Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Francis Marion University #809 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $52,141, placing Francis Marion University in the 12.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Francis Marion University #786 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Azimuth ranks Francis Marion University #809 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public master's university in Florence, South Carolina, Francis Marion University enrolls roughly 2,628 undergraduates. Retention stands at 70.0% and the six-year graduation rate is 43.4%, reflecting solid progress toward degree completion. Francis Marion University delivers meaningful value through a combination of access and earnings outcomes. 37.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 36.3% are first-generation college students, positioning the university as a genuine access point for students from lower-income and non-college-educated backgrounds. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $52,141, and Francis Marion University earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 55.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Francis Marion University #1148 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's strength in health-related fields — its dominant program family — aligns with stable, in-demand career pathways that support both early-career earnings and long-term job security. For students seeking an affordable public university with strong outcomes in health professions and related fields, Francis Marion University offers a compelling combination of broad access, manageable cost, and earnings outcomes that exceed expectations relative to comparable institutions.
Francis Marion University's published cost of attendance is $23,850. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $9,723, families in the lower-middle range pay around $9,449, middle-income families pay about $11,582, families in the upper-middle range pay approximately $13,788, and higher-income families pay roughly $17,435. Azimuth ranks Francis Marion University #397 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Francis Marion's affordability profile reflects its public tuition structure and need-based aid reach. The university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the university works to close the gap between published cost and what families actually pay through a combination of grants and scholarships. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $17,787; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $52,141, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Francis Marion University is a strong fit for students seeking a health-focused education at a public university in SC, particularly those from low-income or first-generation backgrounds looking for an accessible pathway to stable careers. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $52,141, placing Francis Marion University in the 12.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 55.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university serves a substantial population of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 37.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 36.3% are first-generation. This commitment to access is reflected in the 7.7 percentile ranking for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure. With Health programs accounting for 19% of graduates, students interested in healthcare fields will find the strongest alignment between academic offerings and regional workforce needs. The 86.4% admit rate makes the university broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the Francis Marion University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Francis Marion University's published cost of attendance is $23,850. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $9,723, families in the lower-middle range pay around $9,449, middle-income families pay about $11,582, families in the upper-middle range pay approximately $13,788, and higher-income families pay roughly $17,435.
Azimuth ranks Francis Marion University #397 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Francis Marion's affordability profile reflects its public tuition structure and need-based aid reach. The university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.
Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the university works to close the gap between published cost and what families actually pay through a combination of grants and scholarships. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $17,787; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $52,141, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Francis Marion University earn median 4-year earnings of $52,141, placing Francis Marion University in the 12.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Francis Marion University in the 55.7 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Francis Marion University #1148 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes reflect the institution's strong alignment with regional health-care and professional-services employment, where demand for graduates remains steady and career pathways are well-established.
The earnings pattern centers on health and allied-health fields, which dominate Francis Marion University's degree output and drive the institution's return profile. Nursing is the largest program with 77 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $72,580, performing at 0.8x the national benchmark for the field.
The Biology, General program graduates 64 students earning $51,447, and the The Psychology, General program graduates 62 students earning $37,288. Together, these three programs represent the institutional core and anchor the consistent earnings outcomes that characterize Francis Marion University's graduate profile.
The concentration in health and professional disciplines creates a cohesive labor-market story: graduates enter fields with sustained regional hiring, clear credential-to-employment pathways, and earnings that grow steadily through the early career years.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
77 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
7 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
41 graduates
Biology, General
64 graduates
Health and Medical Administrative Services
41 graduates
Francis Marion University's program mix is anchored in health professions and applied health sciences—a signature aligned with the institution's regional mission and workforce demand in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. Nursing is the largest program with 77 graduates, followed by Biology, General, Psychology, General, Health Administration, and Business Administration.
Across 21 total programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with particular strength in health-related and business-applied fields. The institution's earnings leaders reflect the health-professions concentration.
Nursing graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $72,580 with 77 graduates, while Business Administration delivers $51,522 across 41 graduates. Biology, General and Health Administration round out the highest-earning programs with $51,447 and $51,005 respectively.
These outcomes correspond to direct-to-workforce pathways where graduates enter stable, in-demand roles in healthcare, nursing, and related applied professions—sectors with consistent hiring and wage growth. The program portfolio reflects Francis Marion University's positioning as a regional comprehensive public university serving workforce needs in healthcare, education, and business.
Health professions represent the dominant concentration, supporting graduates into nursing, clinical support, and allied health careers where four-year earnings reflect immediate labor-market entry and career stability. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these program families align with regional and national workforce demand in healthcare and related sectors.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
St. Mary's College Of Maryland Similar quality tier in Southeast (#24291 ranked) | MD | 69% | $60,110 | #24291 | Compare |
University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts Similar quality tier in Southeast (#24816 ranked) | NC | 30% | $38,357 | #24816 | Compare |
University Of North Alabama Similar quality tier in Southeast (#24826 ranked) | AL | 87% | $45,415 | #24826 | Compare |
Suny Morrisville Similar quality tier (#23747 ranked) | NY | 92% | $43,295 | #23747 | Compare |
University Of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton Similar quality tier (#24852 ranked) | AR | 100% | $34,924 | #24852 | Compare |
