| Location: | Southeast |
| Setting: | Large Town Setting |
| Type: | Private |
| Size: | Small (Under 2,000 Undergrad) |
| Mascot: | All Stars |
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.
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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| Percent of Students International: | 1% |
| On-Campus Housing Available: | Yes |
| Percent of Students Living On-Campus: | 44% |
| Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: | No |
| 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% |
| 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 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 |
