Overview of Furman University

Furman University is a private liberal arts college situated in Greenville, South Carolina. The institution is noted for its high level of student engagement. Most of its students participate in internships or undergraduate research programs. Furman has an impressive 10-to-1 student/faculty ratio and a mean class size of 13. The institution has a large selection of undergraduate and graduate degree programs for students to choose from. Outside of the classroom, students will find plenty of opportunities to engage with the campus community via the university’s many clubs and organizations.

Enrollment

• Total Enrollment: 2,933 (2,754 undergraduates)
• Gender Breakdown: 41 percent male/59 percent female
• 96 percent full-time

Cost of Attendance Information

• Tuition and Fees: $50,844
• Books: $810
• Room and Board: $13,034
• Other Expenses: $1,938
• Total Cost: $66,626

Financial Aid Information

• Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 94 percent
• Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid
  • Grants: 94 percent
  • Loans: 37 percent

• Average Amount of Aid
  • Grants: $32,813
  • Loans: $6,589

Academic Programs Offered

• Most Popular Majors: Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other; Business Administration and Management, General; Political Science and Government, General; Speech Communication and Rhetoric; and Psychology, General

Retention and Graduation

• First-Year Student Retention (full-time students): 88 percent
• Transfer-Out Rate: 17 percent
• 4-Year Graduation Rate: 74 percent
• 6-Year Graduation Rate: 80 percent

NCAA Athletic Programs

• Men’s Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Tennis, Track and Field
• Women’s Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball
• The Furman Paladins play in the NCAA Division I Southern Conference.

Overview of Furman University Admissions

Furman University accepts fewer than two-thirds of applicants and has a competitive admissions pool. Furman is test-optional, meaning that students can select whether to submit scores from the SAT or ACT. This institution has a robust admissions process that involves a multitude of academic measures. Applicants should complete an online application. A persuasive essay and glowing recommendation letters can bolster your application, along with being involved with student organizations and attempting a challenging course load. Students with unique talents and accomplishments can still receive strong consideration even if their GPAs are outside the admission offices’ mean range. After applying, students will receive a message from an admissions counselor about the next steps of the application process. Interested students should check out the university’s website, which has helpful tips and contact information for the admissions offices.

Admissions Data                        

During the 2018-19 admissions phase, Furman University had an acceptance rate of 61%.  For every 100 students who submitted applications, 61 students gained admission, making Furman’s admissions process competitive.

SAT Requirements and Scores

This admissions data reveals that of those who provided scores during the 2018-19 admissions phase, most of Furman’s students fall within the top 20% on the SAT. 50% of students admitted to Furman scored between 630 and 710 on the evidence-based reading and writing section, while 25% scored below 630 and 25% scored over 710. 50% of students scored between 600 and 700 on the math section while 25% scored below 600, and 25% scored over 700. While the SAT is optional, this data reveals that a cumulative SAT score of 1410 or higher is competitive for Furman University.

Requirements

This admissions data reveals that of those who provided scores during the 2018-19 admissions phase, many of Furman’s admitted students fall within the top 11% on the ACT exam. The median 50% of students received a cumulative ACT score between 28 and 32, while 25% scored over 32, and 25% scored below 28.

GPA

The median 50% of Furman University’s 2019 class had high school GPAs between 3.4 and 3.9. 25% had a GPA over 3.9, and 25% had a GPA below 3.4.  Successful applicants have A and B grades primarily.

Safety Net Schools: Easy to Gain Admission

If past admission data predicts that you would be a competitive candidate for Furman University, it should be easy for you to gain admission to the schools below. If Furman University is currently out of your reach, you can be a competitive candidate for the schools below.

Penn State University Park, United States Military Academy, Texas Christian University, Hofstra University, Auburn University, Temple University, University of Arizona

Same Tier: Just As Hard to Gain Admission

If you’re a competitive candidate for Furman University, you should have an equal chance of gaining admission to these schools.

University of Texas at Dallas, University of Connecticut, University of California, Irvine, Rochester Institute of Technology, American University, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Florida State University

Reach Institutions: Gaining Admissions Will Be More of a Challenge

These schools are more challenging to gain admission into than Furman University. If you improve your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, you’ll be a competitive candidate.

New York University, Boston College, Villanova University, Binghamton University, Lehigh University, University of California, Santa Barbara, University of Texas at Austin

Applying to Furman University

Application Deadline: January 15

Undergraduate Admissions Website: https://www.furman.edu/admissions-aid/

Undergraduate Application Link(s):

https://www.furman.edu/admissions-aid/apply/prospective-freshmen/

Graduate Admissions Website: https://www.furman.edu/admissions-aid/apply/graduate-studies/

Graduate Application Link(s): https://www.furman.edu/admissions-aid/apply/graduate-studies/