PennWest California vs. Francis Marion University

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

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PennWest California vs. Francis Marion University comparison
PennWest California Francis Marion University College 3 College 4
PennWest California Francis Marion University
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Overview

PennWest California Francis Marion University
Location California, PA Florence, SC
Setting Town Fringe Small Suburban
Enrollment 6,509 4,045
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1033 #942
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website calu.edu fmarion.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

PennWest California Francis Marion University
Tuition (In State) $7,716 $10,384
Tuition (Out of State) $11,574 $20,768
Room & Board $10,416 $8,230
Avg Net Price - $12,614
Avg Grant Aid $0 $10,108
% Receiving Grant Aid 0% 98%

Admission

PennWest California Francis Marion University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 3,523
Admitted - 2,921
Acceptance Rate 82.9%
Enrolled % 21%
Avg High School GPA 3.31 3.89
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24 15/22
SAT Range 940/1150 890/1123
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 22, 2024

Academics

PennWest California Francis Marion University
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)

Outcomes

PennWest California Francis Marion University
Graduation Rate 53% 42%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,500 $36,200
Making Student Loan Payments 64% 42%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $31,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $320

Diversity

PennWest California Francis Marion University
% Men 39% 33%
% Women 61% 67%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 77% 46%
% Black 12% 47%
% Hispanic 3% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

PennWest California Francis Marion University
% In-State 86% 95%
% Out-of-State 13% 4%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • PennWest California is larger than than Francis Marion University based on total student enrollment (6,509 students vs. 4,045 students)

PennWest California vs. Francis Marion University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PennWest California or Francis Marion University?

  • Francis Marion University is 34.6% more expensive to attend than PennWest California for in-state tuition ($10,384.00 vs. $7,716.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 79.4% higher at Francis Marion University than PennWest California ($20,768.00 vs. $11,574.00)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Francis Marion University are 26.6% lower than costs at PennWest California ($8,230 vs. $10,416)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Francis Marion University than PennWest California (98% vs. 0%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Francis Marion University students is ?% larger than aid received PennWest California ($10,108 vs. $0)

Which college is harder to get into, PennWest California 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 PennWest California .

  • The average SAT score at Francis Marion University (927) is 5 points higher than at PennWest California (922)
  • Incoming PennWest California students have at the same average ACT score (20) as students at Francis Marion University (20)
  • Accepted freshman Francis Marion University students have a 0.58 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at PennWest California (3.31)

PennWest California vs. Francis Marion University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, PennWest California 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 PennWest California.

  • The graduation rate at PennWest California is higher than Francis Marion University (53% vs. 42%)
  • Graduates from PennWest California earn on average $6,300 more per year than Francis Marion University graduates after ten years. ($42,500 vs. $36,200)
  • PennWest California students graduate with a $6,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Francis Marion University graduates. ($25,000 vs. $31,000)
  • PennWest California graduates are paying $62 less per month on federal student loans than Francis Marion University graduates. ($258 vs. $320)
  • More PennWest California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Francis Marion University students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 42%)

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