Converse College raises tuition for the upcoming year, starting in Fall 2018. At the beginning of the 2017-2018 academic year tuition was $17,680 and room and board was $10,610. The total was 28,640.
Prices in the the academic year 2018-2019 will rise by 3.7% for tuition and 3% for room and board. Tuition will be $18,340 and room and board costs will be $10,930. In total $29270.
Tuition will be $18,340 and room and board costs will be $10,930. In total $29270.
Seen below is a visual representation of the increases.
Converse College has been putting effort into updating their campus. Recently, they have built senior apartments and junior suites. The school has updated Mickel Library, by renovating parts of it for open and brighter study spaces. They also renovated one of the oldest dorms, Pell, so that it is now one of the nicest freshman dorms. Since many of the buildings are protected by the historic society, they cannot be completely destroyed in order to rebuild newer dorms.
Several of the older buildings can clearly use updating. Buildings like Williams, Andrews, Belk, Dexter, and Cudd all show signs of aging. Part of Cudd Dormitory is rotting with termites, and is sectioned off with caution tape. Instead of fixing the year old problem, they have built a wall to keep the termites from spreading. Belk smells like mothballs, inside and just walking past it. Andrews has one main communal bathroom for a whole building, as well as holes in the floor. Williams has holes in the ceiling, which is dirty and rusted in spots. Dexter has dingy carpet and a mold problem in the lower floor.
The college boasts to be one of the most affordable private liberal arts schools, yet prices are still rising. Despite the need for updates, it is not surprising that students are not happy with this change. After the news of the new cost broke, dissent and grumbling could be heard through out the school’s classrooms and dorm hallways. Most of the students would rather that the college finds funds from elsewhere.
“Converse’s commitment to the highest standard of academic excellence, coupled with prudent fiscal management, continued enrollment growth, and prioritizing the affordability of a private college education allow us to have an increase that is below the average increases of private and public colleges and universities.
Junior, Rebecca Aybar, does not think that the college should raise tuition and feels slighted by the fact that they are doing so. Aybar said, “Converse College promised in my freshman year that they would keep tuition the same, then literally the next year they raised it.” She believes that the extra money raised should go to renovating the current dorms instead of building new ones. Aybar lives in the most recently built dormitories for Junior, Fleming.
“Converse College promised in my freshman year that they would keep tuition the same, then literally the next year they raised it.”
Freshman, Lashyra Washington, who lives in Pell, is not happy about the raise in cost either and does not understand why it is necessary. When visiting the school as a prospective student she talked with other girls who informed her that tuition had already been raised by 3%. Washington noted that the Rock the Tower fundraiser during the school’s 1889 Week raised $82,402.72 in one day at from 504 donations. She sees this as a better alternative to get funds without directly affecting students. Washington is already working two jobs as a freshman, and plans to work three next year. She struggles with the fact that she has to pay for school on top of double major and double minoring. Washington does not think that the dorms need to be updated, although she admits her opinion might be biased since she lives in a newer dorm.
the school’s 1889 Week raised $82,402.72 in one day at from 504 donations
Freshman, Joi Richardson, who lives in Andrews said, “The school shouldn’t make a commitment to something and go back on it because it shows the character of the college. I don’t appreciate it [the tuition raise].”
“The school shouldn’t make a commitment to something and go back on it because it shows the character of the college. I don’t appreciate it [the tuition raise].”
Below is an interview with several students who share their opinions on the tuition changes. The video also shows clips of the Converse College campus and dormitories.
Freshman, Lindsey Rogers, who lives in Pell says that she will have to come out of pocket to pay for the increase in cost. This will mean more student loans and, inevitably, student debt for Rogers to pay off. Rogers does not quite understand why it is necessary for the school to raise prices.
Freshman, Alexis McMillian, who lives in Andrews describes the living conditions in her building. She says there is a hole in the floor, which squeaks, and the windows are tiny and hard to see out of. McMillian is not entirely pleased with the price raise, but says merely that “It’s different”.
“It’s different”.
Junior, Chiara Mattamira, who lives in Andrews says that the tuition raise is a normal occurrence for colleges and that it is to be expected. She won’t be affected by the tuition raise, due to the scholarships by which she attends Converse College. Mattamira thinks that this will be good for the school to continue improvement so that it will be a quality institution to attend.
Below are pictures of Converse College campus dormitories. Descriptions of the pictures will show if scrolled over.
President Kristina Newkirk, in her initial email to the students, supported the college’s price increases by saying that schools all over America are experiencing rising tuition, but Converse’s are increasing the least. She justifies Converse’s changes by saying that, “Converse’s commitment to the highest standard of academic excellence, coupled with prudent fiscal management, continued enrollment growth, and prioritizing the affordability of a private college education allow us to have an increase that is below the average increases of private and public colleges and universities.”
Students are encouraged to complete their FAFSA early. If they have any questions about how the tuition raise will affect them, they should visit the Financial Planning office to receive assistance.
The office can be reached by phone at 864.596.9019 or by email at financial.planning@converse.edu. The offices are located in East Wilson, 3rd Floor. Office Hours: Mon – Fri: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
Kelly Ferguson's Reports 