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Francis Marion University
Florence, SC
Francis Marion University (FMU) is a public liberal arts university located in Florence, South Carolina. Established in 1970, FMU is named after the Revolutionary War hero Francis Marion, also known as the "Swamp Fox." The university offers a wide range of undergraduate degree programs in arts, sciences, business, education, and health sciences, as well as a few graduate programs.
FMU is known for its strong commitment to providing students with a quality education, personalized attention, and a supportive campus community. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 15:1, students benefit from small class sizes and close relationships with their professors. The university also offers various resources and support services, such as tutoring, career counseling, and internships, to ensure students' academic and personal success.
Located in the heart of Florence, FMU offers students a vibrant campus life with numerous extracurricular activities, clubs, and organizations. The university's athletic teams, known as the Patriots, compete at the NCAA Division II level and offer opportunities for students to engage in competitive sports such as basketball, soccer, volleyball, and golf. FMU also hosts various events, including concerts, art exhibits, and cultural performances, enriching the cultural and social experiences of its students.
In conclusion, Francis Marion University is a respected institution known for its commitment to academic excellence, personalized attention, and vibrant campus community. With a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, students have the opportunity to pursue their interests and achieve their academic goals. Whether it is the small class sizes, the supportive campus community, or the diverse extracurricular activities, FMU provides an environment that fosters growth and success for its students.
Francis Marion University is a public comprehensive higher education institution located in Florence, SC and set in a rural environment. This school uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 82%. The freshman retention rate at Francis Marion University is 64.56% and the six-year graduation rate is 39%.
Here are some current data on important things to consider about Francis Marion University.
Quick Facts
3,635
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
82%
Acceptance Rate
13:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
39%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to learn as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the university in order to improve your chances of being accepted. Discover some important information about admission at Francis Marion University.
According to the newest information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 2,920 in 2023. Francis Marion University has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores for the candidates who choose to submit them. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
Out of the number of applicants who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 21% and ACT scores 18%. 0.78% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 14.06% between 1,200 and 1,399, 39.84% between 1,000 and 1,199, 32.03% between 800 and 999, and 13.28% of the students between 600 and 799. The percent of new students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 24-29 was 13.39, 39.29 in the range between 18-23 and 47.32 between 12-17.
The average ACT score for all the enrolled students in 2023 was 19 while the average GPA was 3.91. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Francis Marion University.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 523 for the admitted students, while the average SAT Math score was 486.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is the percentage of college or university newcomers who return for their sophomore year. Why is that metric important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
As reported in 2023, the freshman retention rate for Francis Marion University was 64.56%.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. At this academic institution, the proportion of students graduating in six years is 39%.
Student Body
Making the choice of which school is the right fit for you is not easy. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by learning more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2023, the school enrolled 4,045 students.
That year, the institution had 4% of students coming from another state. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 3,635, 59 of which were foreign students. The school admitted a total of 174 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 908 male and 1,787 female full-time students in 2023. 12 full-time graduate men and 100 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
The significance of student diversity cannnot be denied, when it comes to the overall feeling of inclusion and beloning among the students of any school. An inclusive student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
This school had 34 Asian students and 1,055 Afro-American students in 2023. 113 undergrads at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 101 identified with more than one race. The school also had 1 student who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 15 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 32 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before submitting an application to any college or university, the financial component should be taken into account. Here are some data on the expenses that most students at this school have.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition cost for this university.
If you are an area resident, your tuition was $10,384. Tuition fees were $20,768 for students coming from a different state. For international students, tuition fees at this school came to $20,768, as well. Fees per academic year required of full-time students came to a total of $776 in 2023.
| Tuition | Fees | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $20,768 | $776 | $21,544 |
| In-State | $10,384 | $776 | $11,160 |
Books and Supplies
The approximate cost of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into account as another important expense. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,245.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What do colleges and universities typically charge for accommodation and meals?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Francis Marion University was $8,986 in 2023. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2023 added up to $5,016 for one academic year.
| Tuition | $ 10,384 |
| Room and Board | $ 8,986 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,245 |
| Total Expense | $ 20,615 |
Financial Aid
Getting some financial aid in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be very important for completing your studies. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Francis Marion University, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
The most recent records show that 482 freshmen received some sort of financial help. Students of this school received an average of $13,493 in financial help.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
There were 1,736 students who attained need-based financial aid of any kind. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated to be 1,843. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution came to $7,785,503, and state $7,435,835. The students of Francis Marion University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $1,038,009, and external in the amount of $646,440.
$7,660
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 157 students overall (including freshmen) at Francis Marion University in 2023. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 56 full-time freshman. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $941,070. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $549,868 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
13:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio represents the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Francis Marion University was 13:1: that means 13 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. This school has recently reported to have 232 faculty members. This number included 138 male and 194 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Francis Marion University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Francis Marion University: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Find out some details about social life at Francis Marion University.
It has a campus size of 832 acres.
Student Organizations
Participating in different student organizations can make your educational experience more interesting and fulfilling.
There are 61 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. That includes sororities and fraternities. 7 percent of male and 6 of female students are involved in different organizations at Francis Marion University. The student organization that gathers the largest number of students is Pre-Vet Club, followed by Phi Alpha Theta and NAACP. Other popular organizations among the students at Francis Marion University are Teaching Children of Poverty Scholars and Baptist Collegiate Ministries.
For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. For students who have a passion for media and communication, Francis Marion University publishes its own newspaper.
Student Services
At Francis Marion University, there are many amenities that make life on campus pleasant and safe.
There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. The school's dormitory entrances are operated electronically. There is a security patrol available 24/7. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Legal Services and Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of Francis Marion University.
All in all, campus life at Francis Marion University is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Francis Marion University.
Career Counselling
At Francis Marion University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Francis Marion University is located in Florence, SC.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Francis Marion University is 82%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Francis Marion University is 64.56%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.