Francis Marion University vs. UC Merced

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

Francis Marion University UC Merced
Location Florence, SC Merced, CA
Setting Small Suburban Rural Fringe
Enrollment 4,017 9,147
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #895 #542
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fmarion.edu ucmerced.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Francis Marion University UC Merced
Tuition (In State) $10,384 $11,834
Tuition (Out of State) $20,768 $42,611
Room & Board $8,898 $20,293
Avg Net Price $11,231 $13,232
Avg Grant Aid $11,674 $24,868
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 81%

Admission

Francis Marion University UC Merced
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,489 67,891
Admitted 2,869 26,598
Acceptance Rate 82.2% 39.2%
Enrolled % 22% 9.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.89 3.55
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 17/23 19/24
SAT Range 900/1138 960/1140
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Nov 30, 2025

Academics

Francis Marion University UC Merced
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 21:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Psychology (22%)
  • Biology (21%)
  • Engineering (14%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Business (12%)

Outcomes

Francis Marion University UC Merced
Graduation Rate 42% 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $36,200 N/A
Making Student Loan Payments 42% 64%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,000 $19,899
Median Loan Payment $320 $205

Diversity

Francis Marion University UC Merced
% Men 2% 5%
% Women 8% 4%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 46% 13%
% Black 47% 5%
% Hispanic 2% 48%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 1% 5%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Francis Marion University UC Merced
% In-State 92% 99%
% Out-of-State 6% 0%

Campus

Francis Marion University UC Merced
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

  • University of California Merced is larger than than Francis Marion University based on total student enrollment (9,147 students vs. 4,017 students)

Francis Marion University vs. UC Merced Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Francis Marion University or UC Merced?

  • University of California Merced is 14% more expensive to attend than Francis Marion University for in-state tuition ($11,834.00 vs. $10,384.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 105.2% higher at UC Merced than Francis Marion University ($42,611.00 vs. $20,768.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Francis Marion University than UC Merced ($11,231 vs. $13,232)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Francis Marion University are 128.1% lower than costs at University of California Merced ($8,898 vs. $20,293)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Francis Marion University than University of California Merced (98% vs. 81%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 113% larger than aid received Francis Marion University ($24,868 vs. $11,674)

Francis Marion University vs. UC Merced Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of California Merced (1025) is 98 points higher than at Francis Marion University (927)
  • Incoming UC Merced students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Francis Marion University (20)
  • Accepted freshman Francis Marion University students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at UC Merced (3.55)
  • Francis Marion University has a higher acceptance rate (82.2%) than UC Merced (39.2%)

Francis Marion University vs. UC Merced Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Francis Marion University or UC Merced? 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 UC Merced and Francis Marion University.

  • The graduation rate at UC Merced is higher than Francis Marion University (58% vs. 42%)
  • University of California Merced students graduate with a $11,101 lower median federal student loan debt than Francis Marion University graduates. ($19,899 vs. $31,000)
  • UC Merced graduates are paying $115 less per month on federal student loans than Francis Marion University graduates. ($205 vs. $320)
  • More UC Merced graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Francis Marion University students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 42%)

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