Francis Marion University College Portrait
Francis Marion University4800 East Palmetto Florence, SC 29506
(843) 661-1231 / (800) 365-7551
Francis Marion University
Francis Marion University, founded in 1970, is one of South Carolina's 13 state-assisted universities. As one of the state's six comprehensive institutions, FMU prides itself on providing a strong liberal arts education. Professional degrees are also offered in business, education, psychology, and nursing.
FMU offers an excellent academic environment that ensures individual attention from its highly regarded faculty. Experiential learning opportunities such as service fellowships, international exchange programs, and undergraduate research activities provide students the opportunity to become highly engaged with the curriculum. All faculty members have advanced degrees, and 84 percent of the full-time faculty members hold doctoral or terminal degrees. Francis Marion University is fully accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to award bachelor, master’s and specialist level degrees.
Living in the Patriots Community
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Located about seven miles east of Florence, the campus is located on 400 wooded acres of beautiful foliage and landscaping. The campus provides a safe, comfortable learning environment with modern academic and cultural facilities, state-of-the-art athletic facilities, and convenient campus housing.
Florence is the economic and cultural center of the Pee Dee region, an eight county area located in the north-eastern section of South Carolina. Conveniently located at the crossroads of Interstates 95 and 20, transportation services include Amtrak, a public bus system, and a regional airport. Tremendous growth in the cultural arts, the medical community, recreation services, and retail centers create a vibrant community for visitors and residents alike.
The Big Picture: How many students were on campus in Fall 2010?
| Total Students | 4,032 | |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Snapshot
| Total Undergraduate Students | 3,771 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Women | 2,524 | 67% |
| Men | 1,247 | 33% |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| American Indian / Alaskan Native | 19 | 1% |
| Asian | 37 | 1% |
| African American / Black | 1,720 | 46% |
| Hispanic | 36 | 1% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 4 | <1% |
| White | 1,784 | 47% |
| Two or More Races | 4 | <1% |
| International | 46 | 1% |
| Race/Ethnicity Not Reported | 121 | 3% |
| Where do Francis Marion undergraduates call home? | |
|---|---|
| South Carolina | 95% |
| Other US States & Territories | 4% |
| Other Countries | 1% |
| Residency Unknown | <1% |
| How old are Francis Marion undergraduates? | |
| Average Age | 22 |
| Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 or Older | 11% |
New Student Applications (Fall 2010)
New Freshmen High School Background and Test Scores
Test(s) Required for Admission: SAT or ACT recommended
| Test Scores of Enrolled New Freshmen | ACT | SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Composite | 18 - 22 | |
| Math | 17 - 22 | 440 - 540 |
| English | 17 - 23 | |
| Critical Reading | 420 - 540 |
50% of admitted students have test scores within the ranges listed, 25% have scores above, and 25% have scores below.
| High School Background of Enrolled New Freshmen | ||
|---|---|---|
| Percent in top 25% of High School Graduating Class | 44% | |
| Percent in top 50% of High School Graduating Class | 82% | |
| Percent of New Freshmen who submitted HS GPA | 96% | |
| Average High School GPA (4-point scale) | 3.55 | |
| Percent who submitted High School GPA | 98% | |
Sticker Price: How much does it cost on average?
Typical Undergraduate Costs for 2010-11 without Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)
Total Typical Cost of Attendance: $23,526
The price schedule for tuition, fees, housing, and dining services is determined at the June meeting of the University Board of Trustees and announced immediately.Out-of-State & Other Costs
More Information
The cost to attend Francis Marion University varies based on the individual circumstances of students and may be reduced through grants and scholarships.
How much would I pay?
Financial Aid: How much help is there to pay?
Scholarships & Grants
- 61% of 2010-11 full-time undergraduates received need-based grants or scholarships; the average award for the year was $0. Scholarships and grants are financial aid that does not need to be repaid and is sometimes referred to as gift aid.
Annual Need-Based Loans
- 61% of 2010-11 full-time undergraduates received need-based work-study and/or loans (not including parent loans); the average loan for the year was $0. Loans need to be repaid. Typically, repayment starts once you are no longer enrolled full-time. Please refer to page 12 of the Funding Education Beyond High School guide on the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website for more information about Financial Need.
Percent of 2009-2010 Full-time Beginning Students Receiving Each Type of Financial Aid
NOTE: Students may receive aid from more than one source.
