Winthrop University (Rock Hill, Clemson, Fort Mill: rentals, dorms, high school)

[Luvsdabeach]

Winthrop is one of 4 colleges my daughter has applied to and I was wondering how safe it is around the college? This past summer she stayed there for 2 weeks for camp and the area looked kind of run down. Any help will be appreciated.

[groove1]

Winthrop's campus is very safe. There is a run down area just west of the campus, but the security there is very good. I know a ton of people have graduated from there and a few who gotten there MBA's there. I also know someone who is a Spanish professor there. Very good school, close to a lot, relatively close to Charlotte.

[Luvsdabeach]

Thanks! It's that run down area that I'm concerned with. She has a few friends that go there now and they seem to like it.

[scpink5]

I'm a freshman at Winthrop & I love it there! Although, I am from Fort Mill, so I grew up knowing the area. The campus is very safe, and they do a very good job of keeping it up. The school has the Winthrop Police, they're usually pretty good, so is Rock Hill Police. There's some rough spots in Rock Hill, but I'm sure she wont be venturing into them, so there should be no worries.

[Luvsdabeach]

Thanks for that info. I'm just being a concerned mom.

[jenn02674]

Winthrop is a very safe school. Most of the run down areas in the immediate vicinity of Winthrop (like walking distance) are mostly rented out to students anyway.

[NintyFresh]

I'm a sophomore at Winthrop currently, originally from PA, and I have to say that Winthrop is a very good school (as has been said). Right now they have the policy that new students must live on campus for two years (unless they live within 50 miles with their guardians, you can say you don't want to), so that helps with safety and guarantees that your child has a place to stay that is safe on campus. We have a lot of security at the dorms with card access as well. I live in The Courtyard, which is a dorm for upperclassmen that is situated near the "bad" area, and I never have any problems.

[Charles94]

I've lived in Rock Hill for almost 30 years and have never considered the area around Winthrop as "bad" but I understand the view.

The area to the east of Winthrop (College Drive/Winthrop Farm area) is one of the most desirable, established residential areas in town. The area south of campus is a mix of established residences, churches, schools, and college rentals. The area north (across from cherry road) is mostly retail and college rental.

The area in question is probably west of campus, literally "across the tracks". Its comprised of former fair grounds (purchased by Winthrop), new university housing, city services, High School football field, very little housing. There is a large abandoned industrial complex in the area and also a, yes, strip joint.

With a college daughter at Clemson, I would have no concerns with my daughter living on campus at Winthrop or in the local off-campus housing. Having lived a few blocks from Winthrop many years ago, I would love to move back to that area of town.

[wendythomas]

I went to Winthrop for undergrad as well as grad school, and ended up staying in Rock Hill. I LOVE the area, and think it's a very safe community. I've been out of undergrad since 1996, so I've seen the school change a lot, and I think it's a wonderful place with many opportunities, in the school as well as in the Rock Hill community. Hope this helps.

[IBrakeforTailgaters]

I didn't attend Winthrop, but I attended an arts program there for several years while growing up. I never felt unsafe there; I don't really pass through the area that much now, but it hasn't really changed. No need for concern