Converse College

Quick Facts

Chance of Admission:
Location: Southeast
Setting: Large Town Setting
Type: Private
Size: Small (Under 2,000 Undergrad)
Mascot: All Stars
Women come from throughout the United States and the world to study at the liberal arts women’s college in South Carolina.
Women come from throughout the United States and the world to study at the liberal arts women’s college in South Carolina.
[source]
Converse College From Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Converse is a is a liberal arts women's college in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Its 750 undergraduates come from throughout the United States and the world to for the challenging liberal arts curriculum, century-old honor tradition, and Daniels Center for Leadership and Service. A close-knit residential community cultivates a spirit of sisterhood and enterprise among women diverse in backgrounds and interests.

History

Although the doors of Converse College were first opened October 1, 1890, the first step towards the founding of the college was taken in 1889 when a prominent attorney assembled a group of Spartanburg citizens to discuss the project.

Among the twelve men assembled was Dexter Edgar Converse, a native of Vermont who had settled in Spartanburg before the Civil War and had become a successful pioneer in the cotton mill industry.

Mr. Converse was especially interested in establishing a college for women because his daughter, Marie, was approaching college age and he wanted her to have every possible educational advantage. His initial and subsequent contributions to the cause were so valuable that the college was given his name.

Initially, the college was operated as a stock company and Mr. Converse headed the first board of directors, composed entirely of Spartanburg citizens. They elected the Rev. Benjamin F. Wilson as the first president. The first faculty roster had 16 members and the student body numbered 168.

On January 2, 1892, the main building was destroyed by fire, but was immediately reconstructed and enlarged. The work of the college hardly suffered interruption. In 1896, by the voluntary act of the stockholders, Converse College was incorporated under the laws of the state of South Carolina and a self-perpetuating board of trustees was established. This meant that Converse was converted into a permanent gift to the cause of higher education for women.

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Students & Campus Life
Undergraduate Enrollment: 693
On Campus Housing: Available
Full Time Students: 100%
Athletic Programs: Available
> More Students & Campus Life
Expenses
Average Tuition: $ 21,176
Students Receiving Aid: 97%
> More Expenses & Financial Aid
Admissions
Application Fee: $ 40
Selectivity: Selective
> More Admissions

Students

General
Full-Time vs. Part-Time
Full-Time 100%
Part-Time 0%
Men vs. Women
Women 100%
Men 0%
Race/Ethnicity
Caucasian 77%
Other 15%
African-American 8%
Hispanic 0%
Asian 0%
Geography
In State vs. Out-of-State
In-State 64%
Out-of-State 36%
Top States for Incoming Freshman
South Carolina 64%
Georgia 7%
North Carolina 5%
Texas 3%
Virginia 3%
Percent of Students International: 1%

Housing

On-Campus Housing Available: Yes
Percent of Students Living On-Campus: 44%
Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: No

Athletics

Member of: NAA, NCAA
Sports Include: Basketball (Division II Independents)
Track (Division II Independents)
Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) Expenses  
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads:
$ 21,176    
Financial Aid Avg. Amount Received % of Students Receiving Aid  
Federal Grants:
$ 3,957 30%  
State and Local Grants:
$ 6,320 59%  
Institutional Grants:
$ 12,280 97%  
Student Loans:
$ 3,579 51%  
Any Aid:
  97%  

Selectivity (Undergraduate Only)

Acceptance Rate: 84% (Selective)
Test Scores  
SAT Scores:  
% of Students Submitting SAT Scores: 89%
Bottom 25th Percentile: Verbal: 510, Math: 490
Top 75th Percentile: Verbal: 620, Math: 580
ACT Scores:  
% of Students Submitting ACT Scores: 50%
Bottom 25th Percentile: Composite: 20, Verbal: 20, Math: 19
Top 75th Percentile: Composite: 25, Verbal: 27, Math: 24

Application Requirements (Undergraduate Only)

Application Fee: $ 40.00
High School Diploma or Equivalent: Required
High School GPA: Required
High School Rank: Required
High School Record: Required
Recommendations: Required
TOEFL: Required
Test Scores: Required

Degree Programs at Converse College

Bachelor's Level Majors

Photos

  • Women come from throughout the United States and the world to study at the liberal arts women’s college in South Carolina.
    Women come from throughout the United States and the world to study at the liberal arts women’s college in South Carolina. [source]
  • Converse’s Petrie School of Music is the world’s first women’s college to be named an All-Steinway School, an honor reserved for a select group of colleges and conservatories that primarily use Steinway & Sons concert and practice pianos.
    Converse’s Petrie School of Music is the world’s first women’s college to be named an All-Steinway School, an honor reserved for a select group of colleges and conservatories that primarily use Steinway & Sons concert and practice pianos. [source]