Furman University vs Auburn

Furman University and Auburn University, two distinct institutions of higher learning, offer unique educational experiences to their students. Furman, a private liberal arts university in Greenville, South Carolina, boasts a highly selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 48%. Auburn, a public research university in Auburn, Alabama, is more accessible, with an acceptance rate of 84%. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with popular majors at Furman including Business Administration, Psychology, and Biology, while Auburn's strengths lie in Engineering, Business, and Education. While Furman's student body is predominantly White (73%) and female (58%), Auburn's student population is more diverse, with a larger proportion of male students (54%) and a more balanced racial makeup. Furman's graduation rate stands at 86%, while Auburn's is slightly lower at 79%. To help you make an informed decision about your academic journey, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison

	Auburn University	Furman University
Overview
Location	Auburn, Alabama	Greenville, South Carolina
Campus setting	City: Small	Suburb: Large
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Public	Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system	Semester	Semester
Degrees offered	Undergraduate and Graduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	93.0%	91.0%
Common app member	Yes	Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	71.2%	71.4%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $50 Graduate: $60	Undergraduate: $50 Graduate: $55
SAT range	N/A	1240 - 1422
ACT range	N/A	29 - 33
Students submitting SAT score		26.0%
Students submitting ACT score		29.0%
Total number of applicants	27,619	7,174
Total number of admissions given out	19,660	5,119
Admitted students who chose to enroll	5,311	656
Yield rate	27.0%	12.8%
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)	Required	Required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	In state: $33,650 Out of state: $53,810	$69,880
Average net price	$23,873	$33,999
Tuition	In state: $10,080 Out of state: $30,240	$52,992
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $8,892 Meal plan: $5,704	Room/dormitory: $7,496 Meal plan: $6,202
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	69.0% Average amount $10,448	96.0% Average amount $33,191
Students receiving federal student loan	27.0% Average amount $5,232	28.0% Average amount $5,170
Students taking out private loans	5.0% Average amount $24,894	5.0% Average amount $20,783

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	24,931 Men 50.5% Women 49.5%	2,307 Men 40.1% Women 59.9%
Graduate students	6,595 Men 46.7% Women 53.3%	156 Men 20.5% Women 79.5%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Very Low	Low
Out-of-state students	43.6%	67.8%
International students	7.0%	3.3%
Campus local/setting	City: Small	Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity	4,823	2,406
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	Alabama Georgia Florida Tennessee Texas	South Carolina Georgia North Carolina Florida Texas

Academics
Popular study areas	Engineering Education Health Professions Business Agriculture	Education Biological and Biomedical Sciences Social Sciences Visual & Performing Arts Health Professions
Students to faculty ratio	20:1	9:1
Institutional accreditation	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome
Graduation rate	80.9%	81.9%
Dropout rate	4.4%	2.4%
Transferred out	13.0%	15.7%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $109,330 Year 2: $119,954 Year 3: $122,981 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $106,330 Year 2: $114,892 Year 3: $119,917 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $90,962 Year 2: $93,520 Year 3: $96,107 Veterinary Medicine (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $80,045 Year 2: N/A Year 3: $94,852 Architectural Engineering (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $72,488 Year 2: $70,456 Year 3: $86,080 Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $75,285 Year 2: $74,576 Year 3: $83,134 Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $67,127 Year 2: $68,778 Year 3: $77,684 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $72,274 Year 2: $65,753 Year 3: $75,817 Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $66,558 Year 2: $65,170 Year 3: $75,401 Real Estate Development (Master's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $70,456 Year 3: $74,364	Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $47,571 Year 2: $47,260 Year 3: $56,414 Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $36,227 Year 2: $40,140 Year 3: $52,939 Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $36,108 Year 2: $36,668 Year 3: $50,384 Educational Administration and Supervision (Graduate/Professional Certificates) Year 1: $61,615 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $37,568 Year 3: N/A English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $35,060 Year 3: N/A Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $14,357 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A Religion/Religious Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $33,993 Year 3: N/A Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $24,821 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A Economics (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $57,318 Year 3: N/A

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the primary differences in size and setting between Furman University and Auburn University?