Francis Marion Classes & Instructors
| Classroom Environment | |
|---|---|
| Students per Faculty | 15 to 1 |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 30 students | 78% |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 50 students | 93% |
| Total Full-Time Instructional Faculty | 202 |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Female | 43% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Persons of Color | 10% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Have the Highest Academic Degree Offered in Their Field of Study | 85% |
More Information
Campus-based Housing
67% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
39% of all undergraduates live on campus
More Information
Campus Safety
FMU is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for the campus community and our guests. Policies and procedures are in place to ensure that precautionary measures exist to protect everyone on campus. The University operates a Campus Police Department to provide around-the-clock police protection. Campus police officers are certified police officers with full arrest authority for violations of state laws. Officers enforce all University regulations and policies. Outdoor emergency telephones and callboxes are strategically located throughout the campus to aid in personal assistance and crime prevention.
Campus Crime Statistics
Carnegie Classification of Institutional Characteristics
The Carnegie Classification's were created "to reference the great diversity of colleges and universities in the United States, and ... enable [people] to identify groups of roughly comparable institutions." For information on the Carnegie Classifications system, please visit their website: http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/
- Basic Type
- Master's Colleges and Universities (smaller programs)
- Size and Setting
- Medium four-year, primarily residential
- Enrollment Profile
- Very high undergraduate
- Undergraduate Profile
- Full-time four-year, inclusive
- Undergraduate Instructional Program
- Balanced arts & sciences/professions, some graduate coexistence
- Graduate Instructional Program
- Postbaccalaureate with arts & sciences (other dominant fields)
NOTE: Institutional classifications based on the Carnegie 2005 edition.
More Information
Student Activities and Involvement at Francis Marion
Students who are actively involved in their own learning and development are more likely to be successful in college. Colleges and universities offer students a wide variety of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to become engaged with new ideas, people, and experiences. Institutions measure the effectiveness of these opportunities in a variety of ways to better understand what types of activities and programs students find the most helpful.
Institutions participating in the VSA program measure student involvement on campus using one of four national surveys. Results from the one survey are reported for a common set of questions selected as part of VSA. Following are the selected results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The questions have been grouped together in categories that are known to contribute to student learning and development. The results reported below are based on the responses of seniors who participated in the survey.
Group Learning Experiences
- 90% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
- 63% of seniors tutored or taught other students
- 27% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports
Active Learning Experiences
- 85% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
- 20% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
- 60% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
- 73% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
- 6% of seniors participated in study abroad
- 97% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year
Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success
- 100% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
- 82% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
- 72% of seniors reported that this institution provided help in coping with work, family and other non-academic responsibilities
- 95% of seniors reported working harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations
Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff
- 76% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
- 79% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
- 100% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
- 81% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class
Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas
- 71% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
- 97% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
- 60% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity
Student Satisfaction
- 83% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
- 96% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
- 84% of seniors reported that other students were friendly or supportive
Evaluation of Experiences
Survey Administration Process
Survey Information
Majors and Degrees
| Degrees awarded at Francis Marion University in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 524 |
| Master's | 82 |
| Total | 606 |
| Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND RELATED PROGRAMS | 8% |
| Biology, General | 5% |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 5% |
| Psychology, General | 4% |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 2% |
| Links to degree programs at Francis Marion University |
|---|
Bachelor'sMaster's |
Student Success & Progress Rate
A 79% four-year success and progress rate means that 79% of students starting in Fall 2004 either graduated or are still enrolled at a higher education institution four years later.
Counts for the Fall 2004 entering class shown in the graph above.
- 745 First-Time, Full-Time Students
- 194 Full-Time Transfer Students
Success & Progress Rate Table
Retention of Freshman Class
First-time students in Fall 2009 that returned for their second year: 68%
Student Learning at Francis Marion University
All colleges and universities use multiple approaches to measure student learning. Many of these are specific to particular disciplines, many are coordinated with accrediting agencies, and many are based on outcomes after students have graduated.
The learning outcomes for our general education and academic programs are assessed using data from the external measures of the ETS Proficiency Profile (formerly the Measure of Academic Proficiency), the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), and internal assessments from departmental data and surveys of graduating seniors and alumni.These assessments are reported in the annual General Education Report and Departmental Institutional Effectiveness Reports.
Learning Assessment Examples
Pilot Project to Measure Core Learning Outcomes
Colleges and universities participating in the College Portrait measure the typical improvement in students' abilities to think, reason, and write using one of three tests. This is part of a pilot project to better understand and compare what students learn between their freshman and senior years at different colleges and universities.
- Results from the ETS Proficiency Profile (formerly MAPP)
The ETS Proficiency Profile (formerly MAPP) measures critical thinking, analytic reasoning, and written communication and reports separate scores on critical thinking and written communication.
Test Administration Process
Test Information
Critical Thinking Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the performance task is what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 107
Senior Score: 113
ETS score range: 100 to 130
Average SAT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 907
Senior Score: 976
Written Communication Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the performance task is what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 112
Senior Score: 114
ETS score range: 100 to 130
Average SAT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 907
Senior Score: 976