Coastal Carolina University vs FMU-Florence

Coastal Carolina University and Francis Marion University, both esteemed institutions in South Carolina, offer distinct educational experiences. Coastal Carolina boasts a higher acceptance rate, attracting a diverse student body with a strong focus on undergraduate studies. Francis Marion, on the other hand, has a more selective admissions process, resulting in a smaller student population and a greater emphasis on graduate programs. While both universities offer a range of academic programs, Coastal Carolina excels in business, education, and health professions, while Francis Marion shines in liberal arts, sciences, and nursing. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more about these universities' unique strengths, including graduation rates, student demographics, and popular majors, and make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Coastal Carolina University logo

Coastal Carolina University

Francis Marion University logo

Francis Marion University

Overview

Location Conway, South Carolina Florence, South Carolina
Campus setting City: Small Suburb: Small
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 72.0% 66.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 79.1% 86.1%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $45

Graduate: $45
Undergraduate: $41

Graduate: $41
SAT range 1030 - 1190 930 - 1120
ACT range 20 - 25 15 - 22
Students submitting SAT score 29.0% 20.0%
Students submitting ACT score 13.0% 19.0%
Total number of applicants 15,481 3,028
Total number of admissions given out 12,251 2,608
Admitted students who chose to enroll 2,519 699
Yield rate 20.6% 26.8%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $26,318

Out of state: $42,072
In state: $24,351

Out of state: $34,735
Average net price $14,956 $13,299
Tuition
In state: $11,460

Out of state: $27,214
In state: $10,384

Out of state: $20,768
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $5,440

Meal plan: $3,928
$8,230
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

91.0%
Average amount $9,834
98.0%
Average amount $10,192
Students receiving federal student loan 60.0%
Average amount $5,848
59.0%
Average amount $5,579
Students taking out private loans 16.0%
Average amount $20,291
4.0%
Average amount $7,593

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 9,790
Men 44.9% Women 55.1%
3,475
Men 33.3% Women 66.7%
Graduate students 683
Men 30.7% Women 69.3%
448
Men 22.8% Women 77.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 60.2% 4.4%
International students 1.2% 1.6%
Campus local/setting City: Small Suburb: Small
Dormitory capacity 4,728 1,413
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from South Carolina New Jersey New York Pennsylvania Maryland South Carolina North Carolina Florida Georgia Texas

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Education
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Business
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Business
  • Psychology
  • Visual & Performing Arts
Students to faculty ratio 17:1 13:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 51.2% 43.2%
Dropout rate 11.4% 15.9%
Transferred out 36.7% 38.3%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,378
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $69,235
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $44,086
  • Year 2: $48,198
  • Year 3: $61,332
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $48,114
  • Year 2: $53,497
  • Year 3: $60,248
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,888
  • Year 2: $65,750
  • Year 3: $59,685
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $29,976
  • Year 2: $34,704
  • Year 3: $44,693
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,824
  • Year 2: $42,873
  • Year 3: $44,446
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,464
  • Year 2: $37,856
  • Year 3: $44,425
Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,250
  • Year 2: $38,168
  • Year 3: $43,145
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,430
  • Year 2: $38,597
  • Year 3: $42,978
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $36,101
  • Year 2: $36,423
  • Year 3: $42,472
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $97,582
  • Year 2: $101,964
  • Year 3: $110,561
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,618
  • Year 2: $58,866
  • Year 3: $60,568
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $41,080
  • Year 2: $43,426
  • Year 3: $47,870
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $38,649
  • Year 3: $40,311
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $29,861
  • Year 2: $28,443
  • Year 3: $34,636
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $25,038
  • Year 2: $28,598
  • Year 3: $34,338
Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $25,535
  • Year 2: $31,314
  • Year 3: $34,010
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $23,804
  • Year 2: $28,180
  • Year 3: $32,997
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,805
  • Year 2: $30,157
  • Year 3: $32,022
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $22,652
  • Year 3: $31,548

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