Cardinal Stritch University

Student Profile

Fall 2015 Enrollment
1,971 undergraduate students
89% of undergrad students are full time
35% male — 65% female
14% of students are from out of state

Faculty Profile

2015-2016 Academic Year
87 full-time faculty
425 part-time faculty
11 to 1 student/faculty ratio

Residence Life

Fall 2015
63% of first year students live on campus
14% of all students live on campus

School Location

Cardinal Stritch University is located on the northern edge of Milwaukee in a safe residential neighborhood. There, students are conveniently close to many great restaurants, three shopping centers, and a variety of venues for both indoor and outdoor recreation. Stritch also offers select programs at locations in Madison, Brookfield, and online.

High-Impact Practices

Read more about the importance of High-Impact Practices 

Retention Fall 2015

69% of students began in Fall 2014 and returned in Fall 2015 (full time, first time freshmen)

6 YEAR GRADUATION RATE 2015

44% of students graduated in 6 years

ENROLLMENT BY RACIAL/ETHNIC CATEGORY - FALL 2015

Athletics

The Stritch Wolves athletes compete in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Many have received local and national recognition as both scholars and athletes.

Men’s Varsity Sports:

• Cross Country
• Soccer
• Volleyball
• Basketball
• Golf
• Tennis
• Indoor Track & Field
• Outdoor Track & Field

Women’s Varsity Sports:

• Cross Country
• Soccer
• Volleyball
• Basketball
• Golf
• Tennis
• Indoor Track & Field
• Outdoor Track & Field
• Softball

Academic Programs

Cardinal Stritch University began as a teaching institution for the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi in 1937. Today, Stritch offers more than 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs that help students develop new skills, gain career-related experience, and build professional networks. Our Undergraduate Program offerings include the following courses: Accounting, Art, Art Education, Biology, Broad Field Social Studies, Business, Business Administration, Chemistry, Communication Arts, Computer Science, Criminal Justice, Elementary Education, English, Graphic Design, Hospitality Management, History, International Business, Human Services Management, Management, Marketing, Mathematics, Nursing, Political Science, Psychology, Public Relations, Religious Studies, Secondary Education, Sociology, Spanish, Sport Management, Theater, Urban Ministry, and Writing. Our Graduate Program offerings include the following courses: Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology, Master of Arts in Language and Literacy, Master of Arts in Religious Studies, Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Arts in Teaching – Elementary, Master of Arts in Teaching – Secondary, Master of Arts in Urban Education, Master of Arts in Urban Special Education, Master of Business Administration, Master of Business Administration – Marketing, Master of Business Administration – Health Care, Master of Science in Educational Leadership. Master of Science in Educational Leadership, Master of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Sport Management. Our Ph.D Program offerings include the following courses: Ph.D. in Language and Literacy, Ph.D. or Ed D. in Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service, and Ph.D. or Ed D. in Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service in Higher Education.

More Distinctions

• 2017 - Ranked Top Ten on the list of Top Ph.D. Program with Emphasis on Leadership and Organizational Development - LeadershipExcellenceAndDevelopment.com

• 2017 - Ranked #19 on the list of America’s Top Military-Friendly Colleges - BestColleges.com

• 2016 - Ranked #1 as the Best College for Minimizing Student Loan Debt in Wisconsin - The Student Loan Report

• 2016 - Best of Milwaukee:  

  • Best Online College/University: 2nd Place  
  • Best Post-Graduate College/University: 2nd Place  
  • Best Music Program: 2nd Place  
  • Best College for Students Ages 35 and Up: 3rd Place  
  • Best MBA Program: 2nd Place
  • Best Nursing School: 3rd Place  

• 2016 - Ranked 34th Best 4-year College for Adult Learners  - Washington Monthly

• 2016 - Ranked 23rd Best Online Master's in Education Degree Programs - Online Colleges

• 2016 - Ranked 45th Best Catholic College - BestColleges.com

• 2016 - Ranked 23rd Best Campus Security - BestColleges.com

• 2015 - Ranked 47th Most Affordable Private Nonprofit Schools for a Master's in Special Education Program - Master's in Special Education Program Guide

• 2015 - Ranked 50th Best Catholic College in the United States - Best Catholic Colleges

Service Day

Stritch’s annual Service Day, which usually takes in place in April, gives students, faculty, staff, and alumni the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to the Milwaukee community. Classes are canceled for the day so that volunteers may travel to a number of non-profit sites within the greater Milwaukee area. Having originated as a project in a communications class, Service Day has blossomed as a university-wide tradition that now brings amazing acts of service to a number of different organizations. Past activities include tending to the ecology of the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center, caring for children at a local, intergenerational care center, and everything in between.

