Francis Marion University vs. University of Charleston

Deciding between Francis Marion University and University of Charleston? 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
University of Charleston

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Francis Marion University Florence, SC
  • University of Charleston Charleston, WV
  • Setting
  • Francis Marion University Small Suburban
  • University of Charleston Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Francis Marion University 4,112
  • University of Charleston 3,062
  • Type
  • Francis Marion University Public 4 Year
  • University of Charleston Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Francis Marion University #862
  • University of Charleston #707
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Francis Marion University -
  • University of Charleston -
  • Status
  • Francis Marion University Non-profit
  • University of Charleston Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Francis Marion University
  • University of Charleston

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Francis Marion University $11,160
  • University of Charleston $33,800
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Francis Marion University $21,544
  • University of Charleston $33,800
  • Room & Board
  • Francis Marion University $9,432
  • University of Charleston $12,280
  • Average Net Price
  • Francis Marion University $11,727
  • University of Charleston $20,844
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Francis Marion University $11,988
  • University of Charleston $26,132
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Francis Marion University 98%
  • University of Charleston 97%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • Francis Marion University Calculate
  • University of Charleston Calculate
  • Applied
  • Francis Marion University 3,616
  • University of Charleston 2,573
  • Admitted
  • Francis Marion University 3,124
  • University of Charleston 1,583
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Francis Marion University 86.4%
  • University of Charleston 61.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Francis Marion University 22.5%
  • University of Charleston 16.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Francis Marion University 990
  • University of Charleston 1070
  • Typical ACT score
  • Francis Marion University 20
  • University of Charleston 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • Francis Marion University 3.89
  • University of Charleston 3.13
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Francis Marion University A
  • University of Charleston B
  • Admissions Standards
  • Francis Marion University Very Easy
  • University of Charleston Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Francis Marion University
  • University of Charleston Low
  • ACT Range
  • Francis Marion University 16/24
  • University of Charleston 19/23
  • SAT Range
  • Francis Marion University 870/1115
  • University of Charleston 985/1160
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Francis Marion University Test optional
  • University of Charleston Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Francis Marion University
  • University of Charleston

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Francis Marion University 13:1
  • University of Charleston 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Francis Marion University
    • Business (23%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Psychology (10%)
  • University of Charleston
    • Health Professions (26%)
    • Business (26%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Francis Marion University 42%
  • University of Charleston 51%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Francis Marion University $36,200
  • University of Charleston $45,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Francis Marion University 42%
  • University of Charleston 58%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Francis Marion University $31,000
  • University of Charleston $20,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Francis Marion University $320
  • University of Charleston $211

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Francis Marion University 33%
  • University of Charleston 61%
  • % Women
  • Francis Marion University 67%
  • University of Charleston 39%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Francis Marion University Medium
  • University of Charleston Low
  • HBCU
  • Francis Marion University No
  • University of Charleston No
  • % White
  • Francis Marion University 46%
  • University of Charleston 58%
  • % Asian
  • Francis Marion University 1%
  • University of Charleston 1%
  • % Black
  • Francis Marion University 47%
  • University of Charleston 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • Francis Marion University 2%
  • University of Charleston 2%
  • % Native American
  • Francis Marion University 0%
  • University of Charleston 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Francis Marion University 0%
  • University of Charleston 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Francis Marion University 2%
  • University of Charleston 0%
  • % International
  • Francis Marion University 1%
  • University of Charleston 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Francis Marion University 1%
  • University of Charleston 22%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Francis Marion University 90%
  • University of Charleston 51%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Francis Marion University 7%
  • University of Charleston 33%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Francis Marion University is larger than University of Charleston based on total student enrollment (4,112 students vs. 3,062 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Francis Marion University is located in Florence, SC (Small Suburban setting); University of Charleston is in Charleston, WV (Small City setting).
  • Francis Marion University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Charleston is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Francis Marion University 13:1; University of Charleston 15:1.

Francis Marion University vs. University of Charleston Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Francis Marion University or University of Charleston? 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 University of Charleston ($11,727 vs. $20,844).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Francis Marion University are 23.2% lower than at University of Charleston ($9,432 vs. $12,280).
  • University of Charleston is 202.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Francis Marion University (about $22,640 more per year; $33,800.00 vs. $11,160.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 56.9% higher at University of Charleston than at Francis Marion University (about $12,256 more per year; $33,800.00 vs. $21,544.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Francis Marion University than at University of Charleston (98% vs. 97%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Charleston students is 118% larger than aid received by Francis Marion University students ($26,132 vs. $11,988).

Francis Marion University vs. University of Charleston Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Francis Marion University or University of Charleston? 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 University of Charleston and Francis Marion University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Charleston (1070) is 80 points higher than at Francis Marion University (990).
  • Incoming University of Charleston students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 20 at Francis Marion University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Francis Marion University 870/1115; University of Charleston 985/1160.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Francis Marion University 16/24; University of Charleston 19/23.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Francis Marion University - Test optional; University of Charleston - Test-free.
  • Accepted freshman Francis Marion University students have a 0.76 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at University of Charleston (3.13).
  • Francis Marion University has a higher acceptance rate (86.4%) than University of Charleston (61.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.5% at Francis Marion University vs. 16.8% at University of Charleston.

Francis Marion University vs. University of Charleston Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Francis Marion University and University of Charleston? 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).

  • University of Charleston's six-year graduation rate (51%) is higher than Francis Marion University's (42%).
  • Graduates from University of Charleston earn a median of about $9,000 more per year than Francis Marion University graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,200 vs. $36,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Charleston graduates have a $10,500 lower median loan debt than Francis Marion University graduates ($20,500 vs. $31,000).
  • Among borrowers, University of Charleston graduates have an estimated $109 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Francis Marion University graduates ($211 vs. $320).
  • More University of Charleston graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Francis Marion University students, three years after graduation. (58% 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.