Converse University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It enrolls 1,173 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic Calendar4-1-4 Plan
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
57/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes48
Value11
Affordability51
Selectivity54
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 67.7%, Converse University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
67.7%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1010 – 1250
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
19 – 26
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Converse University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
25.3 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Converse University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $23,283 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$23,283
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
40%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
61%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$25,240
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,380
Room & Board (off-campus)
$14,096
Books & Supplies
$800
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,340
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,850
Total Cost of Attendance
$38,838
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$14,137
$30,001 – $48,000
$18,500
$48,001 – $75,000
$23,610
$75,001 – $110,000
$24,754
Over $110,000
$29,105
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,75010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$27,000Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$36,34090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $23,250
↓ $3,750
No Pell $21,500
↓ $5,500
Dependent students $22,250
↓ $4,750
Independent students $26,125
↓ $875
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
49% of full-time students who enrolled at Converse University graduate within six years, and 73% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
49%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
73%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Converse University earn a median of $40,867 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$40,867
Earning > $25K
69%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$31,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$33,500
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$39,200
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
17.9 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 78% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Converse University is home to 1,173 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 32% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,173
Part-Time
3%
First-Generation
32%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 43.2%507
Black 11.6%136
Hispanic 10.9%128
International 8.8%103
Other 4.9%57
Asian 1.3%15
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Converse University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CitySpartanburg, South Carolina
Housing
Mostly residential500 beds on campus
Adult Learners
6%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
4-1-4 Planscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Converse University offers
a varied set of programs:
37 distinct programs across
14 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Converse University is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$132M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$57,433
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
81 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
17
21%
$65,583
Associate Professors
30
37%
$58,739
Assistant Professors
27
33%
$54,404
Instructors
7
9%
$43,727
Pros & Cons of Converse University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Converse University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Best for:
Based on the data, Converse University is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Converse University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Converse University.
Is Converse University hard to get into?
Admissions at Converse University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 67.7%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Converse University?
Converse University has an acceptance rate of 67.7%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Converse University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Converse University scored between 1010 and 1250 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Converse University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Converse University scored between 19 and 26 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Converse University cost?
The average net price after aid at Converse University is $23,283 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Converse University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $40,867 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $23,283 per year. That's roughly 1.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Converse University known for?
Converse University is best known for its programs in Mental Health Services, Teacher Education (K-12), Biology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Converse University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Converse University are $40,867, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Converse University accredited?
Yes. Converse University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Converse University?
Converse University enrolls 1,173 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Converse University?
Converse University graduates 49% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Converse University a public or private college?
Converse University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Converse University located?
Converse University is located in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
What programs does Converse University offer?
Converse University offers 37 distinct programs. The most popular include Mental Health Services, Teacher Education (K-12), Biology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Converse University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Converse University is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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