


Furman University is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, commonly called SACSCOC. Institutional accreditation evaluates the university as a whole; it is distinct from accreditation or approval that may apply to an individual professional program.
Accreditation is relevant to eligibility for federal student aid and can matter when students seek to transfer credit or pursue further study. It does not require another college to accept a particular course, nor does it by itself establish eligibility for a professional license. Applicants considering teacher preparation or another licensed profession should check the program's current approvals and the rules of the state where they intend to work.
First-year admission to Furman is selective and considers a student's academic record rather than relying on a single score. In the reported admissions cycle, the university admitted 4,644 of 10,813 first-year applicants, an acceptance rate of about 43%.
First-year applicants generally submit an application and secondary-school transcript showing their coursework and completion of high school or an accepted equivalent. Furman considers GPA and the strength of college-preparatory work. Recommendations, class rank, and test scores may add context, but the admissions information does not identify them as universally required. Applicants should follow the instructions for their chosen application round when preparing any writing responses or supporting materials.
Test scores require careful interpretation. Among enrolled first-year students who submitted scores, the reported median was 1331 on the SAT and 31 on the ACT. Only about one-quarter of enrolled students submitted each test, so those medians do not describe the entire class and are not admission cutoffs. International applicants should check Furman's current English-proficiency instructions; TOEFL appears among its stated requirements, and accepted alternatives or exemptions depend on current admissions policy. Applicants to programs with auditions or other additional review should check that program's instructions separately.
An application fee, if charged through an applicant's chosen route, is separate from tuition and any enrollment deposit. Before submitting, applicants should check the charge displayed in Furman's current application instructions or application portal, since the amount and waiver process may depend on the application method.
Students for whom a fee presents a financial hardship can review the fee-waiver options in their application and ask Furman's admissions office how to document eligibility. A waiver request should be resolved before payment and submission; applicants should not assume that paying a fee first will result in a refund. Transfer and international applicants should check the instructions for their own applicant categories rather than relying on a first-year application screen.
Army ROTC is available at Furman through its campus program. It offers a way for eligible students to combine undergraduate study with military leadership training; participation in a course, eligibility for a scholarship, and a commitment to serve are different matters.
Students interested in commissioning should ask the Army ROTC program about course enrollment, physical and medical standards, scholarship deadlines, and when a service obligation would begin. Applicants interested in Air Force or Navy ROTC should verify whether a current cross-enrollment arrangement is available before treating either branch as an option at Furman. ROTC scholarship decisions are separate from Furman's admission and financial-aid decisions.
Furman accepts transfer applications for fall and spring entry and generally considers coursework from other accredited institutions for transfer credit. Admission as a transfer student does not mean every previously earned credit will satisfy a Furman major or graduation requirement.
Transfer applicants should be prepared to submit transcripts from every college attended and follow the current instructions for any required secondary-school record. The admissions office can clarify which applicant category applies based on prior college enrollment. An official credit evaluation is especially important for students with laboratory sequences, education coursework, or credits intended to meet major requirements.
Before committing to enroll, a transfer applicant should seek an evaluation that distinguishes credits accepted toward the degree from courses that fulfill general education or major requirements. Ask the relevant academic department about course sequencing and Furman's minimum credits-in-residence rule: a large number of accepted credits does not necessarily shorten the time needed to finish a degree.
Furman offers international study opportunities, including programs associated with the academic year and shorter faculty-led experiences. Its May Experience, often called MayX, gives students a shorter period for focused study; some MayX courses involve travel, while others do not.
Students should compare programs by length, academic credit, language expectations, and who operates them. A Furman-led course differs from an approved partner or third-party program, particularly in how courses appear on the transcript and how costs are billed. Before applying, students should obtain academic approval for courses they hope to count toward a major and ask how institutional scholarships, federal aid, travel expenses, and program deposits apply. Some majors have tightly sequenced requirements, so planning early can make an international term easier to fit into the degree.
13% of admitted students enrolled (608 of 4,644)
Regular application deadline
January 15Early Decision
Yes, deadline November 1Early Action
Yes, deadline November 1Median composite SAT score
1331Median composite ACT score
31Percent of students submitting ACT scores
22.59%Percent of students submitting SAT scores
24.59%High school completions
General Educational Development (GED) requiredComputer required
NoComputer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution
YesSecondary school GPA
RequiredSecondary school rank
Considered but not requiredSecondary school record
RequiredCompletion of college-preparatory program
RequiredRecommendations
Considered but not requiredFormal demonstration of competencies
Considered but not requiredAdmission test scores
Considered but not requiredTOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language
RequiredOther Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)
Neither required nor recommendedOpen admission policy
NoDual credit
NoCredit for life experiences
NoAdvanced placement (AP) credits
YesOrientation program
YesDisabilities services
YesROTC-Army
ROTC branch unit on campusStudy abroad
YesStudent can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization
YesPreparation at another institution required
NoApproved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher
YesAccept ACE recommendation for credit
YesPossible transfer
Fall, SpringData last updated on November 5, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.