Francis Marion University vs. USC Aiken

Should I go to Francis Marion University or University of South Carolina Aiken? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Francis Marion University or USC Aiken 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 South Carolina Aiken comparison
Francis Marion University University of South Carolina Aiken College 3 College 4
Francis Marion University
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Overview

Francis Marion University USC Aiken
Location Florence, SC Aiken, SC
Setting Small Suburban Rural Fringe
Enrollment 4,045 3,840
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #942 #888
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fmarion.edu usca.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Francis Marion University USC Aiken
Tuition (In State) $10,384 $10,398
Tuition (Out of State) $20,768 $20,856
Room & Board $8,230 $8,376
Avg Net Price $12,614 $11,872
Avg Grant Aid $10,108 $9,891
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 100%

Admission

Francis Marion University USC Aiken
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,523 2,453
Admitted 2,921 1,855
Acceptance Rate 82.9% 75.6%
Enrolled % 21% 29.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.89 3.19
Typical High School Grades A- B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 15/22 18/24
SAT Range 890/1123 950/1180
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 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Francis Marion University USC Aiken
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)

Outcomes

Francis Marion University USC Aiken
Graduation Rate 42% 41%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $36,200 $39,600
Making Student Loan Payments 42% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,000 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $320 $268

Diversity

Francis Marion University USC Aiken
% Men 33% 36%
% Women 67% 64%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 46% 58%
% Black 47% 27%
% Hispanic 2% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 1% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

Francis Marion University USC Aiken
% In-State 95% 87%
% Out-of-State 4% 11%

Campus

Francis Marion University USC Aiken
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

  • Francis Marion University is larger than than USC Aiken based on total student enrollment (4,045 students vs. 3,840 students)

Francis Marion University vs. USC Aiken Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Francis Marion University or USC Aiken?

  • University of South Carolina Aiken is 0.1% more expensive to attend than Francis Marion University for in-state tuition ($10,398.00 vs. $10,384.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 0.4% higher at USC Aiken than Francis Marion University ($20,856.00 vs. $20,768.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Carolina Aiken than Francis Marion University ($11,872 vs. $12,614)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Francis Marion University are 1.8% lower than costs at University of South Carolina Aiken ($8,230 vs. $8,376)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of South Carolina Aiken than Francis Marion University (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Francis Marion University students is 2.2% larger than aid received University of South Carolina Aiken ($10,108 vs. $9,891)

Francis Marion University vs. USC Aiken Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of South Carolina Aiken (976) is 49 points higher than at Francis Marion University (927)
  • Incoming USC Aiken students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at Francis Marion University (20)
  • Accepted freshman Francis Marion University students have a 0.7 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at USC Aiken (3.19)
  • Francis Marion University has a higher acceptance rate (82.9%) than USC Aiken (75.6%)

Francis Marion University vs. USC Aiken Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Francis Marion University or USC Aiken? 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 USC Aiken and Francis Marion University.

  • The graduation rate at Francis Marion University is higher than University of South Carolina Aiken (42% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from University of South Carolina Aiken earn on average $3,400 more per year than Francis Marion University graduates after ten years. ($39,600 vs. $36,200)
  • University of South Carolina Aiken students graduate with a $5,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Francis Marion University graduates. ($26,000 vs. $31,000)
  • USC Aiken graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than Francis Marion University graduates. ($268 vs. $320)
  • More USC Aiken graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Francis Marion University students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 42%)

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