


Courtesy of Wisconsin Lutheran College
Wisconsin Lutheran College (WLC) was founded in 1973 as a Christian liberal arts college in the Milwaukee area. It developed from a small institution into a four-year college offering bachelor's degrees and, later, graduate study.
Its history helps explain its present-day identity: WLC combines a broad liberal arts curriculum with preparation for fields such as education, business, and nursing, while retaining a connection to the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Applicants comparing it with other Milwaukee-area colleges should note that its religious identity is part of the educational setting, not simply a historical affiliation.
Wisconsin Lutheran College is a small liberal arts institution rather than a university organized around numerous separately named colleges. Its academic offerings span the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, business, education, health-related fields, and the arts.
Undergraduates can consider subjects such as biology, computer science, communication, psychology, accounting, business administration, education, music, and nursing. WLC also offers graduate-level study. The degree and course requirements for a particular program belong in the current academic catalog; a subject appearing in a program directory does not necessarily mean every course is offered every semester.
Professional pathways warrant an additional check. Prospective teachers should examine the requirements for Wisconsin educator licensure, while nursing applicants should review clinical placements, progression standards, and eligibility for licensure. Those requirements can differ substantially from admission to the college itself.
Wisconsin Lutheran College is at 8800 West Bluemound Road in Milwaukee, near the Wauwatosa border. Its campus offers a more contained college setting than a downtown Milwaukee campus while remaining within reach of the metropolitan area.
That location can matter for internships, clinical experiences, student teaching, and part-time work. Commuters should consider travel time and parking alongside the class schedule, especially if a program requires placements away from campus. Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport serves the region, though the practical route to campus depends on a student's transportation arrangements.
Wisconsin Lutheran College describes its educational purpose in Christian terms, emphasizing liberal arts learning, preparation for service, and a worldview shaped by Lutheran teaching. Its affiliation is with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
For applicants, the relevant question is how that stated mission appears in daily academic life: general-education requirements, religious activities, conduct expectations, and the treatment of faith within coursework. The mission describes the college's aims; it should not be read as an independently measured outcome for every student.
Name of the institution
Wisconsin Lutheran CollegeLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
City: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
1,000 - 4,999Religious affiliation
Protestant (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod)School type
Comprehensive higher education institutionMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
OtherFoundation year
1973Wisconsin Lutheran 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.
Bachelor's degree
Master's degreeData last updated on November 5, 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.