Furman vs. Lawrence

Deciding between Furman University and Lawrence University? 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.

Furman University
Lawrence University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Furman Greenville, SC
  • Lawrence Appleton, WI
  • Setting
  • Furman Large Suburban
  • Lawrence Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Furman 2,554
  • Lawrence 1,417
  • Type
  • Furman Private 4 Year
  • Lawrence Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Furman #104
  • Lawrence #202
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Furman -
  • Lawrence -
  • Status
  • Furman Non-profit
  • Lawrence Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Furman
  • Lawrence

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Furman $59,770
  • Lawrence $56,982
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Furman $59,770
  • Lawrence $56,982
  • Room & Board
  • Furman $16,504
  • Lawrence $12,165
  • Average Net Price
  • Furman $34,086
  • Lawrence $27,161
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Furman $42,811
  • Lawrence $42,688
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Furman 100%
  • Lawrence 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Furman 10,813
  • Lawrence 3,270
  • Admitted
  • Furman 4,644
  • Lawrence 2,091
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Furman 42.9%
  • Lawrence 63.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Furman 13.1%
  • Lawrence 16.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Furman 1350
  • Lawrence 1310
  • Typical ACT score
  • Furman 30
  • Lawrence 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Furman 3.61
  • Lawrence 3.52
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Furman A-
  • Lawrence A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Furman Very High
  • Lawrence Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Furman Low
  • Lawrence Low
  • ACT Range
  • Furman 28/32
  • Lawrence 24/31
  • SAT Range
  • Furman 1260/1430
  • Lawrence 1200/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Furman Test optional
  • Lawrence Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Furman Jan 15, 2027
  • Lawrence Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Furman 10:1
  • Lawrence 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Furman
    • Social Sciences (19%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
  • Lawrence
    • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Furman 87%
  • Lawrence 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Furman $54,300
  • Lawrence $45,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Furman 82%
  • Lawrence 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Furman $25,443
  • Lawrence $27,350
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Furman $263
  • Lawrence $282

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Furman 41%
  • Lawrence 48%
  • % Women
  • Furman 59%
  • Lawrence 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Furman Low
  • Lawrence Medium
  • HBCU
  • Furman No
  • Lawrence No
  • % White
  • Furman 78%
  • Lawrence 70%
  • % Asian
  • Furman 2%
  • Lawrence 5%
  • % Black
  • Furman 5%
  • Lawrence 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Furman 4%
  • Lawrence 7%
  • % Native American
  • Furman 0%
  • Lawrence 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Furman 0%
  • Lawrence 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Furman 2%
  • Lawrence 4%
  • % International
  • Furman 6%
  • Lawrence 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Furman 2%
  • Lawrence 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Furman 29%
  • Lawrence 28%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Furman 62%
  • Lawrence 62%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Furman Yes
  • Lawrence Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Furman No
  • Lawrence No
  • Meal Plan
  • Furman Yes
  • Lawrence Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Furman No
  • Lawrence No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Furman No
  • Lawrence No

Comparable Facts

Compare Furman University in Greenville, SC with Lawrence University in Appleton, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Furman University is larger than Lawrence based on total student enrollment (2,554 students vs. 1,417 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Furman University is located in Greenville, SC (Large Suburban setting); Lawrence University is in Appleton, WI (Small City setting).
  • Furman University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Lawrence University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Furman University 10:1; Lawrence University 7:1.

Furman vs. Lawrence Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Furman or Lawrence? 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 Lawrence University than Furman ($27,161 vs. $34,086).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lawrence University are 26.3% lower than at Furman University ($12,165 vs. $16,504).
  • Furman University is 4.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lawrence (about $2,788 more per year; $59,770.00 vs. $56,982.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.9% higher at Furman than at Lawrence University (about $2,788 more per year; $59,770.00 vs. $56,982.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Furman University as at Lawrence University (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Furman University students is 0.3% larger than aid received by Lawrence University students ($42,811 vs. $42,688).

Furman vs. Lawrence Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Furman or Lawrence? 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 Lawrence and Furman.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Furman University (1350) is 40 points higher than at Lawrence (1310).
  • Incoming Furman students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 27 at Lawrence).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Furman University 1260/1430; Lawrence University 1200/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Furman University 28/32; Lawrence University 24/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Furman - Test optional; Lawrence - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Furman Jan 15, 2027; Lawrence Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Furman students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at Lawrence (3.52).
  • Lawrence has a higher acceptance rate (63.9%) than Furman (42.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.1% at Furman vs. 16.8% at Lawrence.

Furman vs. Lawrence Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Furman and Lawrence? 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).

  • Furman University's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Lawrence University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Furman University earn a median of about $8,700 more per year than Lawrence graduates about ten years after starting college ($54,300 vs. $45,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Furman University graduates have a $1,907 lower median loan debt than Lawrence graduates ($25,443 vs. $27,350).
  • Among borrowers, Furman graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lawrence graduates ($263 vs. $282).
  • More Furman graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lawrence students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 76%)

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.