Head-to-head comparison
Anderson University vs Francis Marion University: which has better ROI?
Option A Anderson, SC
Anderson University
- Net price / year
- $23,544
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,101
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Florence, SC
Francis Marion University
- Net price / year
- $11,386
- Earnings, 10 years
- $43,888
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Francis Marion University comes closer — median earnings $43,888 against a $45,544 total, vs $42,101 at Anderson University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Anderson University | Francis Marion University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,544 | $11,386 |
| Total net cost | $94,176 | $45,544 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,101 | $43,888 |
| Median debt | $26,700 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$219,356 | -$134,984 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Anderson University or Francis Marion University?
Francis Marion University, at $11,386 a year after aid versus $23,544 — a gap of $12,158 a year, or $48,632 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Anderson University or Francis Marion University graduates earn more?
Francis Marion University graduates report a median $43,888 ten years after entry, $1,787 more than the $42,101 at Anderson University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Anderson University or Francis Marion University?
Anderson University: its completers carry a median $26,700 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Francis Marion University, a difference of $300. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
66% of students finish at Anderson University, against 43% at Francis Marion University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.