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Student Experience

Carthage is known for class size, hands-on learning opportunities, personal attention from dedicated faculty, and comprehensive support.

Carthage’s mission is to provide a transformative, well-rounded education that guides students toward new passions, purpose, and academic and career success. Every class at Carthage is taught by faculty members who are distinguished in their fields. They have named dinosaurs, won Academy Awards®, earned prestigious NASA grants, and launched student projects into suborbital space. Every professor at Carthage spends the time to know each student on a personal level, understanding their passions and guiding them to future career opportunities. Classwork is often project-based, and focused on developing the critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills that employers value.

The Carthage experience extends beyond the classroom, and many students explore a wide variety of interests and extracurricular activities. Students can compete on a top NCAA D-III athletic team and graduate on time with a nursing degree. Students can conduct research for NASA and perform in the Carthage Philharmonic. With more than 130 student clubs and organizations, there are many opportunities to get involved.

Transfer Opportunities

Carthage offers a simple four-step transfer admission process and each year welcomes approximately 150 full-time transfer students. Carthage transfer admissions coordinators work closely with students by providing individual counseling, setting up on-campus visits and academic advising appointments, and serving as liaisons in the financial aid process. Carthage provides a transfer equivalency portal so students can see how their credits fit into degree requirements. Learn more about Carthage’s transfer process.

Support Services for Students

Carthage offers an academic and co-curricular support system that is many layers deep. The 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio ensures personal attention; students build close  relationships with professors who truly care about them. Each student has a team of advisors that includes a faculty advisor, student success advisor, and a career specialist. Additional support is available through the Writing Center, Tutoring Center, Center for Student Success, Intercultural Center, Health and Counseling Center, Semler Fitness Center, Office of Student Financial Planning, and the Library, where students can get technology and research help as well as borrow equipment ranging from laptops to iPads. 

STEM students benefit from robust undergraduate research programs and student organizations devoted to expanding opportunities in specific majors. The Aspire Program™ provides students in all majors with individual career counseling and greater access to internships. Learn more about available student support services.

Affording College as a STEM Scholars Pathway student 

A Carthage degree is accessible and affordable. Carthage recently made the most significant tuition reduction in Wisconsin, and 100 percent of Carthage students currently have some form of assistance, including merit scholarships and grants.

  • Carthage’s Noyce Scholarship Program provides scholarships to STEM majors preparing to teach STEM subjects in middle and high schools.
  • The SC Johnson STEM Scholars Program with Gateway Technical College provides scholarships to students completing a bachelor’s degree in science, technology, engineering, and math fields.
  • Scholarships for outstanding undergraduate students who are pursuing aerospace, space science, or other interdisciplinary space-related studies are available from the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium, headquartered at Carthage. Read more about available WSGC scholarships.
  • Carthage also offers scholarships in business, fine arts, equity and inclusion leadership, and modern languages, as well as scholarships for transfer students.

Learn more about financial aid opportunities and tuition and fees.

View Carthage’s cost information for STEM Scholars. 

Campus Housing Options 

Carthage is a residential college that provides a home away from home. While local students can commute to Carthage, 70 percent of students live on campus. Carthage offers a mix of residence halls, ranging from traditional halls with two-person rooms and communal bathrooms, to the new Tower Residence Hall, an eight-story option offering single and double rooms, semi-private bathrooms, and two floors of common space. Many Carthage residence hall rooms have amazing lake views.

With more than 130 student organizations, Carthage students have many opportunities to get involved. In addition to clubs, students can give back to the community through volunteering, expand their skills through an on-campus job, explore their faith with interfaith activities, work out in Carthage’s first-class fitness facility, and gather with friends at the on-campus Starbucks and Einstein’s Bagels.

More information about campus life can be found at www.carthage.edu/campus-life.

STEM Scholars Pathway Eligible Programs

Carthage College has a number of STEM Scholars Pathway eligible bachelors degree programs of study. Please visit the SC Johnson STEM Scholars Pathway eligible programs webpage for more information.