Carthage College is a private liberal arts college in Kenosha, Wisconsin, which is located on the shore of Lake Michigan, halfway between Chicago and Milwaukee. Carthage was founded by a group of German Lutherans as The Literary and Theological Institute of the Lutheran Church of the Far West in Hillsboro, Illinois. The school underwent several name and location changes, taking its current name from Carthage, Illinois, a prior location. Today, there are approximately 3,400 students at Carthage. Three-quarters of those attend full-time, and one-quarter part-time.
The college prides themselves on prioritizing hands-on learning, small classes, and interdisciplinary study supported by a strong faculty. According to the school’s website, Carthage’s mission offers:
a curriculum that challenges students to think critically and express themselves effectively
a campus life that encourages involvement and service
a community of faith that nurtures spiritual growth and develops moral responsibility
co-curricular activities that inspire students to test their own limits and express their individuality.
Still strongly affiliated with the Lutheran Church, Carthage welcomes students of all faiths.
Carthage College
Academics
Carthage boasts a student-faculty ratio of just 14:1 and an average class size of 17. There are more than 40 majors to choose from, including many common options such as Education and Pre-law, but also such unique options as Studio Art, Climatology, Jazz Studies, Church Music, and Coaching. It is also possible to self-design a major. In addition to bachelor’s degrees, Carthage awards Master of Education degrees. The school cooperates with Loyola University Chicago to offer a joint Executive MBA and Master of Social Work.
There are several programs within the Carthage umbrella that offer a wide variety of opportunities to students outside of the classroom. In particular, Carthage has a strong reputation for encouraging study abroad and offering many ways to do so.
Graduation Requirements
Students must successfully complete 138 credits to graduate. Most classes in the course catalog are worth four credits. Normally, about one-third of coursework a student will take is core material common to all majors, one-third is coursework specific to the student’s major, and the remaining third is comprised of electives. Carthage students are strongly encouraged to sample a variety of electives from across the course catalog in order to explore and develop their interests and understanding of the world. Many students also elect to complete a minor.
Core Requirements
Core classes for all students include two courses in Western Heritage, Understandings of Religion, a mathematics course, an additional religion course, two modern language classes in the same language (which may be Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Spanish, or Italian); and two single-credit exercise and sports science classes. Students must also successfully complete a J-Term (an intensive course held in January, between the semesters) class their freshman year, as well as at least one more J-Term during another year.
Carthage Symposium
Carthage Symposium is a team-taught class by two instructors from different departments. Each Symposium is a unique creation of those professors and an exploration of the way their disciplines relate. Depending on the topics and the work involved, Symposiums can be worth either 4 or 8 credits.
Writing Intensive Courses
Writing Intensive Courses, in which students are explicitly taught writing skills in addition to the course content, include Western Heritage I and II, Global Heritage, and the Senior Thesis.
Most Popular Fields of Study
The top 5 fields of study completed at Carthage College.
Admissions to Carthage are highly competitive. The average GPA of incoming students is 3.3, and average ACT is 24.4,
Financial Aid
In addition to the many state and federal financial aid options available to students, Carthage also offers several of their own need- and merit-based scholarships, including targeted scholarships for transfer students, California residents, and students studying French, German, Chinese, and Japanese. Over 90% of Carthage students receive financial aid of some kind.
Student Financial Aid Details
How many students use Financial Aid, and how much do they use?
Carthage College 1430th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best Wisconsin scholarships and financial aid
Carthage has a strong reputation for turning out successful students. 95 percent of Carthage graduates earn their degrees in four years. Within six months of graduation, 95 percent of graduates report landing a satisfying career position or enrollment in graduate school.
Clubs and Organizations
There are nearly a hundred student clubs and organizations on campus to fit a variety of personal and professional interests. About 20% of Carthage students are involved in one of the 15 sororities and fraternities on campus.
