Furman University
Greenville, South Carolina · Private Nonprofit · 43.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 72/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Furman University (Greenville, SC) scores 72 (Fair Value) - a soft result for a private liberal arts university with $59,770 sticker tuition and a 43% acceptance rate. Median 6-year earnings of $41,400 and a 7.8-year payback period are modest relative to the price. The 78.8% completion rate and 86.7% repayment rate are genuine strengths. Business Administration and Economics produce B-grade outcomes; most other programs range from B to D, with International Relations and Psychology showing poor debt-to-earnings ratios. The ROI score reflects a school where the liberal arts premium is less financially evident than its selective-school positioning might imply.
Furman University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $59,770/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $59,770/yr |
| Average net price | $30,308/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $121,232 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $68,635 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $41,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,250 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $246 |
| Estimated payback period | 7.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 78.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,379 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $59,770/year. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $30,308/year, or roughly $121,232 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $16,401/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $39,310/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $23,250 in federal loans, which works out to about $246 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $68,635 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.56, within the range advisors call workable but worth keeping an eye on.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $16,401 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $17,290 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $21,041 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $27,736 |
| $110,001+ | $39,310 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income families (under $30,000) pay $16,401 per year - roughly $66,000 over four years. Against $41,400 median earnings and a 7.8-year payback, low-income students who complete can make this work financially if they're in stronger programs. The 78.8% completion rate is a positive signal. Furman's low 13.2% Pell rate suggests relatively few low-income students enroll, and those who do should confirm aid sustainability for four years.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-75,000 bracket pays $21,041 and the $75,001-110,000 bracket pays $27,736 per year. Middle-income families paying $21,000-28,000 per year face a significant four-year bill against median earnings of $41,400. Business and economics students can justify this; liberal arts and social science students will have a longer payback period.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning over $110,000 pay $39,310 per year - about $157,000 over four years. This is a substantial commitment for median earnings of $41,400. High-income families choosing Furman are paying for the selective liberal arts experience and network, not near-term financial return - and the data supports that framing: the school does not produce outsized earnings relative to its cost.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Furman University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| International Relations | $74,476 | D |
| Communication and Media Studies | $64,014 | C+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $73,099 | B |
| Psychology | $57,264 | D |
| Biology | $28,801 | D |
| Music | $52,225 | B |
| Romance Languages | $60,280 | B |
| Economics | $55,615 | B |
| English Language and Literature | $16,583 | - |
| Health Professions, Residency Programs | $61,904 | B |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (45 graduates) earns $49,008 at year one and $73,099 at year four with a B ROI grade and 0.398 debt-to-earnings ratio. Against a $19,500 median debt, this is a solid outcome for a liberal arts institution. The four-year earnings of $73,099 reflect placements into business roles in Charlotte, Atlanta, and Greenville that the Furman network supports.
Economics
Economics (19 graduates) earns $55,615 at year one with a B ROI grade and 0.434 debt-to-earnings ratio. The small cohort size limits reliability, but year-one earnings of $55,615 suggest graduates are finding finance, consulting, and analytical roles immediately after graduation - typical for economics majors at selective liberal arts colleges.
Communication and Media Studies
Communication (47 graduates) earns $41,766 at year one and $64,014 at year four with a C+ grade and 0.542 debt-to-earnings ratio. These outcomes are reasonable for a communication program at a private liberal arts school, though the C+ grade reflects the mismatch between private school pricing and communication-field wage trajectories.
International Relations
International Relations (58 graduates) earns $34,473 at year one but jumps to $74,476 at year four with a D ROI grade and 0.783 debt-to-earnings ratio. Year-one earnings of $34,473 reflect graduates entering government, NGO, or public service roles with low starting salaries. The four-year figure of $74,000 shows strong later-career trajectory, likely driven by law school and graduate program completers, but the D grade reflects the near-term mismatch between cost and earnings.
Psychology
Psychology (42 graduates) earns $29,395 at year one and $57,264 at year four with a D ROI grade and 0.919 debt-to-earnings ratio. Year-one earnings of under $30,000 at a school charging $30,308 net price per year is a weak financial proposition. Students expecting psychology to produce strong outcomes without graduate school need to examine this data carefully.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 80.4% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 86.7% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 86.6% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 91.9% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Furman University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 43.0% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 610-710 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 650-720 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 28-32 |
| Enrollment | 2,379 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 13.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,399 |
At 43% acceptance with SAT mid-range of 610-710 Math and 650-720 Reading, Furman occupies the moderately selective private liberal arts tier - below the most selective liberal arts colleges but above regional comprehensives. ACT 28-32 composite is competitive. The low Pell grant rate suggests the school serves families with significant financial means; Furman's $59,770 sticker tuition is a real barrier for lower-income applicants even with aid.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Furman's peer schools include Dickinson College, Occidental College, and Gettysburg College - all selective private liberal arts colleges with similar ROI characteristics. Furman (72, Fair Value) scores in the middle of this peer group. Its 78.8% completion rate is stronger than some peers; its median earnings of $41,400 are modest relative to the sticker price. Dickinson and Gettysburg show comparable patterns: liberal arts colleges where financial ROI is secondary to the educational model and network formation.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Furman University (this school) | 72 | $30,308 | $68,635 |
| Gettysburg College | 75 | $31,490 | $71,517 |
| Occidental College | 73 | $38,263 | $75,951 |
| Dickinson College | 73 | $37,607 | $70,204 |
| Anderson University | 24 | $23,544 | $42,101 |
| Allen University | 3 | $10,972 | $30,497 |
Who Thrives Here
Furman admits 43% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 610-710 Math and 650-720 Reading, ACT 28-32 composite. At 2,379 undergraduates with only 13.2% Pell grant recipients, Furman serves a predominantly high-income student body - one of the lowest Pell rates among comparable institutions. The 78.8% completion rate is a genuine strength. Students drawn to a selective residential liberal arts experience in the South will find a well-structured academic environment, but those expecting strong near-term earnings across all programs should study the data carefully.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Furman University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $30,308 a year after aid ($121,232 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $68,635 a decade out, the cost takes about 7.8 years to earn back. That's roughly average - not a bargain, not a mistake.
What it has going for it: its 78.8% graduation rate, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $23,250 against $68,635 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.