Study Abroad

One of the best ways to grow as an internationally conscious member of society is by travelling internationally to experience the world oneself. Stritch students have a variety of destinations to choose from, exploring other cultures for a semester, full year, or shorter periods in special intensive programs.

Students are given the chance to thrive in different locations around the world, fulfilling their academic requirements while networking with international colleagues and immersing themselves in unfamiliar cultures. Long-term trips are great for completing courses at the same pace as one would at Stritch itself, while short-term programs have goal-driven and location-specific trips with once-in-a-lifetime research initiatives. Stritch also offers special, change-oriented trips, including service immersion programs that bring the University’s Franciscan spirit and care to far-off locations in need.

Guest Speakers

Stritch’s Kendall Lecture Series pulls in a number of professionals to speak and lead intellectual conversations that inspire new, deeply curious ideas for students and the Milwaukee community alike. These speakers turn Stritch into a hub of innovation and thought. Every year, renowned scholars and leaders will continue to push students to think beyond the basics.

In addition to the Kendall Lecture Series is the Mission-Driven Leaders Speaker Series, that specifically highlight the work of the University’s alumni. Mission-Driven Leaders are recognized for incorporating their ethical values into their careers, enlivening their businesses with their faith. Current Stritch students have the chance to see where their education may take them one day, listening to examples of how engaged alumni are serving local and global communities alike.

Liberal Arts CORE Curriculum

Cardinal Stritch University’s CORE Curriculum grounds each student with a strong, foundational liberal arts education. Through the liberal arts, students are able to look at the world with multiple perspectives and approach challenges with intellectual sense of responsibility.

The CORE exposes students to the value of understanding art and culture as well as the natural order of the world’s processes. It is designed to give students the room to think critically, solve problems, and communicate them effectively through their writing. As scholars of Stritch’s Franciscan tradition, students become not only profound scholars, but also compassionate community members of strong faith who pursue peace and justice.

Activities Offered

Cardinal Stritch University Consists of five schools and colleges:

• College of Arts and Sciences
• College of Business and Management
• College of Education and Leadership
• Ruth S. Coleman College of Nursing and Health Sciences
• School of Continuing and Online Learning

Academic Support Center

The Academic Support Center offers tutoring services in most subject areas, including English and Writing, Math, Social Sciences, Nursing and Science, Business, Languages, and Study Skills. Students can make an appointment at any time, ensuring their own success through academic tutoring, writing workshops, and test preparation. Additionally, the Center’s Student Accessibility Services guarantee the resources and comfort for any student to thrive, regardless of specific needs.

First-Year Experience

Every student new to Stritch enrolls in a First-Year Experience course that is carefully designed to settle them in to campus and expose them to the intellectual and social opportunities that await them in college. This course captures students’ attention with engaging close material that they get to study in an intimate setting, all while helping them grow comfortable and integrate into the entirely new college lifestyle. Not only do they get to learn from friendly, personally invested professors, but they also get to sit in on exciting lectures given by local and national leaders who greatly exhibit the Franciscan values that Stritch desires to employ.

Common Core

Other: CORE Curriculum Core Certificates

Class Size Breakdown

The Arts on Campus

On-campus venues for both the visual and performing arts give Stritch students front-row access to creative, worldview-changing pieces of art all throughout the year. The University’s Northwestern Mutual Art Gallery features an array contemporary art pieces that are complemented by two rotating, curated exhibitions each year. The Gallery also hosts an annual exhibition for seniors and a bi-annual exhibition for faculty to highlight the prestigious work happening right on Stritch’s campus.

Theatre, music, and dance performances decorate the University’s stages in the Joan Steele Stein Center for Communication Studies/Fine Arts. Both fine arts majors and non-majors alike can participate in year-round performances that many students, faculty, and members of the surrounding Milwaukee community love to attend.

Life on Campus

While Stritch greatly prides itself in its academic programs, there’s no denying that a major part of the college experience is what students do outside of class. Thanks to the University’s prime location near downtown Milwaukee and beautiful lakefront beaches, out-of-classroom fun is only minutes away. The nearby Bayshore Town Center and the surrounding city are full of places to eat, shop, and keep entertained.

After a long day of classes and fun, students can relax at home in the Clare and Assisi Halls, two safe and comfortable residence halls that are open to both under- and upperclassmen. Students who choose to live on campus find it easy to integrate into the Stritch community, living with their friends right in the middle of everything they need. Equipped with study lounges, wellness centers, and dining amenities, Stritch’s residence halls help ensure an enjoyable time in college, 24 hours a day.

