South Carolina State University vs FMU-Florence
South Carolina State University and Francis Marion University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning in South Carolina, offer unique educational experiences to their students. South Carolina State University, a historically Black university, boasts a higher acceptance rate and a larger student body, while Francis Marion University, known for its strong liberal arts and sciences programs, has a more selective admissions process and a smaller student population. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs, with popular majors including business, education, and nursing. While South Carolina State University has a slightly higher graduation rate, Francis Marion University offers a more intimate learning environment with smaller class sizes. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more distinctions between these two excellent universities and make an informed decision about your academic journey.
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![]() Francis Marion University |
![]() South Carolina State University |
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Overview |
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Location | Florence, South Carolina | Orangeburg, South Carolina |
Campus setting | Suburb: Small | Town: Distant |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 66.0% | 69.0% |
![]() |
No | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 86.1% | 87.6% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$41
Graduate:
$41
|
Undergraduate:
$25
Graduate:
$25
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SAT range | 930 - 1120 | 800 - 1050 |
ACT range | 15 - 22 | 15 - 19 |
Students submitting SAT score | 20.0% | 6.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 19.0% | 9.0% |
Total number of applicants | 3,028 | 2,497 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,608 | 2,187 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 699 | 586 |
Yield rate | 26.8% | 26.8% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$24,351
Out of state:
$34,735
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In state:
$31,060
Out of state:
$41,750
|
Average net price | $13,299 | $20,901 |
Tuition |
In state:
$10,384
Out of state:
$20,768
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In state:
$9,528
Out of state:
$20,218
|
Room & board | $8,230 |
Room/dormitory:
$6,600
Meal plan:
$3,290
|
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
98.0%
Average amount $10,192 |
87.0%
Average amount $9,737 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
59.0%
Average amount $5,579 |
63.0%
Average amount $5,707 |
Students taking out private loans |
4.0%
Average amount $7,593 |
1.0%
Average amount $14,500 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
3,475
Men 33.3% Women 66.7% |
2,074
Men 44.7% Women 55.3% |
Graduate students |
448
Men 22.8% Women 77.2% |
300
Men 24.3% Women 75.7% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Very Low
|
Out-of-state students | 4.4% | 13.2% |
International students | 1.6% | 0.1% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Small | Town: Distant |
Dormitory capacity | 1,413 | 1,369 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | South Carolina North Carolina Florida Georgia Texas | South Carolina Georgia Florida North Carolina California |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 13:1 | 15:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 43.2% | 30.4% |
Dropout rate | 15.9% | 35.7% |
Transferred out | 38.3% | 30.0% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
Student Counseling and Personnel Services (Master's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees)
Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Social Work (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
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