About WLC

Degree programs at Wisconsin Lutheran College are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604; 800.621.7440.

Nursing: The baccalaureate program at Wisconsin Lutheran College is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001; phone: 202.887.6791; fax: 202.887.8476. 

Exercise Science: The exercise science program at Wisconsin Lutheran College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences (CoAES). CAAHEP; 9355 113th St N, #7709; Seminole, FL 33775; 727-210-2350.

Education: The programs of teacher education are approved by the  Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. 

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Areas of Certification

Education Majors: Early Childhood, Elementary, Secondary, Wide Range (cover all levels and are available in Foreign Language, Art, Music, and Theatre)

Majors and Minors: Art, Broadfield Social Studies, Biology, Broadfield Language Arts, Chemistry, Communication, English, German, History, Mathematics, Music, Psychology, Spanish, Theatre

Minors Only: Coaching, Language Art, Natural Science, Social Studies, Speech

WLC 2024-2025 Fast Facts

• Total enrollment: 1,028
• Traditional undergraduate enrollment: 957
• Undergraduate student-faculty ratio: 12:1
• Average undergraduate class size: 18
• Undergraduate student demographics: 30 states and 4 foreign countries
• Percent of resident undergraduate students: 68%
• Number of student living on campus: 626
• Undergraduate student population: 98% are 18-22 years old
• Financial assistance: 100% of full-time undergraduate students were awarded financial aid

Fall 2024 Freshman Class

• Students in the class of 2028: 249
• 52% are female and 48% are male
• 35% are first-generation college students
• 21% are students of color
• 68% are from Wisconsin
• 100% were awarded financial aid
• 3.54 average high school unweighted GPA
• 25.6 average ACT for those who submitted test scores

Co-curricular activities

The Wisconsin Lutheran College Warriors compete in 19 NCAA Division III sports through the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference. The college also offers Esports at the varsity and recreational levels. WLC students can take part in intramural sports, a concert band and jazz band, two auditioned choirs, instrumental and vocal ensembles, theatre productions, and more than 35 student-run clubs and organizations.

Updated 10/16/2024

When a handful of dedicated Christian men gathered to organize this liberal arts college in the early 1970s, they had little more than a strong faith in God and great determination. They had no facilities and no faculty. By the grace of God they opened the junior college in the fall of 1973 with a part-time faculty and two dozen students. It wasn’t until two years later that the school, affiliated with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, had its first full-time president.

Wisconsin Lutheran College purchased facilities in 1977: five buildings on an eight and a half acre campus. In 1982, the college purchased the library holdings from Milton College, which was closing. In 1983, the college purchased the science laboratory furnishings of the closing University of Wisconsin- Medford Center, another addition that helped the college pursue a dream: to become a four-year college.

The Board of Regents approved a comprehensive curriculum plan in 1984, and an evaluation team from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools concurred with the Board’s decision, agreeing that the necessary planning and resources existed to enable Wisconsin Lutheran College to move toward accreditation as a baccalaureate degree-granting institution.

In 1985, two and a half acres adjacent to the college were purchased for future campus development. In May of 1987, the first 12 students graduated from the new four-year curriculum with baccalaureate degrees, and the college was granted initial accreditation. Accreditation status by the Higher Learning Commission was reaffirmed in 2005 and 2015. In 2010, the college began offering an adult degree completion program and master's degree programs.

In 1988, the Marvin M. Schwan Library was completed and dedicated. In 1991, construction began on a second building, the Recreation Complex. A third building, the Center for Arts and Performance, was completed in 1996, and the Campus Center was finished and dedicated in 1998. Two new residence halls were dedicated in 2000, and a new academic building was completed in 2004. The college’s purchase of 26 acres of nearby land on the Milwaukee County Grounds in 2003 enabled athletic fields to be developed and dedicated in 2005. The Outdoor Athletic Center opened at the athletic fields in 2011. A new residence hall on Wisconsin Avenue opened in 2014, and a parking center opened in 2016.

Dr. Gary J. Greenfield served as the college’s first full-time president; he retired in June of 2003. Dr. Timothy J. Kriewall was inaugurated as the second president in September of 2003; he retired in June of 2008. Dr. Daniel W. Johnson was inaugurated as the college’s third president in April of 2009. Wisconsin Lutheran College has been ranked annually as one of America’s top colleges. To God be the glory for this amazing history.

