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Summary
Furman University is a private institution that was founded in 1826. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,761, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 800 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Furman University's ranking in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges is National Liberal Arts Colleges, 42. Its tuition and fees are $39,560 (2011-12).
Furman University, a picturesque campus with its own lake, is located in Greenville, S.C., a city of 40,000 residents. The campus is 5 miles away from downtown Greenville, and has its own stop on the local bus route. Students can ride the Greenville Transit Authority buses for $1.25 a way, or can hop on the university shuttle on nights and weekends. In Greenville, students can check out more than 600 restaurants and eateries, and five shopping districts. On campus, there are more than 150 clubs and organizations, and all students must take advantage of campus events through the Cultural Life Program: Before graduation, a student must attend at least 36 school events. All students must live on campus, too, unless they commute from a parent’s home or are married. There are nearly 20 Greek organizations at Furman. The Furman Paladins compete in the NCAA Division I Southern Conference. Every Saturday night, students can showcase their creative skills or cheer on their peers’ at MAINSTAGE, a weekly talent show.
Outside of class, students can grow through programs at the on-campus Shucker Leadership Institute. Through a series of stages—Explore, Engage, and Emerge—Furman students learn how to be effective community leaders. Eventually, Shucker Fellows put their leadership skills to work by serving on a local nonprofit organization’s board of directors and can take a five-day Outward Bound trip through the surrounding wilderness. Notable Furman graduates include Richard Riley, former U.S. Secretary of Education; John Broadus Watson, widely known as the “father of behavioral psychology;” and Charles Townes, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist.
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Furman has emerged as a national leader among liberal arts colleges by giving students the chance to learn by doing through independent study, research projects with professors, study abroad, community service and internships around the nation and the world. Furman is a leader among liberal arts colleges in the percentage of students who engage in undergraduate research during the summer; the university supports student research and internships both on and off-campus, including overseas opportunities. One of Furman's major strategic goals is its commitment to sustainability made evident in the University's curriculum, construction projects, and promotion of community awareness of sustainability. |
General Information
| School type | private, coed college |
| Year founded | 1826 |
| Religious affiliation | N/A |
| Academic calendar | semester |
| Setting | urban |
| 2010 Endowment | $498,281,706 |
Applying
When applying to Furman University, it's important to note the application deadline is January 15, and the early decision deadline is November 15. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due January 15. The application fee at Furman University is $50. It is more selective, with an acceptance rate of 69.5 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
| Selectivity | more selective |
| Fall 2010 acceptance rate | 70% |
| Application deadline | January 15 |
| SAT/ACT scores must be received by | January 15 |
Academic Life
The student-faculty ratio at Furman University is 11:1, and the school has 58.8 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Furman University include: Political Science and Government; Business Administration, Management and Operations; Communication and Media Studies; Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other; and History. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 91.0 percent.
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| Student-faculty ratio | 11:1 | ||||||||||
| 4-year graduation rate | 81% - High | ||||||||||
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Student Life
Furman University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,761, with a gender distribution of 42.3 percent male students and 57.7 percent female students. 96.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 4.0 percent of students live off campus. Furman University is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.
| Total enrollment | 2,996 |
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| Collegiate athletic association | NCAA I |
Campus Info & Services
Furman University offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, women's center, placement service, health service, and health insurance. Furman University also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Of the students at Furman University, 92 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at Furman University.
| Students who have cars on campus | 92% - High |
| Health insurance offered | Yes |
| Students required to own/lease a computer | No |
More About Campus Info & Services
Paying for School
At Furman University, 48.2 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $23,124.
Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.
| Tuition and fees | $39,560 (2011-12) |
| Room and board | $10,192 (2011-12) - High |
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* Overview details based on 2010 data
