis Marion University than Cleveland State University (98% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Francis Marion University students is 7.1% larger than aid received Cleveland State University ($10,108 vs. $9,436)

Cleveland State vs. Francis Marion University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cleveland State or Francis Marion University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Francis Marion University or Cleveland State .

  • The average SAT score at Cleveland State University (1028) is 101 points higher than at Francis Marion University (927)
  • Incoming Cleveland State students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Francis Marion University (20)
  • Accepted freshman Francis Marion University students have a 0.58 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at Cleveland State (3.31)
  • Cleveland State has a higher acceptance rate (85.3%) than Francis Marion University (82.9%)

Cleveland State vs. Francis Marion University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cleveland State or Francis Marion University? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Francis Marion University and Cleveland State.

  • The graduation rate at Francis Marion University is higher than Cleveland State University (42% vs. 30%)
  • Graduates from Cleveland State University earn on average $8,000 more per year than Francis Marion University graduates after ten years. ($44,200 vs. $36,200)
  • Cleveland State University students graduate with a $9,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Francis Marion University graduates. ($21,500 vs. $31,000)
  • Cleveland State graduates are paying $98 less per month on federal student loans than Francis Marion University graduates. ($222 vs. $320)
  • More Cleveland State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Francis Marion University students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 42%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/