Furman University

Founded in 1826 as the oldest private institution of higher learning in South Carolina, Furman University has evolved into one of the nation's premier liberal arts colleges, anchored in the belief that a deeply personalized education produces graduates of uncommon capability and purpose. Nestled on a stunning 750-acre campus in Greenville, South Carolina—a city consistently recognized as one of the best places to live in the United States—Furman combines the intimacy of a small college with the resources and ambition of a nationally ranked institution. The university's signature Furman Advantage integrates rigorous academics with real-world experiences through guaranteed access to research, internships, and study away opportunities, all guided by a network of faculty and alumni mentors. This intentional model has earned Furman recognition as one of the most innovative liberal arts colleges in the country.

Academic life at Furman is defined by close collaboration between students and a distinguished faculty, sustained by a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio and an average class size of just 14 students. The university is not divided into separate colleges or schools; instead, its unified liberal arts structure encourages cross-disciplinary exploration, with students choosing from over 60 majors and programs across the sciences, humanities, social sciences, and arts. Furman also houses four signature institutes—the Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities, the Richard W. Riley Institute, the Institute for the Advancement of Community Health, and the Hill Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship—that connect classroom learning to civic and professional impact. For international applicants, Furman offers institutional merit-based scholarships; however, international students are not eligible for need-based grants. Prospective international students must complete both the CSS Profile and the Furman Financial Information Form as part of the application process.