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

  • #45
    National Liberal Arts Colleges
  • #4
    Most Innovative Schools (six years in a row)
  • #4
    National Liberal Arts College in the Southeast
  • #29
    Best Undergraduate Teaching
  • #32
    First-Year Experience (among all universities)
  • #31
    Best Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects (among all universities)
  • #76
    Best Value College

The Princeton Review

  • The Best 388 Colleges (2022/23)
  • #12
    Best Schools for Making an Impact (2023)
  • #5
    Most Politically Active Students
  • #11
    Most Accessible Professors
  • #17
    Best Classroom Experience
  • #16
    Best Quality of Life
  • #11
    Best College Theater
  • #14
    Most Active Student Government

Forbes - America's Top Colleges

  • #3
    Top Colleges in South Carolina

The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education

  • #149
    Best Colleges in the US (out of 796 US colleges and 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
  • #18
    The South's Most Beautiful Colleges
    Southern Living
  • Best Colleges for Student Voting
    2022 Washington Monthly

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.