Saint Clare Center for Catholic Life

Stritch aims for all of its students to live out the Franciscan mission, changing the world through compassion and service. With the help of the University’s Saint Clare Center for Catholic Life, such a lofty goal is nowhere out of reach. The Saint Clare Center helps students find their calling, providing resources for spiritual growth. Each year, the Center aids Stritch students and members of the Milwaukee community develop their faith.

Campus Housing Options for Undergraduates

Student Success Center

Through a variety of programs within the Student Success Center (SSC), the University supplies its students with the tools they need to balance their academic and professional lives in tandem with their social and spiritual growth. The SSC offers five programs: Academic and Career Advising, Student Support, Student Affairs, Mission Engagement, and Retention. Each program ensures that students are prepared to take on every challenge that may come their way at Stritch, as multiple representatives of different student-affairs areas work to give one-on-one guidance to anyone looking for it. The senior director of student success also aids in conflict resolution through the SSC, bringing peace and productivity to the Stritch community.

Experiential Learning and Career Education

The Experiential Learning and Career Education office at Cardinal Stritch University helps give students the ability to put their skills into action. Internships, professional networks, and future career opportunities are in reach for every Stritch student. The office’s faulty provide one-on-one career counseling and organize outreach activities to guide students toward their professional callings. Additionally, the Stritch Briefcase online tool is full of resources to connect students, alumni, and prestigious employers with one another. With Stritch’s solid career-development strategy, students are one large step closer to living out their potential.

ADMISSIONS

ADMISSIONS FALL 2015

1,185 Total Applicants
579 Total Admissions
163 Total Freshmen Enrollment

Selectivity
48.86% of applicants admitted

Admissions Deadlines for 2016-17 Admission

Rolling admission? No

Closing date: Aug 15
Priority date: Feb 1

ADMISSIONS FACTORS

Very Important
Academic GPA
Standardized test scores

Important
Rigor of secondary school record
Application Essay

Considered
Class rank
Recommendation(s)
Extracurricular activities
Talent/ability
Alumni/ae relation
Volunteer work
Work experience
Level of applicant’s interest

Freshmen Profile Fall 2015

Application Information

Applications for admission are reviewed on a rolling basis. To apply to an undergraduate program:

Freshman Applicants

• Complete the Admissions Application: Submit the admissions application, which is free to complete online.
• Request Transcripts: Official high school transcripts should be delivered directly to the Office of Admissions from the student’s school. Stritch will also review GED scores of 250 or above.
• Send ACT or SAT Scores: Provide an official score report from the ACT or SAT. High school graduates out of school for over one year do not need to submit scores.
• Information for International Students: If a student’s prior education was not conducted in English, they must demonstrate proficiency with acceptable scores from the TOEFL, IELTS, or an ESL program. Review the language and academic requirements and understand how to obtain an F-1 student visa.

Transfer Student Applicants

• Complete the Admissions Application: Submit the admissions application, which is free to complete online.
• Request Transcripts: Official transcripts from each college or university should be delivered directly to the Office of Admissions.
• Information for International Students: If a student’s prior education was not conducted in English, they must demonstrate proficiency with acceptable scores from the TOEFL, IELTS, or an ESL program. Review the language and academic requirements and understand how to obtain an F-1 student visa.

TUITION AND COSTS

Net Price Calculator

https://www.stritch.edu/estimatemycosts/ 

TUITION AND COSTS BEFORE FINANCIAL AID 2017-2018

FINANCIAL AID

Average Financial Aid Packages 2015-2016 Estimated

$26,125 First year students
$14,821 All undergrads

Financial Aid Breakdown 2015-2016 Estimated

62.5% on average, the percentage of need that was met
11% of financial need students that had need fully met

$14,821 Average need-based scholarship or grant award
$4,152 Average need-based loan

2017-18 Scholarships and Grants

Scholarships are renewable year-to-year based on academic performance.

• Trustee’s Scholarship: $16,000/Year
• President’s Scholarship: $14,500/Year
• Dean’s Scholarship: $13,000/Year
• Merit Scholarship: $10,000/Year
• Opportunity Grant: $5,000/Year
• International Student Scholarship: $3,000/Year
• Timothy M. Dolan Scholarship: $1,750/Year
• Legacy Scholarship: $1,500/Year
• Boys & Girls Clubs Scholarship: $1,000/Year
• Campus Visit Grant: $500/Year