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CollegeRanker
Private nonprofit Spartanburg, SC · Urban · Southeast · 100% data
A Diversity B- Selectivity C Earnings
Graduation Rate
54% C-
About half of students who start complete their degree
Earnings (10yr)
$40,867 C
Roughly in line with national averages
Net Price
$23,283 D+
36% more than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
68% B-
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +0% vs avg
Graduation -6% vs avg
Net Price 36% vs avg
Mobility Top 91%

Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 11.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $11.5 over 20 years. Ranked #8 in Best Online Colleges in South Carolina.

11.5× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $11.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $973,745.

What The Data Says

  1. A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Every $1 invested returns $11.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why Converse University Matters

Converse University is a private university in Spartanburg, SC and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Private University
Carnegie Class
Master's University
Enrollment
1,173
Setting
Urban
Primary Strengths
Business & Marketing, Visual & Performing Arts, Psychology, Biology & Biomedical

Why students choose Converse University

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Strength in Business & Marketing
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C-
Top 59% overall
C
Earnings
$40,867 median
D+
Value
1.8× net price
D+
Affordability
$23,283/yr net
C-
Graduation
54% graduate
F
Social Mobility
0.7% climb Q1→Q5
B-
Selectivity
68% admit rate
A
Diversity
0.78 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

With an enrollment of just over 1,100 students, Converse University in Spartanburg, SC, is a fitting choice for those seeking a close-knit community. The 68% acceptance rate suggests that a diverse range of students can find their place here. Students can pursue various fields, including Visual and Performing Arts, Business, Education, Biology, and Psychology, which allows them to explore their passions in an intimate setting.

After graduating, students can expect to earn an average salary of about $40,867 within ten years. This figure indicates that many graduates are able to find stable employment in their chosen fields, although it’s worth noting that the graduation rate is 54%. Affordability is also a key point; with a net price of $23,283, it reflects a manageable investment for many families, especially when considering that 40% of students receive Pell Grants.

When it comes to the financial aspects, graduates leave with a median debt of $27,000. This amount is relatively standard in today’s climate, but it’s important to weigh it against your potential earnings. Students who thrive here often appreciate the personalized attention and supportive environment, making Converse a solid choice for those looking to develop both academically and personally.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Converse University is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Converse University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Converse University, located in Spartanburg, South Carolina, offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 68% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,138. The graduation rate is roughly 54%.

Acceptance Rate
68%
Retention Rate
80%
SAT Average
1138
SAT Range
1010–1250
ACT Range
19–26
Full-Time Faculty
98%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$6,564
Student–Faculty Ratio
9:1
Diversity Index
0.78
First-Gen Students
32%
Applicants
2,917
Admitted
1,621

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Converse University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Converse University is $25,240, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $23,283. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $14,137 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$25,240
Out-of-State
$25,240
Avg Net Price
$23,283
Median Debt
$27,000
Pell Grant Rate
40%
Federal Loan Rate
61%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$14,137
Family Income $30K–$48K
$18,500
Family Income $48K–$75K
$23,610
Family Income $110K+
$29,105

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Students Like You

Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Converse University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Converse University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Converse University report median earnings of $40,867, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

6 Years After Entry
$33,110
8 Years
$36,478
10 Years
$40,867
Debt-to-Earnings
0.66x
Earning > $25K
53%

Earnings Trajectory

$33,110 6yr $36,478 8yr $40,867 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (117)
50%
100% (117)
50%
100% (117)
50%
100% (117)
50%

How Converse Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation54%Earnings 10yr$41KNet Price$23KRetention80%Median Debt$27KPell Grant Rate40%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$14K$0-30K$19K$30-48K$24K$48-75K$29K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%7.9%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%8.7%MOBILITY0.69%

College ROI Calculator

Is Converse University Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Converse University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $23,283/year ($93,132 total). Graduates earn $40,867 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,066,877 in total earnings — a net gain of $973,745 (11.5× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 54% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$93,132
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,066,877
Net Return
$973,745
ROI Multiple
11.5×
Cost Per Year
$23,283
Median Debt
$27,000
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
54%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Mobility

Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records

Does Converse University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Converse University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.69%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 7.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 8.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $93,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
0.69%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
8.7%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
7.9%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$126,354
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Converse University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Converse University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.45, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.45
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.04
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
10.5%
Support Ratio
1.00
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Federal Grants
$3,971,151
Investment Income
$3,604,961

Top Programs

The fields Converse University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.

Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Converse University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Converse University, located in Spartanburg, South Carolina, offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 68% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,138. The graduation rate is roughly 54%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Converse University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Converse University is $25,240, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $23,283. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $14,137 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.

Is Converse University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Converse University report median earnings of $40,867, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

Does Converse University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Converse University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.69%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 7.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 8.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $93,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Converse University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Converse University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.45, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Converse University.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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