VSU vs. Francis Marion University

Should I go to Valdosta State University or Francis Marion University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if VSU or Francis Marion University 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
Valdosta State University vs. Francis Marion University comparison
Valdosta State University Francis Marion University College 3 College 4
Valdosta State University Francis Marion University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

VSU Francis Marion University
Location Valdosta, GA Florence, SC
Setting Small City Small Suburban
Enrollment 10,209 4,045
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #982 #942
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website valdosta.edu fmarion.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

VSU Francis Marion University
Tuition (In State) $4,371 $10,384
Tuition (Out of State) $15,426 $20,768
Room & Board $8,922 $8,230
Avg Net Price $12,836 $12,614
Avg Grant Aid $9,875 $10,108
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 98%

Admission

VSU Francis Marion University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,975 3,523
Admitted 4,451 2,921
Acceptance Rate 89.5% 82.9%
Enrolled % 25.3% 21%
Avg High School GPA 3.23 3.89
Typical High School Grades B A-
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/21 15/22
SAT Range 950/1130 890/1123
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jun 15, 2025

Academics

VSU Francis Marion University
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)

Outcomes

VSU Francis Marion University
Graduation Rate 43% 42%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,300 $36,200
Making Student Loan Payments 41% 42%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $31,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $320

Diversity

VSU Francis Marion University
% Men 31% 33%
% Women 69% 67%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 51% 46%
% Black 36% 47%
% Hispanic 5% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

VSU Francis Marion University
% In-State 69% 95%
% Out-of-State 30% 4%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Valdosta State University is larger than than Francis Marion University based on total student enrollment (10,209 students vs. 4,045 students)

VSU vs. Francis Marion University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, VSU or Francis Marion University?

  • Francis Marion University is 137.6% more expensive to attend than VSU for in-state tuition ($10,384.00 vs. $4,371.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 34.6% higher at Francis Marion University than Valdosta State University ($20,768.00 vs. $15,426.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Francis Marion University than VSU ($12,614 vs. $12,836)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Francis Marion University are 8.4% lower than costs at Valdosta State University ($8,230 vs. $8,922)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Valdosta State University than Francis Marion University (99% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Francis Marion University students is 2.4% larger than aid received Valdosta State University ($10,108 vs. $9,875)

VSU vs. Francis Marion University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Valdosta State University (993) is 66 points higher than at Francis Marion University (927)
  • Incoming VSU 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 0.66 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at VSU (3.23)
  • VSU has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than Francis Marion University (82.9%)

VSU vs. Francis Marion University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, VSU or Francis Marion University? 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 Francis Marion University and VSU.

  • The graduation rate at VSU is higher than Francis Marion University (43% vs. 42%)
  • Graduates from Valdosta State University earn on average $4,100 more per year than Francis Marion University graduates after ten years. ($40,300 vs. $36,200)
  • Valdosta State University students graduate with a $6,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Francis Marion University graduates. ($25,000 vs. $31,000)
  • VSU graduates are paying $62 less per month on federal student loans than Francis Marion University graduates. ($258 vs. $320)
  • More Francis Marion University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VSU students, three years after graduation. (42% vs. 41%)

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