Carthage College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Carthage College charges a net price of $26,565/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $106,260. Graduates earn a median $56,950 ten years after entry, $8,590/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 12.4 years — a 20-year net return of $65,540, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Carthage College's 12.4-year payback ranks #882 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 31% of them, and #17 of 53 in Wisconsin.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $26,565/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $106,260 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $56,950 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $8,590/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $26,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 12.4 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $65,540 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Carthage College's own numbers. Net price $26,565 × 4 years = $106,260 total. Median earnings $56,950 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $8,590 a year of premium. $106,260 ÷ $8,590 = 12.4 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $65,540. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Carthage College students graduate with?
A median $26,000 in federal loans among completers, or 46% of the $56,950 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Carthage College students graduate?
64% finish their degree — 36% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $106,260 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $166,031 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Carthage College expensive compared with other Wisconsin colleges?
Its $26,565 net price runs $11,372 above the $15,193 median across the 53 Wisconsin colleges we profile, or $45,488 more across the full degree.