Purpose

Wisconsin Lutheran College is a Christian school of higher education offering a program in the arts and sciences. Realizing that in Christ "are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge," the college integrates God's truths into every discipline, helping students relate their faith to life in today's world. Its primary purpose is to provide higher education for students interested in the arts and sciences taught within the framework of Christian doctrine. Although Wisconsin Lutheran College programs are designed for job preparation and upgrading, they are all the more concerned with preparing young Christian men and women to face life and deal with it through the application of Christian principles found in God's Word.

Organization

The college is owned and operated by a corporation whose members consist of WELS congregations from across the country. The Board of Regents directs the overall activities of the college in consultation with and through the administrative offices of the college including the college president and the various vice presidents.

The academic offerings and student services described in the catalog represent a description of Wisconsin Lutheran College as it ordinarily operates. However, the college reserves the right to make changes as circumstances warrant.

Philosophy

1. Declaration of Faith

   Wisconsin Lutheran College believes, teaches and confesses that the 66 canonical books of the Old and New Testaments--in all their words and all their parts--are the inspired and inerrant Word of God, that these Holy Scriptures are the only source and authority for Christian doctrine and life, that they are efficacious in presenting God's plan of salvation through Law and Gospel, and that they are sufficient and clear in revealing God's truth. Wisconsin Lutheran College believes, teaches, and confesses all the symbols of the Evangelical Lutheran Church as contained in the Book of Concord of 1580 without reservation, not insofar as, but because they are a correct presentation and explanation of the Word of God and a summary of the faith of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. These symbols are the three ecumenical Creeds (Apostles', Nicene, and Athanasian), Dr. Martin Luther's Small Catechism, Dr. Martin Luther's Large Catechism, the Unaltered Augsburg Confession, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, the Smalcald Articles, and the Formula of Concord.

2. Adherence

   All that is done or taught at Wisconsin Lutheran College shall be in accordance with the Word of God. Likewise, any controversies or disputes shall be settled by the norm of Holy Scripture.

3. Confessional Affiliation

   Wisconsin Lutheran College shall maintain confessional fellowship only with a church body that holds to all the truths of God's Word in doctrine and practice and is bound to the confession of faith set forth in this philosophy if, and as long as, such a church body exists.

4. Principles of Education

   Wisconsin Lutheran College accepts the principle that education is inseparable from religion, that all knowledge in all areas of human thought and endeavor is worthy of inquiry when viewed in the light of human sin and divine grace. It is also committed to the total development of its students, not just intellectually, but also spiritually, emotionally, physically, and socially. In this Christian college the main source of life and growth is God's Word. As members of the Body of Christ, all serve and are served, all teach and all learn. All recognize that the freedom of the Christian life lies within the bounds set forth in Holy Scripture.

wisconsin lutheran college statement oN CULTURAL diversity

As a Lutheran liberal arts institution, Wisconsin Lutheran College believes that God created humans in his own image and that we are renewed in that image through faith in Jesus Christ. The Scriptures testify to this truth from the very beginning to their end.

We believe that all people are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). We also confess that Christ’s death and resurrection are for all people and that every life is a gift from the hand of our Creator. We, therefore, believe that all people have intrinsic value and that God’s Great Commission sends Christians forth to proclaim this good news to every nation.

Wisconsin Lutheran College rejoices that heaven is described in the New Testament as a diverse gathering of people standing together as one before the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29) “from every nation, tribe, people and language” (Revelation 7:9). WLC seeks to be an institution that reflects the beautiful diversity of heaven, celebrates the unique gifts, talents, and perspectives of each member of our community while promoting a spirit of racial equality and mutual respect on our campus.

However, sadly we live in a world still tainted by sin. The sin of racism still plagues our world. Because of sin, our campus community will never be a perfect reflection of heaven. Wisconsin Lutheran College does not condone or tolerate racism. As a campus community, we strive to stand together at the foot of the cross, where Christ won forgiveness from sin for all people and frees us for love and service to each other.

WLC strives to:

• encourage and build up each other through acts of service modeling Christ’s love for us.
• understand and educate each other.
• celebrate and appreciate the beautiful diversity of God’s creation.

Wisconsin Lutheran College is a nonprofit entity and has tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.