Undergraduate Scholarships

Carthage awards automatic merit scholarships of up to $20,000 per year to qualified incoming freshmen at the time of admission. These scholarships are based on the application for admission and transcripts/GPA, and are completely funded by Carthage. No additional application is required.

All Carthage non-need-based scholarships and grants are reserved for full-time undergraduate students seeking their first bachelor’s degree. Amounts listed below are for students starting classes in fall 2025 or later.

Renewal requires an annual minimum cumulative GPA and full-time enrollment status. A student may compete or be eligible for a combination of non-need-based scholarships and grants but, when combined, cannot exceed tuition unless otherwise noted. The number of scholarships awarded is not limited. Please call the Office of Admissions for additional information at 800-351-4058.

Academic Scholarships

Up to $20,000 per year, renewable
At the time of admission, academic scholarships up to $20,000 per year are awarded to qualified freshmen based on cumulative high school grade-point average (non-weighted). Complete your application for admission and send your high school transcripts to discover your merit award.

Visit Grant

$1,000 per year, renewable
A four-year renewable grant of $1,000 per year (four-year value: $4,000) is awarded to prospective students who visit Carthage. One Visit Grant per student. Schedule your visit. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 is required for renewal.

EARLY FAFSA FILERS AWARD

$500 per year, renewable
The Early FAFSA Filers Award is for students who submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), officially signed by applicant and one parent, to be received by the Federal Processing Agency by February 1. Renewable with FAFSA completion by January 1 each year. Students may receive this award regardless of financial need.

Lutheran GRANT

$1,000 per year, renewable
A four-year renewable grant of $1,000 per year (four-year value: $4,000) is awarded to members of congregations affiliated with the Lutheran Church. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 is required for renewal.

LEGACY GRANT

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

MINISTERIAL GRANT

$500 per year, renewable
A four-year renewable grant of $500 per year (four-year value: $2,000) is awarded to children of ELCA ministers. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 is required for renewal.

MULTICULTURAL GRANT

$1,000 per year, renewable
A four-year grant in the amount of $1,000 per year is awarded to students of a multicultural background meeting certain academic criteria. The student must be admitted to Carthage as a new freshman or transfer. A minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.0 is required for renewal.

TRANSFER SCHOLARSHIPS

A variety of scholarships are available to students transferring to Carthage from another college.
Learn more about transfer scholarships

Scholarships and grants may be combined with federal and state grants, not to exceed full tuition.

A grant is a form of aid that does not need to be paid back and is typically based on need. Need-based grants require students to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine if they qualify. Carthage offers many grant and scholarship programs. 

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CONTINUING STUDENTS

Carthage offers continuing students an opportunity to compete for merit awards, such as Intellectual Foundations Scholarships, Departmental Honors, Service Fellowships, and selected endowed scholarships. These require faculty recommendations and may have additional stipulations as developed by the department donor. Students should watch The Bridge for scholarship news. Carthage also notifies students of outside scholarships through The Bridge and the financial aid website.

Federal Grant Programs

Federal Pell Grant
Federal Pell Grants are for undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s or professional degree, and who have financial need as determined by the FAFSA. A Federal Pell Grant does not need to be repaid.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
SEOG is for full-time undergraduate students with exceptional financial need as determined by the FAFSA. These funds are limited and do not need to be repaid.

TEACH Grant
TEACH Grants are for qualifying students who are completing or plan to complete coursework needed to begin a career in teaching. Eligibility is based on multiple factors and recipients agree to completing a teaching service obligation.

Wisconsin Grant Programs

Wisconsin Tuition Grant (WTG)
The Wisconsin Tuition Grant is a need-based grant that does not need to be repaid. This grant provides assistance to undergraduate Wisconsin residents enrolled at least half-time in private, non-profit institutions within the state of Wisconsin. The maximum grant amount is established annually by the Higher Educational Aids Board of Wisconsin (HEAB). The Wisconsin Tuition Grant recipients are determined by information submitted on the FAFSA form. Grants range from $1,000-$4,400 per year.

Academic Excellence Scholarship
Academic Excellence Scholarships are awarded to Wisconsin high school seniors who have the highest grade point average in each public and private high school throughout the State of Wisconsin. The value of the scholarship is $2,250 per year, to be applied towards tuition. Half of the scholarship is funded by the state, while the other half is matched by the institution.

Hearing and Visually Impaired Student Grant
The state offers funding for Wisconsin residents who demonstrate financial need and have severe or profound hearing or visual impairment. Students are eligible to receive up to $1,800 per year for up to five years. The FAFSA must be filed in order to qualify for this grant, and the student must be at least half-time.

Indigenous Peoples Student Assistance
The State of Wisconsin offers funding through its Indian Student Assistance Grant, up to $1,100 per year to any Wisconsin resident who is at least 25 percent Native American and is enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree or certificate program for up to 10 semesters. Students who apply early and demonstrate exceptional financial need will be nominated by the Carthage Office of Student Financial Services.

Minority Undergraduate Retention Grant
This grant program provides limited funds to selected minority students with exceptional financial need. Students must be nominated in their sophomore year. The FAFSA must be filed to be considered.

Minority Teacher Loan (forgivable loan program)
The state offers a forgivable loan to any full-time, eligible junior or senior enrolled in a Teacher Certification Program with a minimum GPA of 2.50. This loan ranges up to $2,500 per year for a maximum of two years. Twenty-five percent of the loan is forgiven for each year spent teaching in an eligible school. Students who apply early and demonstrate exceptional financial need, will be nominated by the Carthage Office of Student Financial Services. For more information, visit www.heab.state.wi.us/programs.

Talent Incentive Program Grant (TIP)
This state program provides grants to students who demonstrate exceptional need. Students who qualify may be nominated in their freshman year through Carthage to the state agency or can apply for this program at their Wisconsin Educational Opportunity Program (WEOP) Office. Once accepted, this aid lasts for four years.The FAFSA must also be filed to be considered for the Talent Incentive Program Grant.

Institutional Need-based Grants

In addition to a broad range of federal and state Programs, Carthage supplements these awards with a generous commitment of institutional need-based grants. The Financial Grant is just one form of institutional aid in which the amount varies based on need and completion of the FAFSA.

Visit your high school guidance office to learn about local scholarships from community, religious, and service organizations. In addition, the following websites are useful scholarship search resources:

• FastWeb is the largest and most complete scholarship search on the Internet. It provides free access to a searchable database of more than 400,000 private sector scholarships, fellowships, grants, and student loans available to students. Carthage is a member institution of FastWeb.
• Scholarship America
• Scholarships.com
• Tuitionfundingsources.com
• OutsideScholarships.org
• StudentScholarships.org

Please note: Do not pay money to have any organization search for scholarships. These are not worth the cost and a search can be done easily and free of charge.

Scholarships and grants may be combined with federal and state grants, not to exceed full tuition.