


Furman's varsity teams, known as the Paladins, compete in NCAA Division I, principally in the Southern Conference. Football competes in the Football Championship Subdivision. Varsity sports include basketball, football, soccer, golf, tennis, track and field, and women's lacrosse, among others.
Varsity participation involves team selection and a substantial practice and competition commitment. Club sports, intramurals, and general recreation offer different ways to participate; a sport appearing in a campus activity listing is not necessarily an NCAA team. Students interested in a particular sport should check its current varsity or recreational status, tryout process, and schedule. Athletic scholarship availability depends on the sport, roster, and applicable rules and should not be assumed from Furman's Division I membership.
Furman students can participate in student government, academic and professional clubs, service groups, cultural and faith-based organizations, performing arts, and fraternities and sororities. These are ways to meet people and organize activities outside classes, although membership rules and active groups can change from year to year.
Representative opportunities include the Student Government Association, student media such as The Paladin newspaper, and music and theater groups. Service-minded students can look into the Heller Service Corps. An organization's name on a directory is less useful than its current meeting schedule and activities, so incoming students can use the university's student-organization listing and involvement events to find groups that are active in their first term.
Furman is a relatively small university, with a reported enrollment of 2,554 students. The reported incoming first-year group numbered 608. That scale is useful context for applicants who want to compare Furman's residential campus with a much larger university, but it does not establish the experience of any particular class or major.
The reported geographic figures show that 29% of students came from South Carolina and 62% from other U.S. states; about 8% came from other countries. Reported race and ethnicity counts include 1,653 White students, 158 Hispanic or Latino students, 150 Black or African American students, and 74 Asian students. Counts for other reported groups are smaller. These figures describe enrollment categories, not students' individual backgrounds or the quality of campus inclusion.
Most students live on campus, so applicants considering Furman as commuters or adult learners should ask how often required courses, advising, and student activities are scheduled around a residential undergraduate population. The overall enrollment figure alone does not indicate how many students follow a part-time or nontraditional path.
Everyday student life at Furman is strongly shaped by its residential setting: the reported share living on campus is 99%. Classes, dining, recreation, performances, and student activities are therefore concentrated in the same place for most undergraduates.
Students can use campus arts programming, fitness and recreation facilities, health services, and personal counseling, in addition to formal clubs. The transition into college is worth discussing during an admissions visit: ask how first-year advising works, where students study or gather outside residence halls, and how to join activities without an established friend group. A largely residential environment can make evening events accessible, but students who commute should consider how its schedule fits their travel and work commitments.
The James B. Duke Library is Furman's main academic library. Students can use library collections and research resources for coursework, independent projects, and faculty-mentored work.
Reported library amenities include reservable study rooms and study areas with extended, including 24-hour, access on scheduled days. Hours can change during breaks and examination periods. For a substantial research assignment, students should look beyond a physical shelf: library staff can help locate scholarly databases, journals, and materials requested from other libraries. Students working off campus or abroad should check the library's current instructions for accessing licensed digital resources and obtaining research help remotely.
Total enrollment
2554Full Time Degree Seeking Freshmen
550Member of Athletic Associations
NCAATotal staff
220 full time, 92 part timeVeterans affair office
NoVarsity teams compete against other colleges, intramural teams within the school. Each column says whether men, women or both take part, and whether the sport offers athletic scholarships (Aid).
Sport
Badminton
Baseball
Cross-country running
Equestrian sports
Football
Golf
Lacrosse
Rock climbing
Rugby
Soccer
Softball
Table tennis
Tennis
Track and field
Triathlon
Ultimate Frisbee
Volleyball
Weight lifting
Data 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.