Converse College

converse online application

Degree Programs at Converse College

Converse College appears in our ranking of 50 Great Affordable Colleges in the South.

Converse College offers opportunities for women of all ages who want to attend college. Undergrads can enroll in one of the college’s 25 degree programs, though some of those programs offer more specialized fields of study. Education majors can study general education or fields such as art education, early childhood education, deaf and hard of hearing education or music education. The college’s business program includes specialized fields such as business administration, human resource management, sports management, and marketing. Undergrads majoring in music have the chance to study music performance or music education, but they can also contemporary music and music applications or music therapy. Some of the other majors offered by the college for undergrads include history, art history, biology, creative and professional writing, medical technology, English and healthcare administration.

The college also offers 17 degree programs for graduate students. It offers three programs that are available at the University Center at Greenville. The Master of Marriage and Family Therapy trains students to work as counselors and therapists. In addition to the classes they take on the campus, they’ll also do clinical work. Professional leadership and teaching programs are also available at this center. A Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing requires that students spend a small portion of the year at the college and that they do the rest of their work online. Four education programs and one business program are available online. Students can study healthcare management, literacy education, art education, and other subjects. Some of the college’s traditional degree programs for graduate students include Master of Education, Master of Liberal Arts and Master of Music programs. It also offers a diploma program for graduate students in music.

About Converse College

Converse College is a small college in South Carolina that has an enrollment of roughly 820 undergrads and around 560 graduate and post-graduate students. Established in 1890, it welcomed 168 students in its first year. Dexter Edgar Converse, the man the school is named after, served on its original board of directors and helped run the college during its early years. Converse developed a strong reputation for the academic programs that it offered for the young women who didn’t have many opportunities at the time. It would add a few graduate programs in the early 1960s, which led to the college establishing a graduate school.

The campus of Converse College today includes the Converse College Historic District, which consists of eight buildings and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Though the college only admits women into its undergrad programs, its graduate programs are all coeducational. Converse College now offers degree programs in dozens of fields.

Converse College Accreditation Details

Students taking classes from Converse College can apply for government financial aid and carry transfer credits into one of its programs because the college has regional accreditation. This accreditation comes from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Students in any of the marriage and family programs will find that those programs and the clinical work/internships they do have accreditation from the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). Other accreditation that the college holds comes from the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), National Council on the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and other organizations.

Converse College Application Requirements

Converse College offers both an application for undergrads and one for graduate students. Prospective students should select the online application that fits their statuses. The college encourages students to take a campus tour before they apply and to learn about any of the programs that interest them. Undergrads can also use the Common Application, which makes it easier for them to apply to multiple colleges. Converse requires an official ACT/SAT score and transcripts from the student’s high school and/or college. Students will receive decision letters from the college by May 1, which is its national reply date. Those who submit their applications earlier in the year will get a response sooner. They have until the beginning of May to put down their enrollment deposits.

The college also has applications for adult students and those who want to transfer from another school. Graduate students can earn degrees from the college via classes taken online or a traditional program that utilizes on-campus courses. The requirements they must meet will vary between programs. Those applying to a music program will need to audition and submit videos that show their talents and abilities. The college asks all prospective graduate students to submit their transcripts and an online application. They may need to submit a writing sample, reference letters or other information too.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Many of the students attending Converse College receive financial aid. Those planning to attend the college will find that tuition starts at $16,500 a year for undergrads. The college reduced its tuition rate in 2014 and cut this cost by more than 40 percent. Undergrads also pay $9,500 a year for room and board, which brings their total costs up to $25,000 a year. Graduate students pay $416 per credit hour for all their classes. Converse charges the same rate for its online classes as it does for its traditional courses. Students in a Master of Fine Arts program will pay $530 per credit hour, and those in other graduate programs may pay $456 per credit hour. The college has room and board packages for graduate students that allow them to live on campus for an extra $1,500 a year. All students accepted into the college must put down an enrollment deposit too.

To apply for financial aid, students must apply to the college and complete the FAFSA by the beginning of May. The applications for both financial aid and college admissions go live in the fall. Students can apply for a payment plan, which allows them to make payments each month for 10 straight months during the school year. Undergrads can qualify for financial aid from the state government and the college based on their academic transcripts and other information. The college awards scholarships to students based on both their need and their merit. Student loans can also help students pay their expenses. A combination of aid and awards helps students pay for any of the degree programs offered by Converse College.