Francis Marion University vs. Black Hills State University

Deciding between Francis Marion University and Black Hills State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Francis Marion University
Black Hills State University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Francis Marion University Florence, SC
  • Black Hills State University Spearfish, SD
  • Setting
  • Francis Marion University Small Suburban
  • Black Hills State University Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Francis Marion University 4,112
  • Black Hills State University 3,346
  • Type
  • Francis Marion University Public 4 Year
  • Black Hills State University Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Francis Marion University #862
  • Black Hills State University #1001
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Francis Marion University -
  • Black Hills State University -
  • Status
  • Francis Marion University Non-profit
  • Black Hills State University Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Francis Marion University
  • Black Hills State University

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Francis Marion University $11,160
  • Black Hills State University $8,764
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Francis Marion University $21,544
  • Black Hills State University $11,866
  • Room & Board
  • Francis Marion University $9,432
  • Black Hills State University $12,160
  • Average Net Price
  • Francis Marion University $11,727
  • Black Hills State University $15,576
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Francis Marion University $11,988
  • Black Hills State University $6,070
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Francis Marion University 98%
  • Black Hills State University 76%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • Francis Marion University Calculate
  • Black Hills State University Calculate
  • Applied
  • Francis Marion University 3,616
  • Black Hills State University 1,690
  • Admitted
  • Francis Marion University 3,124
  • Black Hills State University 1,628
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Francis Marion University 86.4%
  • Black Hills State University 96.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Francis Marion University 22.5%
  • Black Hills State University 30.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Francis Marion University 990
  • Black Hills State University 1050
  • Typical ACT score
  • Francis Marion University 20
  • Black Hills State University 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • Francis Marion University 3.89
  • Black Hills State University 3.22
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Francis Marion University A
  • Black Hills State University B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Francis Marion University Very Easy
  • Black Hills State University Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Francis Marion University
  • Black Hills State University
  • ACT Range
  • Francis Marion University 16/24
  • Black Hills State University 18/24
  • SAT Range
  • Francis Marion University 870/1115
  • Black Hills State University 965/1135
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Francis Marion University Test optional
  • Black Hills State University Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Francis Marion University
  • Black Hills State University

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Francis Marion University 13:1
  • Black Hills State University 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Francis Marion University
    • Business (23%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Psychology (10%)
  • Black Hills State University
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Francis Marion University 42%
  • Black Hills State University 28%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Francis Marion University $36,200
  • Black Hills State University $38,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Francis Marion University 42%
  • Black Hills State University 62%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Francis Marion University $31,000
  • Black Hills State University $25,478
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Francis Marion University $320
  • Black Hills State University $263

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Francis Marion University 33%
  • Black Hills State University 37%
  • % Women
  • Francis Marion University 67%
  • Black Hills State University 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Francis Marion University Medium
  • Black Hills State University Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Francis Marion University No
  • Black Hills State University No
  • % White
  • Francis Marion University 46%
  • Black Hills State University 83%
  • % Asian
  • Francis Marion University 1%
  • Black Hills State University 0%
  • % Black
  • Francis Marion University 47%
  • Black Hills State University 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Francis Marion University 2%
  • Black Hills State University 5%
  • % Native American
  • Francis Marion University 0%
  • Black Hills State University 4%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Francis Marion University 0%
  • Black Hills State University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Francis Marion University 2%
  • Black Hills State University 4%
  • % International
  • Francis Marion University 1%
  • Black Hills State University 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Francis Marion University 1%
  • Black Hills State University 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Francis Marion University 90%
  • Black Hills State University 55%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Francis Marion University 7%
  • Black Hills State University 44%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Francis Marion University in Florence, SC with Black Hills State University in Spearfish, SD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Francis Marion University is larger than Black Hills State University based on total student enrollment (4,112 students vs. 3,346 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Francis Marion University is located in Florence, SC (Small Suburban setting); Black Hills State University is in Spearfish, SD (Remote Town setting).
  • Francis Marion University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Black Hills State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Francis Marion University 13:1; Black Hills State University 17:1.

Francis Marion University vs. Black Hills State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Francis Marion University or Black Hills State University? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Francis Marion University than Black Hills State University ($11,727 vs. $15,576).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Francis Marion University are 22.4% lower than at Black Hills State University ($9,432 vs. $12,160).
  • Francis Marion University is 27.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Black Hills State University (about $2,396 more per year; $11,160.00 vs. $8,764.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 81.6% higher at Francis Marion University than at Black Hills State University (about $9,678 more per year; $21,544.00 vs. $11,866.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Francis Marion University than at Black Hills State University (98% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Francis Marion University students is 97.5% larger than aid received by Black Hills State University students ($11,988 vs. $6,070).

Francis Marion University vs. Black Hills State University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Francis Marion University or Black Hills State University? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Black Hills State University and Francis Marion University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Black Hills State University (1050) is 60 points higher than at Francis Marion University (990).
  • Incoming Black Hills State University students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 20 at Francis Marion University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Francis Marion University 870/1115; Black Hills State University 965/1135.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Francis Marion University 16/24; Black Hills State University 18/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Francis Marion University - Test optional; Black Hills State University - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Francis Marion University students have a 0.67 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at Black Hills State University (3.22).
  • Black Hills State University has a higher acceptance rate (96.3%) than Francis Marion University (86.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.5% at Francis Marion University vs. 30.1% at Black Hills State University.

Francis Marion University vs. Black Hills State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Francis Marion University and Black Hills State University? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Francis Marion University's six-year graduation rate (42%) is higher than Black Hills State University's (28%).
  • Graduates from Black Hills State University earn a median of about $2,600 more per year than Francis Marion University graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,800 vs. $36,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Black Hills State University graduates have a $5,522 lower median loan debt than Francis Marion University graduates ($25,478 vs. $31,000).
  • Among borrowers, Black Hills State University graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Francis Marion University graduates ($263 vs. $320).
  • More Black Hills State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Francis Marion University students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 42%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.