Since 1916, when the Higher Learning Commission emerged as the principal accrediting body for educational institutions in the Midwest, Carthage College has maintained uninterrupted accreditation from the organization. With an average of only 16 students, classes are small, but there are plenty of options. Students from Carthage get sought-after employment and internships, participate in 28 varsity sports, broaden their influence through more than 130 student organizations, and follow interests that range from underwater research to NASA research that is beyond the stars. The degree programs offered by Carthage are strong and effective, but they are grounded in the liberal arts, so graduates are equipped with the critical thinking and flexibility skills necessary to succeed in all subsequent careers, in addition to the abilities necessary to succeed in their first employment.