Francis Marion University vs. NSU

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

Francis Marion University NSU
Location Florence, SC Norfolk, VA
Setting Small Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 4,045 5,783
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #942 #1008
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fmarion.edu nsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Francis Marion University NSU
Tuition (In State) $10,384 $5,752
Tuition (Out of State) $20,768 $16,920
Room & Board $8,230 $10,844
Avg Net Price $12,614 $14,652
Avg Grant Aid $10,108 $12,164
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 91%

Admission

Francis Marion University NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,523 8,884
Admitted 2,921 7,951
Acceptance Rate 82.9% 89.5%
Enrolled % 21% 16.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.89 2.9
Typical High School Grades A- B-
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 15/22 15/20
SAT Range 890/1123 840/1040
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 May 31, 2025

Academics

Francis Marion University NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Communication (7%)

Outcomes

Francis Marion University NSU
Graduation Rate 42% 33%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $36,200 $36,700
Making Student Loan Payments 42% 27%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,000 $31,000
Median Loan Payment $320 $320

Diversity

Francis Marion University NSU
% Men 33% 33%
% Women 67% 67%
Racial Diversity Very High Very Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 46% 5%
% Black 47% 84%
% Hispanic 2% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

Francis Marion University NSU
% In-State 95% 65%
% Out-of-State 4% 31%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Norfolk State University is larger than than Francis Marion University based on total student enrollment (5,783 students vs. 4,045 students)

Francis Marion University vs. NSU Cost Comparison

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

  • Francis Marion University is 80.5% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($10,384.00 vs. $5,752.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 22.7% higher at Francis Marion University than Norfolk State University ($20,768.00 vs. $16,920.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Francis Marion University than NSU ($12,614 vs. $14,652)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Francis Marion University are 31.8% lower than costs at Norfolk State University ($8,230 vs. $10,844)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Francis Marion University than Norfolk State University (98% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Norfolk State University students is 20.3% larger than aid received Francis Marion University ($12,164 vs. $10,108)

Francis Marion University vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Francis Marion University (927) is 119 points higher than at NSU (808)
  • Incoming Francis Marion University students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (20) than students at NSU (17)
  • Accepted freshman Francis Marion University students have a 0.99 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at NSU (2.9)
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than Francis Marion University (82.9%)

Francis Marion University vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Francis Marion University or NSU? 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 NSU and Francis Marion University.

  • The graduation rate at Francis Marion University is higher than Norfolk State University (42% vs. 33%)
  • Graduates from Norfolk State University earn on average $500 more per year than Francis Marion University graduates after ten years. ($36,700 vs. $36,200)
  • Norfolk State University and Francis Marion University graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($31,000 vs. $31,000)
  • Norfolk State University and Francis Marion University graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($320 vs. $320)
  • More Francis Marion University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (42% vs. 27%)

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