• Search by:

Converse College

580 E Main St, Spartanburg, SC 29302

Website: Converse College

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 College School Description

The primary mission of Converse College, founded in 1889, is the liberal education of undergraduate women in a residential setting. Converse reaffirms the founder’s original conviction that a small undergraduate residential college of the liberal arts is a uniquely powerful environment for developing the talents of women. As a community of scholars, where students and faculty pursue excellence and collaborate in the search for truth, Converse develops in students scholarly excellence, personal honor, confidence, and skills to be life-long learners. The College draws much of its character from its Christian heritage and welcomes students of all faiths. Converse expands its mission by offering graduate degrees and other programs for women and men. Ultimately, graduates embody the qualities of a Converse education as they assume roles of leadership, service, and citizenship.

Collapse

Converse College

From Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Converse College is a liberal arts women's college in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Its 750 undergraduates come from throughout the United States and the world for the challenging liberal arts curriculum, century-old honor tradition, and Daniels Center for Leadership and Service. As of 2008, Paul Dwyer is the only male to have graduated from Converse. 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.

Collapse

Read the full entry on Wikipedia

Quick Facts

Chance of Admission:
Location:
Southeast
Setting:
Large Town Setting
Type:
Private
Size:
Small (Under 2,000 Undergrad)
Mascot:
All Stars

Students & Campus Life

Undergraduate Enrollment:
770
On Campus Housing:
Available
Full Time Students:
100%
Athletic Programs:
Available
More Students & Campus Life

Expenses

Average Tuition:
$ 23,344
Students Receiving Aid:
93%
More Expenses & Financial Aid

Admissions

Application Fee:
$ 40
Selectivity:
Highly Selective
More Admissions

Converse College Degree Programs

Bachelor’s Degree Programs

Learn more about Bachelor’s Degree Programs

Master’s Degree Programs

Learn more about Master’s Degree Programs

Converse College Students & Campus Life

General

Full-Time vs. Part-Time
Full-Time 100%
Part-Time 0%
Men vs. Women
Women 100%
Men 0%
Race/Ethnicity
Caucasian 78%
Other 11%
African-American 10%
Hispanic 1%
Asian 0%

Geography

In State vs. Out-of-State
In-State 59%
Out-of-State 41%
Top States for Incoming Freshman
South Carolina 59%
North Carolina 11%
Georgia 8%
Alabama 4%
Tennessee 2%
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 (Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference)
Track (Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference)

Converse College Expenses (Tuition & Fees)

Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) Expenses  
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads:
 $ 23,344    
Financial Aid Avg. Amount Received % of Students Receiving Aid  
Federal Grants:
 $ 3,647 24%  
State and Local Grants:
 $ 6,522 53%  
Institutional Grants:
 $ 12,824 92%  
Student Loans:
 $ 3,918 48%  
Any Aid:
   93%  

Converse College Admissions

Acceptance Rate: 57% (Highly Selective)
Test Scores  
SAT Scores:  
% of Students Submitting SAT Scores: 78%
Bottom 25th Percentile: Verbal: 510, Math: 480
Top 75th Percentile: Verbal: 610, Math: 590
ACT Scores:  
% of Students Submitting ACT Scores: 43%
Bottom 25th Percentile: Composite: 20, Verbal: 20, Math: 19
Top 75th Percentile: Composite: 26, 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

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]
Get Admissions Information on Converse College! (It only takes a minute!)
STEP 1 2

Where does the school information come from?

CLOSE

Our goal at Campus Explorer is to provide you with the most comprehensive information on colleges and universities. We scour the Web and pull from only the most reliable and accurate sources to give you extensive data on a school, its history and mission, the students, estimated school expenses, academics or degree programs and much more. It is our mission to help you make the best decision for your educational goals and future.

Our resources include:

The schools themselves (Are you a school administrator? Contact us if you would like to update your school's profile.)

And even Campus Explorer Members like you!

For even more up-to-date and accurate materials on admissions, applications and expenses, request information on Converse College now.

Sponsored Links
Advertisement
Get Admissions Information on Converse College! (It only takes a minute!)
STEP 1 2

Compare Converse College to your schools:

  • Louisiana Technical College - Florida Parishes
  • Ulster County Community College
  • New Creations Academy of Hair Design
  • Boulder College of Massage Therapy
  • Mercy College - Bronx

Related College Searches

Colleges Near Converse College

More Info on Similar School Types

More Info on Related College Degrees

More Colleges Near Spartanburg, SC

Online Schools & Distance Learning Programs

College Resources

College Degrees
Types of Colleges and Universities
See All Colleges by State
See All Colleges by Program or Online Program
Search All Colleges
Online Degree Programs at Online Schools
See All Online Degree Programs at Online Schools
Certificate Programs
See All Schools Offering Certificate Programs
See Online Schools Offering Online Certificate Programs
Master's Degree Programs
See All Schools Offering Master’s Degree Programs
See Online Schools Offering Online Master's Degrees
College Degree Programs & Areas-of-Study
See All College Programs & Areas of Study
See Online Schools Offering Online Degree Programs
Planning for College Guides
Career Information
Paying for College Guides
Top News in Education
Converse College
Spartanburg, SC 29302
see details