Columbus State vs. Francis Marion University

Should I go to Columbus State University or Francis Marion University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Columbus State 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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Columbus State University vs. Francis Marion University comparison
Columbus State University Francis Marion University College 3 College 4
Columbus State University Francis Marion University
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Overview

Columbus State Francis Marion University
Location Columbus, GA Florence, SC
Setting Midsize City Small Suburban
Enrollment 7,479 4,045
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #995 #942
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website columbusstate.edu fmarion.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbus State Francis Marion University
Tuition (In State) $4,371 $10,384
Tuition (Out of State) $15,425 $20,768
Room & Board $12,080 $8,230
Avg Net Price $12,902 $12,614
Avg Grant Aid $9,147 $10,108
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 98%

Admission

Columbus State Francis Marion University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,870 3,523
Admitted 3,398 2,921
Acceptance Rate 87.8% 82.9%
Enrolled % 30.4% 21%
Avg High School GPA 3.07 3.89
Typical High School Grades B A-
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/23 15/22
SAT Range 900/1130 890/1123
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jun 30, 2024

Academics

Columbus State Francis Marion University
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (24%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • English and Literature (4%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)

Outcomes

Columbus State Francis Marion University
Graduation Rate 31% 42%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,400 $36,200
Making Student Loan Payments 37% 42%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $31,000
Median Loan Payment $268 $320

Diversity

Columbus State Francis Marion University
% Men 40% 33%
% Women 60% 67%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 51% 46%
% Black 37% 47%
% Hispanic 6% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Columbus State Francis Marion University
% In-State 92% 95%
% Out-of-State 5% 4%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Columbus State University is larger than than Francis Marion University based on total student enrollment (7,479 students vs. 4,045 students)

Columbus State vs. Francis Marion University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbus State or Francis Marion University?

  • Francis Marion University is 137.6% more expensive to attend than Columbus State for in-state tuition ($10,384.00 vs. $4,371.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 34.6% higher at Francis Marion University than Columbus State University ($20,768.00 vs. $15,425.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Francis Marion University than Columbus State ($12,614 vs. $12,902)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Francis Marion University are 46.8% lower than costs at Columbus State University ($8,230 vs. $12,080)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Columbus State University as Francis Marion University (98% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Francis Marion University students is 10.5% larger than aid received Columbus State University ($10,108 vs. $9,147)

Columbus State vs. Francis Marion University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbus State 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 Columbus State .

  • The average SAT score at Columbus State University (961) is 34 points higher than at Francis Marion University (927)
  • Incoming Columbus State students have at the same average ACT score (20) as students at Francis Marion University (20)
  • Accepted freshman Francis Marion University students have a 0.82 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at Columbus State (3.07)
  • Columbus State has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than Francis Marion University (82.9%)

Columbus State vs. Francis Marion University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbus State 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 Columbus State.

  • The graduation rate at Francis Marion University is higher than Columbus State University (42% vs. 31%)
  • Graduates from Columbus State University earn on average $1,200 more per year than Francis Marion University graduates after ten years. ($37,400 vs. $36,200)
  • Columbus State University students graduate with a $5,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Francis Marion University graduates. ($26,000 vs. $31,000)
  • Columbus State graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than Francis Marion University graduates. ($268 vs. $320)
  • More Francis Marion University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbus State students, three years after graduation. (42% vs. 37%)

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