Francis Marion University vs. South Carolina State University

Should I go to Francis Marion University or South Carolina State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Francis Marion University or South Carolina State 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
Francis Marion University vs. South Carolina State University comparison
Francis Marion University South Carolina State University College 3 College 4
Francis Marion University South Carolina State University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Francis Marion University South Carolina State University
Location Florence, SC Orangeburg, SC
Setting Small Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 4,045 2,649
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #942 #1011
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fmarion.edu scsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Francis Marion University South Carolina State University
Tuition (In State) $10,384 $9,528
Tuition (Out of State) $20,768 $20,218
Room & Board $8,230 $9,000
Avg Net Price $12,614 $17,435
Avg Grant Aid $10,108 $15,873
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 96%

Admission

Francis Marion University South Carolina State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,523 6,833
Admitted 2,921 5,733
Acceptance Rate 82.9% 83.9%
Enrolled % 21% 15.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.89 3.17
Typical High School Grades A- B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 15/22 15/19
SAT Range 890/1123 800/1050
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jul 31, 2025

Academics

Francis Marion University South Carolina State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Work and Family Studies (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Health Professions (9%)

Outcomes

Francis Marion University South Carolina State University
Graduation Rate 42% 35%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $36,200 $31,000
Making Student Loan Payments 42% 27%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,000 $33,205
Median Loan Payment $320 $343

Diversity

Francis Marion University South Carolina State University
% Men 33% 44%
% Women 67% 56%
Racial Diversity Very High Extremely Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 46% 2%
% Black 47% 96%
% Hispanic 2% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 0%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

Francis Marion University South Carolina State University
% In-State 95% 77%
% Out-of-State 4% 23%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Francis Marion University is larger than than South Carolina State University based on total student enrollment (4,045 students vs. 2,649 students)

Francis Marion University vs. South Carolina State University Cost Comparison

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

  • Francis Marion University is 9% more expensive to attend than South Carolina State University for in-state tuition ($10,384.00 vs. $9,528.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.7% higher at Francis Marion University than South Carolina State University ($20,768.00 vs. $20,218.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Francis Marion University than South Carolina State University ($12,614 vs. $17,435)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Francis Marion University are 9.4% lower than costs at South Carolina State University ($8,230 vs. $9,000)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Francis Marion University than South Carolina State University (98% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by South Carolina State University students is 57% larger than aid received Francis Marion University ($15,873 vs. $10,108)

Francis Marion University vs. South Carolina State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Francis Marion University (927) is 167 points higher than at South Carolina State University (760)
  • Incoming Francis Marion University students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (20) than students at South Carolina State University (16)
  • Accepted freshman Francis Marion University students have a 0.72 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at South Carolina State University (3.17)
  • South Carolina State University has a higher acceptance rate (83.9%) than Francis Marion University (82.9%)

Francis Marion University vs. South Carolina State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Francis Marion University or South Carolina State 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 South Carolina State University and Francis Marion University.

  • The graduation rate at Francis Marion University is higher than South Carolina State University (42% vs. 35%)
  • Graduates from Francis Marion University earn on average $5,200 more per year than South Carolina State University graduates after ten years. ($36,200 vs. $31,000)
  • Francis Marion University students graduate with a $2,205 lower median federal student loan debt than South Carolina State University graduates. ($31,000 vs. $33,205)
  • Francis Marion University graduates are paying $23 less per month on federal student loans than South Carolina State University graduates. ($320 vs. $343)
  • More Francis Marion University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former South Carolina State University 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/