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). Average 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 |
| Average 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, which covers tuition and fees only. 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.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $23,250, which works out to about $246 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($41,400) and comes to 0.56, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
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 average 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 average 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 average earnings of $41,400.
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.
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.
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 | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 80.4% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 86.7% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 86.6% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 91.9% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Furman University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
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 |
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.
| 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. 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. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: its 78.8% graduation rate, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $23,250 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $41,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Furman University: Common Questions
Is Furman University worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Furman University is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 72/100 on our ROI scale. At $30,308 a year after aid ($121,232 over four years) against $68,635 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 7.8 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Furman University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $30,308 a year, or roughly $121,232 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Furman University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $68,635 ten years after enrolling, roughly $26,835 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Furman University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 7.8 years for Furman University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Furman University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $23,250, against average earnings of $41,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Furman University?
The six-year graduation rate is 78.8%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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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.