Wondering how a Converse graduate puts her education to use in the world? This section is designed to give you a glimpse into the compelling data that demonstrates the advantage of a Converse education.

Converse was founded upon the mission to educate students to “see clearly, decide wisely and act justly” because “the well-being of any country depends much upon the culture of its women.” This mission rings true today more than ever as Converse develops engaged, adaptable, ethical and globally aware citizens who effect positive change in the world.

A Nationally Recognized Masters UniversityRated a Best Value in the South by U.S. News & World Report

U.S.News & World Report                         

  • #3 in the South on the “Great Schools at Great Prices” list
  • #17 Regional University in the South 
  • Converse has the highest percentage (87%) of classes under 20 students, the fifth highest rate of alumni giving (22%), and the second highest percentage (97%) of full-time faculty of all first-tier Southern Regional Universities in the rankings. Read more

Washington Monthly

Best Masters' Universities Washington Monthly College Rankings 2012

  • #3 in the nation among Master’s Universities based on:
       - Social mobility (recruiting and graduating low-income students)
       - Research (producing cutting-edge scholarship and PhDs)
       - Service (encouraging students to give back to their community)
  • The magazine praises Converse in its lead story: “Converse College, an economically diverse all-female liberal arts college in South Carolina, is our third-ranked master’s institution, by virtue of its strong commitment to service and record of graduating women who go on to earn PhDs.” Read more

 

Forbes

  • Named among America’s Top Colleges

Converse Prepares Students for Advanced Study and Successful Careers

Outcomes from the Class of 2012:

  • 53% had job offer or graduate school acceptance in-hand the day they graduated
  • 59%served as an officer in a campus organization
  • 60% completed independent research or independent creative experiences at Converse
  • 25% participated in study-travel at Converse
  • 37% are the first in their family to graduate from college
  • 90% would like to be alumnae mentors for current Converse students

Independent & Collaborative Research

  • For 4 of the last 6 years, Converse was awarded more funding for more research projects than any other institution in the state by South Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities

Commitment to Student Service

  • During 2011-2012, approximately 72% of Converse students participate in service-learning or community service projects and contributed more than 10,500 hours
  • Last year, 43% of undergraduate students participated in service-learning courses at Converse
  • For the last 4 years, the Corporation for National and Community Service has included Converse on its President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll

A Tradition of Excellence

A Converse education launches incredible careers and serves as a solid foundation for graduate school placements in some of the nation’s most renowned programs.

Among Converse graduates are:

  • One of the nation’s top heart researchers
  • South Carolina’s only Pulitzer Prize winner
  • A Texas Supreme Court Justice
  • The nation's most widely syndicated newspaper columnist
  • The National Coordinator of The Association of Missing and Exploited Children’s Organization
  • A Forensic Scientist for the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division
  • A New Mexico State Senator
  • Wachovia’s Managing Director and Head of Sales for Americas for Global Exchange Desk

Converse Scores Among Nation’s Top Colleges in National Survey of Student Engagement

Results from the independent National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), the most comprehensive assessment of effective practices in higher education, demonstrate that a Converse College education prepares young women for the dynamic demands of the professions, workplaces and communities that await them in the twenty-first century. In fact, Converse students evaluated their overall educational experience as “excellent” at nearly twice the rate of students at other NSSE institutions.

The annual survey, sponsored by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, includes data from 313,000 randomly selected students at 610 colleges and universities. Converse exceeded the national average in each of the five benchmarks of excellence:

  • Level of academic challenge
  • Active and collaborative learning
  • Student-faculty interaction
  • Enriching educational experiences
  • Supportive campus environment

The results provide students and parents in the college search process with an inside look into the academic and social life at each college, presenting comparable data that enables informed decisions. The survey also assists colleges in assessing and improving the educational experience they provide.

Take a look at how Converse stacks up.

National Survey Illustrates Advantages of Women’s College Education

Results issued recently from a Hardwick-Day Inc. study show that women’s college graduates rate their alma maters higher on a number of key measures than their female counterparts who attended coeducational liberal arts colleges and public universities.

Unlike many alumnae studies that assess students shortly after graduation, the Hardwick-Day survey of women graduates from the classes of 1970 through 1997 assesses the long-term impact of the college experience in relation to

  • Satisfaction with the undergraduate experience
  • Career preparation and advancement
  • Transferable skill development
  • Personal and professional values and attitudes
  • Community involvement

The study, commissioned by the Women’s College Coalition, utilized a comparison group from the Hardwick-Day database of more than 10,000 interviews collected nationwide since 1998.

View notable findings from the survey.