Scholarships and Grants at Carthage

Non-need based grants and merit scholarships come from a variety of sources. Carthage administers a generous program funded through its own resources, with awards recognizing student achievement. Some scholarships require students to complete a separate application, while others do not (see below).

All Carthage no-need scholarships and grants are reserved for full-time undergraduate students seeking their first bachelor's degree. Renewal requires an annual minimum grade point average and full-time enrollment. A student may compete or be eligible for a combination of no-need scholarships and grants that, when combined, can't exceed tuition unless otherwise noted. Please call the Office of Admissions at 800-351-4058 for additional information.

Remember: applying early for both admission and financial aid maximizes your opportunity to receive financial aid.

Transfer scholarship and financial aid information is available here.

Automatic Merit Scholarships and Grants

Automatic merit scholarships and grants are made to freshmen (entering in spring or fall) at the time of admission to Carthage, without regard to financial need. The number of scholarships awarded and available is not limited. No additional application is required for these awards. A student is awarded these grants and scholarships based exclusively on test scores and academic background as reported on an official transcript, and on information provided on the admissions application. In the event that scores improve over time, Carthage will use the student's best composite score through the ACT or SAT December testing date of the student's senior year, in combination with the students final first semester grades, as reported midway through the senior year. (Updated information must be received by January 15, 2008. If your school reports grades for the first semester of your senior year after January 15, updated transcripts must be received by Carthage by February 1 for merit scholarship consideration.) Note that we use the ACT score for scholarship purposes if you submit both the ACT and SAT.

Academic Scholarships (unlimited)

Note that we use the ACT score for scholarship purposes if you submit both the ACT and SAT. *SAT scores listed are Critical Reasoning + Math. GPA is based on an unweighted 4.00 scale.

  2.75-2.99 GPA 3.00-3.49 GPA 3.50-4.00 GPA
21 ACT
(980-1010 SAT*)		 n/a $3,000/year
Carthage Grant		 $5,000/year
Faculty Scholarship
22 ACT
(1020-1050 SAT*)		 $3,000/year
Carthage Grant		 $5,000/year
Faculty Scholarship		 $6,000/year
Dean's Scholarship
23 ACT
(1060-1080 SAT*)		 $5,000/year
Faculty Scholarship		 $6,000/year
Dean's Scholarship		 $7,000/year
Presidential Scholarship
24 ACT
(1090-1120 SAT*)		 $6,000/year
Dean's Scholarship		 $7,000/year
Presidential Scholarship		 $8,000/year
Springfield Scholarship
25-27 ACT
(1130-1230 SAT*)		 $7,000/year
Presidential Scholarship		 $8,000/year
Springfield Scholarship		 $9,000/year
Founders Scholarship
28-29 ACT
(1240-1310 SAT*)		 $8,000/year
Springfield Scholarship		 $9,000/year
Founders Scholarship 		$9,500/year
Academic Honors Scholarship
30-36 ACT
(1320-1600 SAT*)		 $9,000/year
Founders Scholarship 		$9,500/year
Academic Honors Scholarship 		$10,000/year
Highest Honors Scholarship

*SAT scores listed are Critical Reasoning + Math.

The Alumni Grant (unlimited)

A four-year renewable grant of $1,000 per year (four-year value: $4,000) is awarded to children of Carthage alumni. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 is required for renewal.

Boys/Girls State Leadership Grant (unlimited)

A four-year renewable grant of $1,000 per year (four-year value: $4,000) is awarded to students who have attended Boys State or Girls State. Proof of attendance from the student's high school is required and must be submitted by January 15, 2008. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 is required for renewal.

Dollars for Scholars Program

Carthage is a Collegiate Partner of Scholarship America and the Dollars for Scholars family of community scholarship foundations. Carthage has agreed that Dollars for Scholars awards up to $1,000 per student will not adversely affect scholarship funding provided by Carthage.

ELCA Grant (unlimited)

A four-year renewable grant of $500 per year (four-year value: $2,000) is awarded to members of congregations affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 is required for renewal.

Ministerial Grant (unlimited)

A four-year renewable grant of $750 per year (four-year value: $3,000) is awarded to children of ELCA ministers. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 is required for renewal.

Multicultural Grant (unlimited)

These four-year renewable scholarships are awarded to students of color. The student must be admitted to Carthage as a new freshman or transfer.

Note that we use the ACT score for scholarship purposes if you submit both the ACT and SAT. SAT scores listed are Critical Reasoning + Math. GPA is based on an unweighted 4.00 scale.

