Francis Marion University vs. Bluefield University

Deciding between Francis Marion University and Bluefield University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Francis Marion University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Francis Marion University Florence, SC
  • Bluefield University Bluefield, VA
  • Setting
  • Francis Marion University Small Suburban
  • Bluefield University Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Francis Marion University 4,112
  • Bluefield University 959
  • Type
  • Francis Marion University Public 4 Year
  • Bluefield University Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Francis Marion University #862
  • Bluefield University
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Francis Marion University -
  • Bluefield University Baptist
  • Status
  • Francis Marion University Non-profit
  • Bluefield University Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Francis Marion University
  • Bluefield University

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Francis Marion University $11,160
  • Bluefield University $26,770
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Francis Marion University $21,544
  • Bluefield University $26,770
  • Room & Board
  • Francis Marion University $9,432
  • Bluefield University $9,480
  • Average Net Price
  • Francis Marion University $11,727
  • Bluefield University $22,216
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Francis Marion University $11,988
  • Bluefield University $20,341
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Francis Marion University 98%
  • Bluefield University 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Francis Marion University 3,616
  • Bluefield University 1,386
  • Admitted
  • Francis Marion University 3,124
  • Bluefield University 822
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Francis Marion University 86.4%
  • Bluefield University 59.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Francis Marion University 22.5%
  • Bluefield University 18.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Francis Marion University 990
  • Bluefield University
  • Typical ACT score
  • Francis Marion University 20
  • Bluefield University
  • Average High School GPA
  • Francis Marion University 3.89
  • Bluefield University 3.31
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Francis Marion University A
  • Bluefield University B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Francis Marion University Very Easy
  • Bluefield University Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Francis Marion University
  • Bluefield University Low
  • ACT Range
  • Francis Marion University 16/24
  • Bluefield University
  • SAT Range
  • Francis Marion University 870/1115
  • Bluefield University
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Francis Marion University Test optional
  • Bluefield University Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Francis Marion University
  • Bluefield University

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Francis Marion University 13:1
  • Bluefield University 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Francis Marion University
    • Business (23%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Psychology (10%)
  • Bluefield University
    • Business (42%)
    • Psychology (21%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (17%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
    • General Studies (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Francis Marion University 42%
  • Bluefield University 36%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Francis Marion University $36,200
  • Bluefield University $45,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Francis Marion University 42%
  • Bluefield University 51%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Francis Marion University $31,000
  • Bluefield University $20,834
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Francis Marion University $320
  • Bluefield University $215

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Francis Marion University 33%
  • Bluefield University 48%
  • % Women
  • Francis Marion University 67%
  • Bluefield University 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Francis Marion University Medium
  • Bluefield University Medium
  • HBCU
  • Francis Marion University No
  • Bluefield University No
  • % White
  • Francis Marion University 46%
  • Bluefield University 65%
  • % Asian
  • Francis Marion University 1%
  • Bluefield University 1%
  • % Black
  • Francis Marion University 47%
  • Bluefield University 22%
  • % Hispanic
  • Francis Marion University 2%
  • Bluefield University 4%
  • % Native American
  • Francis Marion University 0%
  • Bluefield University 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Francis Marion University 0%
  • Bluefield University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Francis Marion University 2%
  • Bluefield University 2%
  • % International
  • Francis Marion University 1%
  • Bluefield University 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Francis Marion University 1%
  • Bluefield University 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Francis Marion University 90%
  • Bluefield University 52%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Francis Marion University 7%
  • Bluefield University 26%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Francis Marion University in Florence, SC with Bluefield University in Bluefield, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Francis Marion University is larger than Bluefield University based on total student enrollment (4,112 students vs. 959 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Francis Marion University is located in Florence, SC (Small Suburban setting); Bluefield University is in Bluefield, VA (Remote Town setting).
  • Francis Marion University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Bluefield University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Francis Marion University 13:1; Bluefield University 14:1.

Francis Marion University vs. Bluefield University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Francis Marion University or Bluefield University? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Francis Marion University than Bluefield University ($11,727 vs. $22,216).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Francis Marion University are 0.5% lower than at Bluefield University ($9,432 vs. $9,480).
  • Bluefield University is 139.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Francis Marion University (about $15,610 more per year; $26,770.00 vs. $11,160.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 24.3% higher at Bluefield University than at Francis Marion University (about $5,226 more per year; $26,770.00 vs. $21,544.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Francis Marion University than at Bluefield University (98% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bluefield University students is 69.7% larger than aid received by Francis Marion University students ($20,341 vs. $11,988).

Francis Marion University vs. Bluefield University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Francis Marion University or Bluefield University? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Bluefield University and Francis Marion University.

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Francis Marion University 870/1115.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Francis Marion University 16/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Francis Marion University - Test optional; Bluefield University - Test-free.
  • Accepted freshman Francis Marion University students have a 0.58 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at Bluefield University (3.31).
  • Francis Marion University has a higher acceptance rate (86.4%) than Bluefield University (59.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.5% at Francis Marion University vs. 18.5% at Bluefield University.

Francis Marion University vs. Bluefield University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Francis Marion University and Bluefield University? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Francis Marion University's six-year graduation rate (42%) is higher than Bluefield University's (36%).
  • Graduates from Bluefield University earn a median of about $9,500 more per year than Francis Marion University graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,700 vs. $36,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Bluefield University graduates have a $10,166 lower median loan debt than Francis Marion University graduates ($20,834 vs. $31,000).
  • Among borrowers, Bluefield University graduates have an estimated $105 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Francis Marion University graduates ($215 vs. $320).
  • More Bluefield University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Francis Marion University students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 42%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.