
Courtesy of Carthage College
Carthage College is a private college founded in 1847 in Hillsboro, Illinois. It later moved to Carthage, Illinois, the town from which it takes its name, before relocating to its present campus in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in 1962.
The moves help explain the college's identity: Carthage has roots in the Lutheran educational tradition, but its lakeside Kenosha campus is a comparatively recent chapter in a much longer history. Today it offers undergraduate study across the liberal arts and professional fields, along with graduate programs. Applicants looking at older records should take care not to confuse the college's former Illinois locations with its current Wisconsin campus.
Carthage College offers a liberal arts curriculum with majors spanning the humanities, sciences, social sciences, arts, business, education, and health-related fields. Undergraduate options include biology, computer science, engineering science, accounting, nursing, psychology, music, and theatre.
Students can pursue a bachelor's degree while combining a major with general education requirements, electives, and, where available, a minor or other complementary study. Carthage also offers graduate education; requirements and formats depend on the program. Prospective students should consult the current academic catalog for the exact credential, course sequence, clinical or fieldwork requirements, and admission rules for a particular major. That is especially important in fields such as nursing and teacher education, where progression through a program can involve requirements beyond admission to the college.
The reported student-to-faculty ratio is 15 to 1. That describes an institution-wide relationship, not the size of every class or the availability of a particular course.
Carthage College is in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on the shore of Lake Michigan. Its location places students between the larger Milwaukee and Chicago metropolitan areas while giving the campus a distinct lakeside setting.
Kenosha offers local services and off-campus employment possibilities, but travel to an internship, clinical placement, or job elsewhere in the region can require substantial time. Students planning to commute should check their actual route and class schedule rather than assuming that proximity to Chicago or Milwaukee makes either city an easy daily trip. The college's residential and commuter populations mean that transportation needs will differ from student to student.
Carthage describes its educational purpose in terms of seeking truth, building strength, and inspiring service together. Its stated approach connects liberal arts study with preparation for work, civic participation, and continued learning.
The college has a Lutheran heritage and an affiliation with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. That affiliation is relevant to its history and stated values; it should not be mistaken for a requirement that every student share a particular faith. Applicants interested in how the mission affects general education, campus programming, or religious life can look at those specific policies and opportunities rather than treating a mission statement as a measure of individual experience.
Name of the institution
Carthage CollegeLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
City: SmallInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
1,000 - 4,999Religious affiliation
Protestant (Evangelical Lutheran Church)School type
Four-year collegeMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
4-1-4Foundation year
1847Carthage College is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Certificate of less than 1 year
Bachelor's degree
Postbaccalaureate certificate
Master's degreeData last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.