Francis Marion University vs University of Illinois Springfield

Francis Marion University and University of Illinois Springfield are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: Francis Marion University is more selective with a 82.2% acceptance rate compared to University of Illinois Springfield's 84.4%. Average SAT scores are 1039 and 1118 respectively.

Cost: University of Illinois Springfield offers a lower average net price at $8,916, which is $4,535 less than Francis Marion University ($13,451). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from University of Illinois Springfield earn a median salary of $57,103 ten years after enrollment, which is $13,215 more than Francis Marion University graduates ($43,888).

Graduation: University of Illinois Springfield leads with a 57.2% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 69.2% vs 80.7%.

Campus Size: Francis Marion University is the larger campus with 2,640 total students, while University of Illinois Springfield has 2,292.

Bottom Line: University of Illinois Springfield stands out as both more affordable and producing higher-earning graduates — making it the stronger value proposition overall.