Furman University is a smaller, private liberal arts college with an undergraduate enrollment of around 2,700 students, located in Greenville, South Carolina. It offers a more intimate and personalized learning environment. Auburn University, on the other hand, is a large, public research university with a total enrollment exceeding 30,000 students, situated in Auburn, Alabama. Auburn provides a broader range of academic programs and a more extensive campus experience.
How do the academic focuses of Furman University and Auburn University differ?

Furman University emphasizes a strong liberal arts foundation, encouraging interdisciplinary study and critical thinking. While it offers pre-professional programs, its core strength lies in humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Auburn University, being a land-grant institution, excels in STEM fields, particularly engineering, agriculture, and veterinary medicine. It also offers strong programs in business, architecture, and design, alongside a range of liberal arts disciplines.
What is the difference in cost of attendance between Furman University and Auburn University?

Furman University, as a private institution, generally has a higher tuition cost compared to Auburn University, especially for out-of-state students. Auburn University offers lower tuition rates for Alabama residents. However, the overall cost of attendance can vary depending on financial aid packages, scholarships, and individual spending habits. It's best to check the official websites of both universities for the most up-to-date tuition and fee information and to explore available financial aid options.
How do the campus cultures and student life experiences compare at Furman University and Auburn University?

Furman University fosters a close-knit community with a strong emphasis on student engagement and leadership development. Its smaller size allows for more personalized interactions with faculty and staff. Auburn University offers a more diverse and vibrant campus life with a wide array of student organizations, clubs, and activities. Its large student body provides opportunities to connect with people from various backgrounds and interests. Auburn is also known for its strong school spirit and traditions, particularly surrounding its athletic programs.
What are the key differences in the types of academic programs offered at Furman University and Auburn University?

While both universities offer a range of undergraduate programs, Auburn University has a significantly larger selection of graduate and professional programs, including doctoral degrees in numerous fields. Furman University primarily focuses on undergraduate education, with a limited number of master's programs. If you're interested in pursuing advanced degrees, Auburn University offers more options. Furman excels in providing a focused and personalized undergraduate experience.
How do the career services and internship opportunities compare between Furman University and Auburn University?

Both universities offer career services to assist students with internships, job searches, and career planning. Auburn University's larger size and strong industry connections, particularly in engineering and business, may provide a wider range of internship and job opportunities, especially in the Southeast. Furman University leverages its alumni network and location in Greenville, a growing business hub, to offer students valuable internship and career experiences, often with a focus on personalized guidance and mentorship.
What are the differences in location and surrounding areas of Furman University and Auburn University?

Furman University is located in Greenville, South Carolina, a city known for its vibrant downtown, arts scene, and outdoor recreational opportunities in the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains. Auburn University is situated in Auburn, Alabama, a classic college town that offers a more traditional Southern atmosphere. While Auburn is smaller than Greenville, it provides a strong sense of community and easy access to larger cities like Atlanta and Montgomery.
How do the admission requirements and selectivity compare between Furman University and Auburn University?

Both Furman University and Auburn University are selective institutions, but Furman University generally has a slightly lower acceptance rate. Both universities consider factors such as GPA, standardized test scores (though test-optional policies may apply), essays, extracurricular activities, and letters of recommendation. It's important to review the specific admission requirements and deadlines on each university's website.
What are the notable strengths of Furman University?

Furman University is known for its strong liberal arts curriculum, personalized attention from faculty, emphasis on undergraduate research, and commitment to engaged learning. Its small size fosters a close-knit community and provides opportunities for students to develop leadership skills. The Furman Advantage program guarantees every student an engaged learning experience, such as an internship or study away, and connects these experiences to their future career goals.
What are the notable strengths of Auburn University?

Auburn University is recognized for its strong programs in engineering, agriculture, veterinary medicine, and business. It offers a wide range of academic programs, extensive research opportunities, and a vibrant campus life. Auburn is also known for its strong school spirit, passionate alumni network, and commitment to serving the state of Alabama and beyond.

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