By Sue Luse
Location
Furman University is located in Greenville, South Carolina, an hour from the Blue Ridge Mountains. The downtown is filled with traditional southern charm and has won awards for being one of America’s hottest emerging destinations and fastest growing cities. The revitalized downtown is home to quaint shops, boutiques, fabulous restaurants and a world-class collection of museums and galleries. Natural beauty is also abundant in Greenville. Many lakes and opportunities for hiking and biking. There are a few sketchy areas in Greenville, but overall a very safe area.
Academics
Furman is proud that 96% of their faculty have the highest degree in their field. The professors teach with passion and are what make Furman special.
Furman offers 40 areas of study with selected majors and minors, all grounded in the liberal arts. Their most popular majors are political science & government, business & commerce, health professions and related clinical studies.
Furman’s mission is engaged learning. This commitment makes them 4th in the nation in undergraduate research. They offer research for all majors – education, science, psychology, etc. And there is funding for research including travel.
Many exciting opportunities exist to study away from Furman . They offer faculty-led Study Away programs including opportunities that range from their three-week intensive May Experience courses to semester or yearlong programs, both in the U.S. and abroad. Students begin planning for Study Away early in their Furman years.
Ample internship opportunities exist as well- Furman has 250 partners in the Greenville area as well as connections all over the country.
Academic Facts & Figures
- Student-to-faculty ratio:11:1
- Average class size:19
- Areas of study:45
- Graduate in 4 years:80%
- Graduate in 5 years:85%
- Retention rate:89%
- Placement rate:96%
- Study away participation:45%
- Internship or research participation:Over 75%
Student Life
Student Body
There are 2,700 students with 72% of them from out-of-state. Being a private and somewhat expensive university, you will find many conservative and preppy students. However, most students find the campus very accepting. And most students are very committed to their academic pursuits.
Housing
Furman believes that their students’ residential experience is a critical part of their education. That’s why they provide housing for all students for all four years – 100% of students live on campus. This is not a suitcase college. They have 12 residence halls, ranging from four-person suites to traditional dormitories. Some of the residence halls are coed, but men and women live on different floors with separate bath facilities.
Activities
While weeknights are mostly spent studying, being in close proximity to Greenville allows students plenty of things to do on the weekends. On campus there are 150 clubs including ultimate frisbee, WPLS radio, film clubs, student government and Greek organizations
Athletics
Furman has 20 NCAA Division I teams, numerous club sports and dozens of intramural squads, so it’s easy to be involved in sports in one way or another. The recently renovated Herman W. Lay Physical Activities Center has a basketball court, a dance studio, a racquetball court, a swimming pool, and dozens of aerobic and weightlifting machines.
Being in close proximity to the Blue Ridge Mountains and South Carolina coastline beaches, there’s plenty of adventure for outdoor enthusiasts. They even offer a freshman outdoor program called the Paladin Outdoor Program, where new students get to experience South Carolina’s natural beauty while meeting other new classmates. Outdoor fun includes kayaking, ziplining and rafting.
Admissions
- Average GPA of 3.6
- Average ACT is 29 and they do superscore
- They utilize the Common App
- While Furman is test optional, approx 80% of students provide test scores
- One letter of recommendation is required and they will accept more
- They want students who demonstrate interest
- ED & EA deadlines are Nov. 1 with decisions made by Dec. 20
- By submitting an application, you are automatically considered for merit scholarships and ample merit money is available – 86% of students receive some sort of aid
- They offer some full-tuition scholarships where a separate application is necessary including 4 additional essays
- Tuition is $58,250
- Don’t require FAFSA
What Kind of Student Would Be Happy Here
A student who is serious about academics. Who enjoys being near a vibrant city with all it has to offer yet appreciates the beauty of the surroundings. Someone who is rather conservative yet accepting.
