Francis Marion University vs. UTC

Should I go to Francis Marion University or The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Francis Marion University or UTC 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

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

Tennessee Tech Tennessee WKU Middle Tennessee State University Georgia State Memphis Austin Peay State University GS Ohio University Belmont CofC KSU
Francis Marion University vs. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga comparison
Francis Marion University The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga College 3 College 4
Francis Marion University The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Francis Marion University UTC
Location Florence, SC Chattanooga, TN
Setting Small Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 4,017 11,380
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #895 #815
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fmarion.edu utc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Francis Marion University UTC
Tuition (In State) $10,384 $8,232
Tuition (Out of State) $20,768 $16,296
Room & Board $8,898 $10,052
Avg Net Price $11,231 $13,801
Avg Grant Aid $11,674 $9,834
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 93%

Admission

Francis Marion University UTC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,489 9,096
Admitted 2,869 7,006
Acceptance Rate 82.2% 77%
Enrolled % 22% 34%
Avg High School GPA 3.89 3.61
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/23 20/25
SAT Range 900/1138 1005/1185
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline May 1, 2026

Academics

Francis Marion University UTC
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

Francis Marion University UTC
Graduation Rate 42% 39%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $36,200 $40,600
Making Student Loan Payments 42% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,000 $20,792
Median Loan Payment $320 $214

Diversity

Francis Marion University UTC
% Men 2% 5%
% Women 8% 8%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 46% 75%
% Black 47% 11%
% Hispanic 2% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 7%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Francis Marion University UTC
% In-State 92% 88%
% Out-of-State 6% 11%

Campus

Francis Marion University UTC
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

  • The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is larger than than Francis Marion University based on total student enrollment (11,380 students vs. 4,017 students)

Francis Marion University vs. UTC Cost Comparison

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

  • Francis Marion University is 26.1% more expensive to attend than UTC for in-state tuition ($10,384.00 vs. $8,232.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 27.4% higher at Francis Marion University than The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga ($20,768.00 vs. $16,296.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Francis Marion University than UTC ($11,231 vs. $13,801)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Francis Marion University are 13% lower than costs at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga ($8,898 vs. $10,052)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Francis Marion University than The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (98% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Francis Marion University students is 18.7% larger than aid received The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga ($11,674 vs. $9,834)

Francis Marion University vs. UTC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (1087) is 160 points higher than at Francis Marion University (927)
  • Incoming UTC students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Francis Marion University (20)
  • Accepted freshman Francis Marion University students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at UTC (3.61)
  • Francis Marion University has a higher acceptance rate (82.2%) than UTC (77%)

Francis Marion University vs. UTC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Francis Marion University is higher than The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (42% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga earn on average $4,400 more per year than Francis Marion University graduates after ten years. ($40,600 vs. $36,200)
  • The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga students graduate with a $10,208 lower median federal student loan debt than Francis Marion University graduates. ($20,792 vs. $31,000)
  • UTC graduates are paying $106 less per month on federal student loans than Francis Marion University graduates. ($214 vs. $320)
  • More UTC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Francis Marion University students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 42%)

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