Furman University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Greenville, South Carolina · Private nonprofit · Moderately selective · CDS 2023-2024
Furman University is a private institution located in Greenville, South Carolina with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Furman University admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 53%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1364 and an ACT composite around 31. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $29,997 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price. For parents weighing whether Furman University is realistic for their teenager, the most useful planning step is comparing your child's current GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against these admitted-student ranges — not the headline acceptance rate alone.
What GPA does my child need for Furman University?
Furman University admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum. Parents tracking their child's GPA toward this tier of school can use Solyo's free calculator to see weighted, unweighted, and college-recalculated numbers side by side.
What does Furman University weight in admissions?
Furman University reports the following factor importance in its Common Data Set (2023-2024). These are the criteria the admissions committee weighs when reviewing applications.
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Academic GPA
- • Application essay
- • Extracurricular activities
- • Character/personal qualities
- • Class rank
- • Standardized test scores
- • Recommendations
- • Interview
- • Talent/ability
- • First generation status
- • Volunteer work
- • Work experience
- • Level of applicant's interest
- • Alumni/ae relation
- • Geographical residence
- • State residency
- • Religious affiliation/commitment
SAT and ACT scores Furman University typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 610–705, with an EBRW midpoint near 675. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 28–32. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.
| 25th percentile | 1280 |
| 50th percentile | 1340 |
| 75th percentile | 1410 |
| % submitting SAT | 28.2% |
| 25th percentile | 29 |
| 50th percentile | 31 |
| 75th percentile | 32 |
| % submitting ACT | 24.6% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Considered if submitted
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 40.2% |
| Top 25% of class | 69.4% |
| Top 50% of class | 92% |
| % submitting class rank | 54.3% |
How much does Furman University actually cost?
Published tuition is $58,312 for in-state students and $58,312 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $15,868 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $29,997 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 11% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful indicator of how much need-based aid the school distributes.
| In-state tuition | $59,360 |
| Room and board | $16,504 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $29,997 |
| Application fee | — |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Furman University
| Regular deadline | 2024-01-15 |
| Notification date | 2024-03-01 |
| Reply deadline | May 1 |
| Offers Early Decision | Yes |
| ED deadline | 2024-11-15 |
| ED acceptance rate | 28% |
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
| EA deadline | 2024-12-01 |
| EA acceptance rate | 69% |
Will my child graduate from Furman University?
Retention and graduation rates are the most overlooked numbers in college planning, but they predict actual outcomes far better than acceptance rate. They tell you whether admitted students stay and finish on time.
Other colleges in South Carolina parents ask about
How parents track GPA toward selective schools like Furman University
Solyo helps parents track grades pulled directly from school emails, calculate GPA the same way colleges like Furman University recalculate it, and ask an AI college counselor specific questions about their teen's odds. The platform is built for parents — not students — and turns what's usually a fragmented planning process into a single dashboard.
Common questions parents ask about Furman University
What GPA do I need for Furman University?
Furman University admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum.
What SAT or ACT score does Furman University typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 610–705, with an EBRW midpoint near 675. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 28–32.
How much does Furman University actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Furman University after grants and scholarships is $29,997 per year. That figure is more useful for budgeting than the published sticker price, because it reflects what families actually pay after aid is applied.
Is Furman University realistic for my child?
Compare your teen's current unweighted GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against the ranges above. If both numbers fall inside the school's middle-50, Furman University is a target school. If both fall below the 25th-percentile mark, treat it as a reach and balance the application list accordingly.
Data sourced from the 2023-2024 Common Data Set submitted by Furman University, and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Solyo extracts admissions data from official Common Data Set publications and refreshes it annually.