Furman has highest return on investment for low-income students, study says

Furman University provides the highest return on investment for low-income students among all South Carolina colleges and most universities across the country, according to a new study by Georgetown University.

Forty years after graduation, Furman students from low-income backgrounds are projected to see a return on investment of more than $1.3 million in today’s dollars, after accounting for the cost of their education, according to the report by the Center on Education and the Workforce at Georgetown. That places Furman in the top 5% of the 3,380 colleges and universities scored in the report.

“These data reflect what we’ve known for decades, that a Furman education provides an outstanding return on investment and a path to success for students from all backgrounds,” said Furman President Elizabeth Davis. “We continually adapt our educational approach to help our students achieve their dreams while holding true to our historical mission. This is especially true since the implementation of The Furman Advantage – a personalized, mentor-supported pathway to graduation.”

Furman’s return on investment is higher than the national medians for students from low-income backgrounds who attend public universities ($951,000) or private for-profit schools ($763,000), and other private non-profit schools ($863,000).

Students whose families earn $30,000 or less a year make up one-third of all college students across the country. Fourteen percent of Furman students qualify as low-income; their graduation rate is 72%, also the highest in the state.

Furman’s academically-minded, supportive and welcoming educational experience provides value and leads to clear outcomes, including jobs and graduate school admissions. Ninety-four percent of Furman graduates are employed or in graduate school within six months of graduating.