Living on Campus
Nearly 70% of students live in one of the nine residence halls located on campus. Most are traditional dormitories with a variety of singles, doubles, and suite style rooms. Oaks Village also offers apartment-style options. Many Greek organizations are housed within the residence halls.
Dining on Campus
In addition to a traditional college cafeteria, there are a number of convenient eating options on campus. There is a cyber café in the library featuring frozen yogurt and Einstein Bros. Bagels, a Starbucks in the A.W. Clausen Center of Business, and a variety of fast food outlets in the new student union, including Jamba Juice, Seattle’s Best Coffee, and World of Wings.
Student Enrollment Demographics
How many students are enrolled at Carthage College?
The athletic department at Carthage College is known as the Red Men and the Lady Reds. The Red Men and the Lady Reds compete on the intervarsity level in NCAA Division III. Men’s sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. Women’s sports include basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and water polo. Club sports include hockey, men’s volleyball, and bowling.
In addition to competitive athletic programs, the Athletic and Recreation Center offers a 16 lane swimming pool, indoor rock climbing wall, indoor track, and well-equipped fitness center for student use.
Alumni
Well known alumni from Carthage include:
Former World Bank President Alden W. Clausen
Actress Katie Cleary
Novelist Tony D’Souza
Iowa Supreme Court justice Scott M. Ladd
NFL players Steve Hanson, Rick Kehr, John Wager, Adam Walker, and Jim Jodat
Secretary to Abraham Lincoln, John Hay
Historian Susan Lee Johnson
Miss Wisconsin 2011 Laura Marie Kaeppeler
Author and historian Jon Kukla
Bibliography
Carthage Plan. Academics. Carthage College. Web. 31 July 2011.
Fiske, Edward B. Fiske Guide to Colleges 2011. Chicago: Sourcebooks, 2010. Print.
Pope, Loren. Looking Beyond the Ivy League: Finding the College That’s Right for You. New York: Penguin. 2007. Print.
Quick Facts. Carthage College. Web. 31 July 2011.
Demographics – Main Campus and Surrounding Areas
Reported area around or near Kenosha, WI 53140-1994
Surrounding community
Midsize suburb (inside urban area but outside city, pop. between 100,000 to 250,000)
Feel free to add comments or additional information regarding Carthage College, or discuss this school in the University Discussion Forum
over 2 years agoLorie
My daughter attends Carthage. Classes start soon. She is a straight A student and will be graduating next spring with high honors. She has worked hard in most of her classes to achieve her goals. Her professors will be helping her to go on to graduate school. She is very busy and stressed but enjoying her experience at Carthage.
over 2 years agoKurt Hilden
Carthage College had top notch religion major professors in the 1970's and I believe that is so today. I note thath a comment above describes the college as a party school and not academic, yet he speels breath for breathe! Carthage had tougher pre-theology classes than any of the four theological seminaries I attended. The only F I ever received was at Carthage, and that was in Koine Greek, and when I attended seminary, I tested out of taking it.
about 3 years agocody linhart linhartc ((at)) cusd50 dot org
Carthage College is such an awesome school and is it a beautiful cmapus.
over 3 years agoKyle David Kyle43 ((at)) gmail dot com
I was there for a year - was all I could take. Not a very tough school academically so all the students do is party. If you can breath and graduated high school, you can get in - stay away!
almost 5 years agoEldon C. Hanes Hanestwo ((at)) aol dot com
I was a student at Carthage in 1942 when the school was in Illinois.WW2 interupted my studies,I spent three years in the Army Air Force.I queried Google recently and found that I had been awarded a football letter!!in 1942.Is this correct if so is it to late to collect my letter!!?? I have fond memories of Carthage .
Eldon Hanes Naples Fl
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My daughter attends Carthage. Classes start soon. She is a straight A student and will be graduating next spring with high honors. She has worked hard in most of her classes to achieve her goals. Her professors will be helping her to go on to graduate school. She is very busy and stressed but enjoying her experience at Carthage.