
Cardinal Stritch University, located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was founded in 1937 and was originally known as St. Clare College. The school was founded as a teaching college for the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi. In 1943 the school opened a reading clinic designed to assist children with reading difficulties which operates to this day as The Literacy Centers and is one of the oldest such programs in the nation. The school was renamed Cardinal Stritch College in 1946 to honor former Milwaukee Archbishop Samuel Cardinal Stritch, who had been partly responsible for the establishment of the school. By 1970 the school had become entirely coeducational, where previously only graduate programs were available to male applicants. Since then the school has increased its program offerings, expanded its campus and resources, and seen a sizable increase in enrollment.
Academics
Cardinal Stritch University offers a large number of majors that allow students to choose one that best reflects their personal goals and help guide them to their future. Students will study a particular major through lower and upper division courses, as well as take general education courses required by law and a number of electives that allow for additional education in non-related fields. Overall a bachelor's degree will take four years to complete. Students may also choose to add a minor degree, requiring additional courses in a secondary area of study. Graduate programs are also available, with programs having separate requirements for admission, such as having earned a lower level degree, high graduate level test scores and a strong academic record.
Programs offered include:
The school also offers associate degree and certificate programs that take a maximum of two years to complete.
Admissions and Financial Aid
Cardinal Stritch University requires all interested students to complete the application for admission online, provide transcripts and test scores, as well as any other information upon request. The school will review all supplied material when determining admissions, and when a final decision is rendered, will notify the student. If the student is admitted he or she will receive additional information regarding preparation for enrollment at the school. Transfer and international students will have separate admissions requirements, as will graduate students as noted above. Students seeking associate degrees or certificates will be admitted once the application is submitted and fees are paid.
Financial aid is available in the form of loans, grants, work study programs and scholarships. Students in need of financial assistance must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is used by the school's financial aid office when determining need and aid program eligibility when constructing the students financial aid package. All aid must be reapplied for each academic year. Students may be chosen at random by the school and asked to provide additional tax and financial information which will be compared to the submitted FAFSA to confirm the accuracy of the information as part of recent government regulations regarding the disbursement of aid.
Admission Requirements & Details
The information regarding admissions below may give an overview of the applicants Stritch accepts. The details may include admissions application requirements and recommendations, as well as any college or dual credits that may be transferred.
College Credits Accepted
- Dual Credits
- Life Experience Credits
- AP Course Credits
Student Enrollment
Total enrollment at Cardinal Stritch University is around 3,200 students, with undergraduate students making up about 62% of the total student population and graduate students making up the rest.
Estimated Costs & Financial Aid
The items listed below are for informational purposes only and may not represent current tuition, fees, and expenses.
Tuition & Fees Information
- The estimated tuition range is around $27,000-$32,000 per year
- The estimated tuition for part time students is around $840 to $1,000 per unit
- The average estimated cost for on campus housing and meals is listed to be around $9,200, the amount includes nineteen meals each week
Financial Aid Details
The table below breaks down the types of financial aid, the percent of students receiving aid, and average amount of aid per student per year.
Percent of Students | Average Amount | |
---|---|---|
Any Financial Aid | 99% | - |
Receiving Grants & Scholarships | 99% | $19,004 |
Receiving Student Loans | 81% | $6,616 |
Academics & Student Services
Student Services
To help support students, Cardinal Stritch University may offer services to students like:- Online course work available
- Classes offered on nights and weekends
- Remedial instructional courses
- Career path counseling
- Work study style employment
- Employment search assistance
Graduation Rates
Cardinal Stritch University has an overall graduation rate which is around 42%.
Number of Year to Graduate | Percent of Entering Class |
---|---|
Students Graduating in 4 Years | 14% |
Graduating in 6 Years | 13% |
Specialized Programs & Accreditations
- Associate's Degree in Nursing (ADN) Program
- Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) Program
- Nursing (MSN, DSN) Program
- Elementary and Secondary School Teacher Education Program
Intercollegiate Athletics
Stritch is a Member of National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), with many of the sports being in the NAIA Division II classification. The most popular sports played are listed below:
- Baseball
- Basketball (Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conf)
- Soccer
- Softball
- Track and Field, X-Country
- Volleyball
Programs Offered
The program list below is organized by areas of study. The programs that have a link will direct you to the program's profile page where you can learn more about education requirements and career pathways.

Get more information about the programs offered by Cardinal Stritch University by clicking the request information to the right.
(C) Certificate or Award | (A) Associate's | (B) Bachelor's | (M) Master's Degree | (D) Doctorate (PhD,...)
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Biology (B)
Business and Marketing Studies
- Business Administration (B, M)
- Organizational Leadership (B, M)
- Commerce (A, B)
- Human Resources (B, C)
- Project Management (C)
- Management Information Systems and Services (B)
- Accounting (B)
- International Business (B)
- Information Systems (B)
Communications and Journalism
- Communication, General (B)
Computer and Information Sciences
- Computer Science (B)
Education
- Educational Leadership and Administration (D, M)
- Elementary Education (B, M)
- Special Education and Teaching (M)
- Teacher Education, Multiple Levels (M)
- Urban Education and Leadership (M)
- Education (M)
- Special Education (M)
- Reading Teacher and Literacy Specialist (D, M)
- Early Childhood Education (B)
- ESL (M)
- Secondary Education (M)
- Educational and Instructional Media Design (M)
English Language and Literature
- English (B)
- Writing, General (B)
Foreign Languages and Literature
Health and Clinical Professions
- Nursing (A)
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (B)
- Nursing Education (M)
- Respiratory Therapy
History
- History (B)
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Mathematics and Statistics
- Math (B)
Philosophy and Religious Studies
- Religious Studies (B, M)
Physical Sciences
- Chemistry (B)
Psychology
- Clinical Psychology (M)
- Psychology (B)
Recreation and Fitness Studies
- Sports Management (B, M)
Security and Protective Services
Social Sciences
- Sociology (B)
- Political Science (B)
Theology and Religious Vocations
- Lay Ministry (M)
Visual and Performing Arts
- Art Studies (B)
- Graphic Design (B)
- Drama and Theatre Arts (B)
- Game Design (B)
- Visual and Performing Arts (B)
- Piano and Organ (M)
- Photography
- Music Performance
Other 4-Year Private Colleges
The list of schools below have been selected by researching which schools offer similar programs to Cardinal Stritch University.
- University of Wisconsin - Parkside in Kenosha, WI (34 miles away)
- University of Wisconsin - Whitewater in Whitewater, WI (47 miles away)
- University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh in Oshkosh, WI (69 miles away)
- Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago, IL (81 miles away)
- University of Wisconsin - Green Bay in Green Bay, WI (96 miles away)
Also, you can compare schools by looking through our list of colleges & universities:
- Browse through our complete list of colleges in Wisconsin
- See all private colleges in Wisconsin
- See if these other Christian Colleges in Wisconsin may interest you?
Data Disclaimer
Information displayed on this page has been obtained from Institution, State, and Federal data sources, including the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) Survey 2010-2016. Information should be solely used for informational purposes only and may not be accurate for the current year. Contact Cardinal Stritch University for official up-to-date information.