Francis Marion University vs. Fairmont State

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

Francis Marion University Fairmont State
Location Florence, SC Fairmont, WV
Setting Small Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 4,045 3,498
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #942 #979
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fmarion.edu fairmontstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Francis Marion University Fairmont State
Tuition (In State) $10,384 $6,022
Tuition (Out of State) $20,768 $15,638
Room & Board $8,230 $10,022
Avg Net Price $12,614 $10,794
Avg Grant Aid $10,108 $6,547
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 94%

Admission

Francis Marion University Fairmont State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,523 1,926
Admitted 2,921 1,897
Acceptance Rate 82.9% 98.5%
Enrolled % 21% 37%
Avg High School GPA 3.89 3.36
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 15/22 18/23
SAT Range 890/1123 820/1050
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline

Academics

Francis Marion University Fairmont State
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)

Outcomes

Francis Marion University Fairmont State
Graduation Rate 42% 33%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $36,200 $37,600
Making Student Loan Payments 42% 43%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,000 $22,000
Median Loan Payment $320 $227

Diversity

Francis Marion University Fairmont State
% Men 33% 41%
% Women 67% 59%
Racial Diversity Very High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 46% 86%
% Black 47% 5%
% Hispanic 2% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Francis Marion University Fairmont State
% In-State 95% 88%
% Out-of-State 4% 11%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Francis Marion University is larger than than Fairmont State based on total student enrollment (4,045 students vs. 3,498 students)

Francis Marion University vs. Fairmont State Cost Comparison

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

  • Francis Marion University is 72.4% more expensive to attend than Fairmont State for in-state tuition ($10,384.00 vs. $6,022.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 32.8% higher at Francis Marion University than Fairmont State University ($20,768.00 vs. $15,638.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Fairmont State University than Francis Marion University ($10,794 vs. $12,614)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Francis Marion University are 21.8% lower than costs at Fairmont State University ($8,230 vs. $10,022)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Francis Marion University than Fairmont State University (98% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Francis Marion University students is 54.4% larger than aid received Fairmont State University ($10,108 vs. $6,547)

Francis Marion University vs. Fairmont State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Francis Marion University or Fairmont State ? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Fairmont State or Francis Marion University .

  • The average SAT score at Fairmont State University (962) is 35 points higher than at Francis Marion University (927)
  • Incoming Fairmont State students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at Francis Marion University (20)
  • Accepted freshman Francis Marion University students have a 0.53 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at Fairmont State (3.36)
  • Fairmont State has a higher acceptance rate (98.5%) than Francis Marion University (82.9%)

Francis Marion University vs. Fairmont State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Francis Marion University or Fairmont State ? 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 Fairmont State and Francis Marion University.

  • The graduation rate at Francis Marion University is higher than Fairmont State University (42% vs. 33%)
  • Graduates from Fairmont State University earn on average $1,400 more per year than Francis Marion University graduates after ten years. ($37,600 vs. $36,200)
  • Fairmont State University students graduate with a $9,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Francis Marion University graduates. ($22,000 vs. $31,000)
  • Fairmont State graduates are paying $93 less per month on federal student loans than Francis Marion University graduates. ($227 vs. $320)
  • More Fairmont State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Francis Marion University students, three years after graduation. (43% vs. 42%)

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