At $29,997/yr net price, Furman University graduates earn $68,635/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $34,635/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $29,997 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $119,988 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $68,635/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$34,635/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 3.5 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 81.5% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $23,250 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $16,190/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $16,294/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $24,978/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $29,927/yr |
| $110,001+ | $37,271/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economics. | Bachelor | $57,318 | $24,125 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor | $47,260 | $19,500 |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Bachelor | $42,682 | |
| Communication and Media Studies. | Bachelor | $40,140 | $22,631 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. | Bachelor | $37,568 | $26,955 |
| Political Science and Government. | Bachelor | $36,668 | $27,000 |
| English Language and Literature, General. | Bachelor | $35,060 | |
| Religion/Religious Studies. | Bachelor | $33,993 | |
| Sociology. | Bachelor | $29,685 | |
| Music. | Bachelor | $20,824 | $20,500 |
The Risk Factor
81.5% of students at Furman University graduate within 6 years. Most students who start here finish their degree.
Analysis
Furman's ROI is mixed. You graduate with median debt near $23,000 and a strong 81.5% completion rate, so you're likely to finish and finish without crushing loans. But the median program earnings tell a harder story: most of the bachelor's degrees listed pay well under the school's overall $68,635 ten-year median, which means the higher figure is carried by a slice of graduates, not the typical one.
Economics is the clear winner here. At roughly $57,000 early-career pay, it out-earns Business Administration by about $10,000 a year, and it beats Accounting and Communication by a wide margin. If you're paying Furman prices, the safest financial bet is Economics or Business. Communication and Media Studies and Romance Languages land near $40,000 and below, and Romance Languages pairs the lowest pay with the highest program debt on this list , a bad combination if loans fund your degree.
The specific risk at Furman is the gap between sticker cost and payoff for non-business majors. A humanities or communication degree here costs the same $30,000-a-year net price as Economics but returns far less, so your major choice matters more than the school's average earnings suggest.
The net price tiers reward lower-income families. Under $48,000 in household income, you pay around $16,000 a year , roughly $21,000 less than families over $110,000, who face $37,271. If you're in that top bracket, Furman is a full-freight private-school cost, and the math only works if you target a high-earning major. If you're a lower-income student aiming at Economics or Business, the price-to-payoff ratio is genuinely good. If you're full-pay and drawn to lower-earning fields, look at cheaper options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Furman University worth the cost compared to other schools?
Furman's $30,000 annual net price produces graduates earning $68,635 after 10 years, which is solid but not exceptional for a private liberal arts college. The 81% graduation rate is strong, though the moderate debt load of $23,250 means most students can manage payments.
What majors at Furman University have the best ROI?
Economics graduates earn the most at $57,318 annually, while business majors make $47,260. Liberal arts fields like communications ($40,140) and foreign languages ($37,568) show weaker earning potential relative to the school's cost.
How much debt do Furman University graduates typically have?
The median debt at Furman is $23,250, which is manageable given average graduate earnings of $68,635. Most graduates should be able to handle monthly payments without major financial strain.
Does Furman University provide good financial aid to make it affordable?
Furman's net price of $30,000 represents significant financial aid from the sticker price, but it's still expensive for middle-class families. The school's 67% acceptance rate suggests aid may be competitive rather than guaranteed.