Furman University is regularly featured in the most prominent college guides and consistently ranks among the nation’s top colleges. Whether it’s our prestigious, accessible faculty, the classroom experience of our students, our sustainability efforts, outstanding research opportunities or beautiful, 750-acre campus, Furman earns recognition alongside some of the best universities in the nation. That includes being listed as the top-rated liberal arts and sciences institution in South Carolina by U.S. News & World Report.   

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges has accredited Furman, a top-ranked, private liberal arts and sciences university, to award bachelor’s, master’s and education specialist degrees. But addition to these, the university’s four institutes – The Robert and Margaret Hill Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, The Riley Institute, The Institute for the Advancement of Community Health, and The Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities – offer students even more opportunities for engaged learning even as the institutes provide a host of trainings, boot camps and events to the wider community. 

Furman’s academic excellence, diverse opportunities, breath-taking campus and community impact are reflected, in part, in these recent accolades and rankings.

U.S. News & World Report

  • #46
    National Liberal Arts Colleges
  • #4
    Most Innovative Schools, 2023
  • #20
    First-Year Experience (among all universities)
  • #78
    Best Value Schools

Niche

  • #42
    Best Liberal Arts Colleges in America (out of 309)
  • #44
    Best Small Colleges in America (out of 968)
  • #22
    Best College Campuses in America (out of 1,387)
  • #21
    Best Colleges with no Application Fee in America (out of 684)
  • #92
    Top Private Universities in America (out of 936)
  • #44
    Best Small Colleges in America (out of 968)
  • Top 10%
    Best Colleges in America (156 of 1,537)
  • Top 10%
    Colleges with the Best Professors in America (147 of 1,527)
  • Top 10%
    Best Colleges for Student Athletes in America (134 of 1,323)
  • #1
    Top Private Universities in SC (out of 18)
  • #1
    Best Small Colleges in SC (out of 23)
  • #1
    Best College Campus in South Carolina (out of 30)

The Princeton Review


  • Best Value Colleges (one of 209 listed)
  • #22
    Best College Theater
  • #22
    Most Accessible Professors

  • Best Schools for Making an Impact

  • The Best 389 Colleges (2023/24)

Forbes - America's Top Colleges

  • #2
    Top Colleges in SC
  • #32
    Top Colleges in the South
  • #43
    Top Liberal Arts Universities

The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education

  • #2
    Top Colleges in SC
  • #32
    Top Colleges in the South
  • #43
    Top Liberal Arts Universities

Other Publications

  • #18
    The 53 Prettiest College Campuses in America
    Architectural Digest 2022
  • #1
    Stunning College Campuses in All 50 States
    HGTV (one per state) - 2021
  • #23
    25 Most Beautiful College Campuses in the US
    Travel & Leisure - 2023
  • #4
    Baccalaureate Institution
    STARS (AASHE) - Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System
  • #4
    Campus Engagement
    STARS (AASHE) - Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System

Greenville, SC Rankings

  • #14
    Top Travel Destination in the World
    The New York Times
  • #31
    Best Places to Live in the US
    US News & World Report
  • #23
    Fastest Growing Places
    US News & World Report

  • Best Small Town for Good Eats
    Men’s Journal

Accreditation

Furman University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award bachelor’s, master’s and education specialist degrees. Questions about the accreditation of Furman University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia, 30033-4097, by calling 404-679-4500, of by using information available on SACSCOC’s website, www.sacscoc.org.

Furman is a member of the Southern Conference, Association of American Colleges and Universities, Associated Colleges of the South, Council of Independent Colleges, American Conference of Academic Deans, and Annapolis Group. The chemistry program is approved by the American Chemical Society. The program in music is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. The Teacher Education Program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation.

Furman is also a member of the Associated Colleges of the South. This consortium of 16 distinguished liberal arts colleges and universities seeks to strengthen the academic programs of its member institutions. The consortium provides a variety of grants and resources for faculty, students, and institutional programs.