Scholarships at Carthage College

The Lincoln Scholarship is one of Carthage College's Presidential Scholarship Program awards, named for Abraham Lincoln, an early Trustee of Carthage. Three Lincoln Scholars are selected from each incoming freshman class from applicants in the competitive Presidential program. Awards range from $33,000 per year to full tuition and renew for four years. Apply for admission and submit the Presidential Scholarship Program application and 250-word essay by December 3. Selected candidates attend a second-round event in January or February with faculty interviews and an additional essay.

The Ruud Scholarship continues Carthage College's Presidential Scholarship Program tradition of recognizing academic and leadership excellence, offered through the generosity of Susan Young and Alan Ruud. Three Ruud Scholars are chosen from each incoming freshman class via the Presidential Scholarship Program, with awards from $33,000 per year to full tuition renewable over four years. Complete the admission application, Presidential Scholarship Program application, activity list, and 250-word essay by December 3. Invited finalists attend a hybrid second-round event in January or February and receive a $2,000 grant toward tuition for participating.

The Lentz/Dahl/Anderson/Campbell Scholarship is a Carthage College Presidential Scholarship Program award named for former presidents Harold Lentz, Erno Dahl, Alan Anderson, and F. Gregory Campbell. Ten scholarships are offered to incoming freshmen seeking a rigorous liberal arts education, with values from $33,000 per year to full tuition renewable four years. Submit your admission application, Presidential Scholarship Program application, activity list, and 250-word essay by December 3. Presidential Scholarships incorporate all Carthage assistance and may combine with federal and state grants not to exceed full tuition.

Carthage College awards French/Japanese/Spanish Scholarships of $33,000 per year to incoming students intending to major or minor in French or Japanese or major in Spanish. The Modern Languages Department prepares students for study abroad, typically requiring at least one semester abroad during the junior year. Submit admission application, Modern Languages Scholarship application, and language-specific materials by November 1; Spanish majors need three years of high school Spanish and a 250-word career-goals essay. Finalists attend a November second-round campus event with faculty interviews and a short essay. Scholarships incorporate all Carthage assistance and renew four years.

Carthage College awards four $10,000 per year Nursing Scholarships to incoming freshmen planning to major in nursing who demonstrate compassion and commitment to patient care. Alongside one full-tuition nursing award, these scholarships support students in the direct-entry BSN program and renew for four years when eligibility is maintained. Submit admission application, Nursing Scholarship application, and 250-word essay by November 1. Qualified applicants are invited to a November second-round event on campus with a nursing faculty conversation and essay. Awards incorporate all Carthage assistance and coordinate with federal and state grants.

The Carthage Alumni Association awards three $2,000 scholarships each year to incoming students who are direct relatives of Carthage graduates, including children, grandchildren, siblings, nieces, nephews, and cousins. This competitive award is separate from the automatic $1,000 Legacy Grant given to all children and grandchildren of alumni. Submit the Alumni Association Scholarship application by December 3; include names of relatives who attended Carthage for alumni records. The Alumni Council reviews blind-numbered essays at its January meeting. Amount may be adjusted at the Alumni Association's discretion. Funded through alumni gifts and event donations.

Carthage College awards two full-tuition Math/Science Scholarships each year to incoming students demonstrating ability in mathematics and natural sciences. Eligible intended majors include biology, biotechnology, chemistry, data science, environmental science, geographic information science, geoscience, mathematics, neuroscience, and physics; double majors are acceptable. Submit admission application, Math/Science Scholarship application, and one-page interest essay by December 3. Finalists attend a hybrid second-round event in mid-February with a written examination covering four of five science and math subject areas. Scholarships incorporate all Carthage assistance and renew four years.

Carthage College awards one full-tuition Communication/Public Relations Scholarship each year to an incoming student who demonstrates ability in communication or public relations and intends to major in those fields. Apply for admission and submit the Communication/Public Relations Scholarship application with a one-page interest essay by November 1. The communication faculty and Admissions review applications; qualified candidates are invited to a November second-round event on campus. The scholarship incorporates all Carthage assistance, may combine with federal and state grants not to exceed full tuition, and renews four years.