Location: Florence, SC•In-State Tuition: $11,160•Out-of-State Tuition: $21,544•Admission Rate: 82%•Avg SAT: 1039
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$57,335
Est. from SC median (5 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$23,750
Est. from SC median (4 programs)

Analysis

Based on comparable finance programs in South Carolina, Francis Marion's degree appears positioned in the middle of the state's pack—roughly aligned with the SC median of $57,335 in first-year earnings. That puts estimated outcomes ahead of the national benchmark ($53,590) and closer to what graduates from Wofford and College of Charleston report, though trailing the state's flagship programs. The estimated debt load of $23,750 translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41, meaning graduates would owe less than half their first-year salary—a manageable starting point for most borrowers in financial services.

The challenge here is uncertainty. With nearly 40% of students receiving Pell grants, Francis Marion serves a substantial population for whom debt matters deeply, yet the suppressed data means we can't see how this specific program actually performs. South Carolina's finance programs show considerable range—from Coastal Carolina's $46,911 to USC-Columbia's $62,231—and without actual outcomes, it's impossible to know where Francis Marion truly lands in that spectrum.

If your child is choosing between this program and one with reported data showing strong outcomes, that transparency advantage matters. But if Francis Marion offers significant cost savings through in-state tuition or scholarships, the estimated numbers suggest the program shouldn't be dismissed—it just requires more legwork to validate quality through internship placement rates and employer connections in South Carolina's financial sector.

Where Francis Marion University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all finance and financial management services bachelors's programs nationally

Francis Marion University (estimated ±10%)Other finance and financial management services programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in South Carolina

Finance and Financial Management Services bachelors's programs at peer institutions in South Carolina (10 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Francis Marion UniversityFlorence$11,160$57,335*—$23,750*—
University of South Carolina-ColumbiaColumbia$12,688$62,231*$79,318$25,000*0.40
Clemson UniversityClemson$15,554$58,876*$71,621$20,000*0.34
Wofford CollegeSpartanburg$54,100$57,335*$66,153$27,000*0.47
College of CharlestonCharleston$12,978$54,634*$82,260$22,500*0.41
Coastal Carolina UniversityConway$11,640$46,911*$53,842$26,000*0.55
National Median—$53,590*—$23,332*0.44
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with finance and financial management services graduates

Financial Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Treasurers and Controllers

Direct financial activities, such as planning, procurement, and investments for all or part of an organization.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Investment Fund Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate investment strategy or operations for a large pool of liquid assets supplied by institutional investors or individual investors.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Executives

Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Sustainability Officers

Communicate and coordinate with management, shareholders, customers, and employees to address sustainability issues. Enact or oversee a corporate sustainability strategy.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

General and Operations Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations, overseeing multiple departments or locations. Duties and responsibilities include formulating policies, managing daily operations, and planning the use of materials and human resources, but are too diverse and general in nature to be classified in any one functional area of management or administration, such as personnel, purchasing, or administrative services. Usually manage through subordinate supervisors. Excludes First-Line Supervisors.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Personal Financial Advisors

Advise clients on financial plans using knowledge of tax and investment strategies, securities, insurance, pension plans, and real estate. Duties include assessing clients' assets, liabilities, cash flow, insurance coverage, tax status, and financial objectives. May also buy and sell financial assets for clients.

$102,140/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial and Investment Analysts

Conduct quantitative analyses of information involving investment programs or financial data of public or private institutions, including valuation of businesses.

$101,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial Risk Specialists

Analyze and measure exposure to credit and market risk threatening the assets, earning capacity, or economic state of an organization. May make recommendations to limit risk.

$101,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Budget Analysts

Examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations. Analyze budgeting and accounting reports.

$87,930/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Insurance Underwriters

Review individual applications for insurance to evaluate degree of risk involved and determine acceptance of applications.

$79,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Francis Marion University, approximately 39% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 5 similar programs in SC. Actual outcomes may vary.