Francis Marion University vs. University of South Carolina-Upstate

Deciding between Francis Marion University and University of South Carolina Upstate? 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

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Francis Marion University Florence, SC
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate Spartanburg, SC
  • Setting
  • Francis Marion University Small Suburban
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Francis Marion University 4,112
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 4,916
  • Type
  • Francis Marion University Public 4 Year
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Francis Marion University #862
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate #696
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Francis Marion University -
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate -
  • Status
  • Francis Marion University Non-profit
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Francis Marion University
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Francis Marion University $11,160
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate $11,588
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Francis Marion University $21,544
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate $23,090
  • Room & Board
  • Francis Marion University $9,432
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate $10,533
  • Average Net Price
  • Francis Marion University $11,727
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate $13,999
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Francis Marion University $11,988
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate $10,719
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Francis Marion University 98%
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 97%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • Francis Marion University Calculate
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate Calculate
  • Applied
  • Francis Marion University 3,616
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 4,682
  • Admitted
  • Francis Marion University 3,124
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 3,149
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Francis Marion University 86.4%
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 67.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Francis Marion University 22.5%
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 24%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Francis Marion University 990
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 1090
  • Typical ACT score
  • Francis Marion University 20
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • Francis Marion University 3.89
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 2.53
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Francis Marion University A
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate B-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Francis Marion University Very Easy
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Francis Marion University
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate Low
  • ACT Range
  • Francis Marion University 16/24
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 21/26
  • SAT Range
  • Francis Marion University 870/1115
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 1005/1175
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Francis Marion University Test optional
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Francis Marion University
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Francis Marion University 13:1
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Francis Marion University
    • Business (23%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Psychology (10%)
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate
    • Health Professions (26%)
    • Education (20%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Francis Marion University 42%
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 39%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Francis Marion University $36,200
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate $39,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Francis Marion University 42%
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 55%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Francis Marion University $31,000
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate $22,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Francis Marion University $320
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate $232

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Francis Marion University 33%
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 33%
  • % Women
  • Francis Marion University 67%
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 67%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Francis Marion University Medium
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate High
  • HBCU
  • Francis Marion University No
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate No
  • % White
  • Francis Marion University 46%
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 56%
  • % Asian
  • Francis Marion University 1%
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 3%
  • % Black
  • Francis Marion University 47%
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 29%
  • % Hispanic
  • Francis Marion University 2%
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 5%
  • % Native American
  • Francis Marion University 0%
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Francis Marion University 0%
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Francis Marion University 2%
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 4%
  • % International
  • Francis Marion University 1%
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Francis Marion University 1%
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Francis Marion University 90%
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 92%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Francis Marion University 7%
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 5%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of South Carolina Upstate is larger than Francis Marion University based on total student enrollment (4,916 students vs. 4,112 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Francis Marion University is located in Florence, SC (Small Suburban setting); University of South Carolina Upstate is in Spartanburg, SC (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Francis Marion University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of South Carolina Upstate is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Francis Marion University 13:1; University of South Carolina Upstate 15:1.

Francis Marion University vs. University of South Carolina-Upstate Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Francis Marion University or University of South Carolina-Upstate? 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 South Carolina-Upstate ($11,727 vs. $13,999).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Francis Marion University are 10.5% lower than at University of South Carolina Upstate ($9,432 vs. $10,533).
  • University of South Carolina Upstate is 3.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Francis Marion University (about $428 more per year; $11,588.00 vs. $11,160.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.2% higher at University of South Carolina-Upstate than at Francis Marion University (about $1,546 more per year; $23,090.00 vs. $21,544.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Francis Marion University than at University of South Carolina Upstate (98% vs. 97%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Francis Marion University students is 11.8% larger than aid received by University of South Carolina Upstate students ($11,988 vs. $10,719).

Francis Marion University vs. University of South Carolina-Upstate Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Francis Marion University or University of South Carolina-Upstate? 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 South Carolina-Upstate and Francis Marion University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of South Carolina Upstate (1090) is 100 points higher than at Francis Marion University (990).
  • Incoming University of South Carolina-Upstate students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 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 South Carolina Upstate 1005/1175.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Francis Marion University 16/24; University of South Carolina Upstate 21/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Francis Marion University - Test optional; University of South Carolina-Upstate - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Francis Marion University students have a 1.36 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at University of South Carolina-Upstate (2.53).
  • Francis Marion University has a higher acceptance rate (86.4%) than University of South Carolina-Upstate (67.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.5% at Francis Marion University vs. 24% at University of South Carolina-Upstate.

Francis Marion University vs. University of South Carolina-Upstate Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Francis Marion University and University of South Carolina-Upstate? 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).

  • Francis Marion University's six-year graduation rate (42%) is higher than University of South Carolina Upstate's (39%).
  • Graduates from University of South Carolina Upstate earn a median of about $3,100 more per year than Francis Marion University graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,300 vs. $36,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of South Carolina Upstate graduates have a $8,500 lower median loan debt than Francis Marion University graduates ($22,500 vs. $31,000).
  • Among borrowers, University of South Carolina-Upstate graduates have an estimated $88 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Francis Marion University graduates ($232 vs. $320).
  • More University of South Carolina-Upstate graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Francis Marion University students, three years after graduation. (55% 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.