CofC vs. Francis Marion University

Should I go to College of Charleston or Francis Marion University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CofC 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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College of Charleston vs. Francis Marion University comparison
College of Charleston Francis Marion University College 3 College 4
College of Charleston Francis Marion University
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Overview

CofC Francis Marion University
Location Charleston, SC Florence, SC
Setting Midsize City Small Suburban
Enrollment 11,729 4,017
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #435 #895
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cofc.edu fmarion.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CofC Francis Marion University
Tuition (In State) $12,518 $10,384
Tuition (Out of State) $36,398 $20,768
Room & Board $14,032 $8,898
Avg Net Price $20,806 $11,231
Avg Grant Aid $9,811 $11,674
% Receiving Grant Aid 81% 98%

Admission

CofC Francis Marion University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 26,683 3,489
Admitted 19,212 2,869
Acceptance Rate 72% 82.2%
Enrolled % 13.7% 22%
Avg High School GPA 3.94 3.89
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Challenging Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 24/29 17/23
SAT Range 1130/1300 900/1138
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 Jan 15, 2026

Academics

CofC Francis Marion University
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)

Outcomes

CofC Francis Marion University
Graduation Rate 63% 42%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,200 $36,200
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 42%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $31,000
Median Loan Payment $222 $320

Diversity

CofC Francis Marion University
% Men 2% 2%
% Women 7% 8%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 80% 46%
% Black 7% 47%
% Hispanic 5% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

CofC Francis Marion University
% In-State 38% 92%
% Out-of-State 61% 6%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • College of Charleston is larger than than Francis Marion University based on total student enrollment (11,729 students vs. 4,017 students)

CofC vs. Francis Marion University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CofC or Francis Marion University?

  • College of Charleston is 20.6% more expensive to attend than Francis Marion University for in-state tuition ($12,518.00 vs. $10,384.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 75.3% higher at CofC than Francis Marion University ($36,398.00 vs. $20,768.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Francis Marion University than CofC ($11,231 vs. $20,806)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Francis Marion University are 57.7% lower than costs at College of Charleston ($8,898 vs. $14,032)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Francis Marion University than College of Charleston (98% vs. 81%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Francis Marion University students is 19% larger than aid received College of Charleston ($11,674 vs. $9,811)

CofC vs. Francis Marion University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CofC 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 CofC .

  • The average SAT score at College of Charleston (1141) is 214 points higher than at Francis Marion University (927)
  • Incoming CofC students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Francis Marion University (20)
  • Accepted freshman CofC students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Francis Marion University (3.89)
  • Francis Marion University has a higher acceptance rate (82.2%) than CofC (72%)

CofC vs. Francis Marion University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CofC 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 CofC.

  • The graduation rate at CofC is higher than Francis Marion University (63% vs. 42%)
  • Graduates from College of Charleston earn on average $10,000 more per year than Francis Marion University graduates after ten years. ($46,200 vs. $36,200)
  • College of Charleston students graduate with a $9,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Francis Marion University graduates. ($21,500 vs. $31,000)
  • CofC graduates are paying $98 less per month on federal student loans than Francis Marion University graduates. ($222 vs. $320)
  • More CofC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Francis Marion University students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 42%)

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