Francis Marion University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Francis Marion University charges a net price of $11,386/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $45,544. Median earnings ten years after entry are $43,888, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Francis Marion University does not clear its cost — it ranks #18 of 60 South Carolina colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $11,386/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $45,544 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $43,888 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$4,472/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $27,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$134,984 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Francis Marion University's own numbers. Net price $11,386 × 4 years = $45,544 total. Median earnings $43,888 fall $4,472 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $45,544 bill in about 4.6 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Francis Marion University students graduate with?
A median $27,000 in federal loans among completers, or 62% of the $43,888 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Francis Marion University students graduate?
43% finish their degree — 57% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $45,544 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $105,916 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Francis Marion University expensive compared with other South Carolina colleges?
Its $11,386 net price runs $4,609 below the $15,995 median across the 60 South Carolina colleges we profile, and $18,434 less across the full degree.