  2.00-2.99 GPA 3.00-4.00 GPA
18-21 ACT
(860-1010 SAT)		 $1,000/year $1,500/year
22-24 ACT
(1020-1120 SAT)		 $1,500/year $2,000/year
25-27 ACT
(1130-1230 SAT)		 $2,000/year $2,500/year
28-29 ACT
(1240-1310 SAT)		 $2,500/year $3,000/year
30-36 ACT
(1320-1600 SAT) 		$3,000/year $3,500/year

Sibling Grant

A four-year renewable grant of $1,000 per year (four-year value: $4,000) is awarded to each sibling enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student at Carthage. To receive this grant, both students must be enrolled full time. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 is required for renewal.

Tri-County Grant (unlimited)

A four-year renewable grant of $500 per year (four-year value: $2,000) is awarded to all students who reside in Kenosha, Racine, or Walworth Counties. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 is required for renewal.

Competitive Scholarships

Competitive scholarships require a special application and/or audition and participation on the part of the student. Applications for most of these scholarships will be available on this Web page for download starting in October and can be obtained by calling the Office of Admissions at 800-351-4058. All students who are on the Carthage mailing list will receive information about our competitive scholarships in the mail.

Alumni Association Scholarship

Two $1,500 scholarships (increased or decreased at the discretion of the Alumni Council) are awarded to a direct relative of a graduate (ex. parents, siblings, aunts/uncles, grandparents, and/or cousins) of Carthage Alumni. To compete, admitted students must submit the required information postmarked no later than January 2009. More information about the Alumni Association Scholarship...

Bridges Scholarship

The Bridges Scholarship is available to students of color, and covers the cost of full tuition for a bachelor's degree in a pre-seminary program at Carthage and graduate studies leading to a master of divinity degree at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. If you believe you have the gifts for ministry and would like more information about the Bridges Scholarship, please contact the Carthage Office of Admissions for recommendation. Download and print a Bridges Scholarship application (PDF).

Debate Scholarships

Scholarships ranging up to $10,000 per year awarded to students interested in debate. These scholarships are in addition to most other Carthage merit scholarships. Recipients are selected by the director of debate by application and additional evaluation. All aspects of the application must be completed by March 1, 2008. More information about Debate Scholarships...

Fine Arts Scholarships (unlimited)

Scholarships ranging from $500 to $10,000 per year awarded to admitted students who excel in art, music, or theatre. Open to majors and nonmajors in music; majors and minors in communications, graphic design, studio art, theatre, theatre performance, and technical theatre production and design. Recipients are selected by the representative departments by audition or portfolio review, and are required to participate in department activities. Auditions will be held by special appointment, and can be arranged by calling 800-351-4058 and asking for the respective department. All auditions and portfolio reviews must be completed by March 1, 2008.

French/German Scholarships (four offered)

Up to four scholarships are awarded to students majoring in French or German. (A double major in another subject area is acceptable and can be completed in four years). Each scholarship covers $17,000 per year renewable for four years, and incorporates all Carthage assistance. Those invited to compete must have at least three years of high school French or German. Candidates must apply to Carthage and return the completed French/German Scholarship application and teacher recommendation postmarked no later than December 11, 2008. More information about French/German Scholarships...

Kenosha Police/Fire Scholarship (one offered)

One full-tuition scholarship is awarded to a dependent of a city of Kenosha police officer or fire fighter. This scholarship incorporates all Carthage assistance. To compete, students must apply to Carthage and return the completed Police/Fire Scholarship application and essay postmarked no later than December 11, 2008. Call 800-351-4058 for additional information.

Kenosha Scholarships (seven offered)

Six full-tuition scholarships awarded to Kenosha residents in recognition of the City of Kenosha's agreement to lease parkland to the College for residence halls. An additional full-tuition scholarship will be awarded to a Kenosha resident in recognition of the City of Kenosha's agreement to lease land to Carthage for student parking. These scholarships incorporate all Carthage assistance. To compete, admitted students must return a completed Kenosha Scholarship application and essay postmarked no later than December 11, 2008. More information about Kenosha Scholarships...

The Lincoln Scholarship Program (seventeen offered)

Open to all majors and awards seventeen scholarships ranging from 75% tuition to full tuition, room and board. To compete for these scholarships, students must apply to Carthage and return the completed Lincoln Scholarship Program application and required essay, postmarked or submitted online no later than December 11, 2008. More information about the Lincoln Scholarship Program...

Math/Science Scholarships (three offered)

One full-tuition scholarship and two $17,000 per year scholarships incorporating all Carthage assistance. To compete for these scholarships, students must apply to Carthage and return the completed Math/Science Scholarship Program application by December 11, 2008. More information about Math/Science Scholarships...

Tarble Family California Scholarships

Up to ten scholarships ranging in value to incoming freshmen or transfer students from California. Tarble Family California Scholarships recipients will receive up to $17,000 per year in Carthage assistance. To compete, admitted students must return a completed Tarble Family California Scholarships application and essay postmarked no later than March 1, 2008. More information about Tarble Family California Scholarships...
Scholarships