Marquette University vs Carroll University: which has better ROI?
Marquette University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $125,948 in 4.2 years versus 6.3 years at Carroll University, on median earnings of $78,257 vs $58,009 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Marquette University | Carroll University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $31,487 | $15,193 |
| Total net cost | $125,948 | $60,772 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $78,257 | $58,009 |
| Median debt | $23,940 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 4.2 yrs | 6.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $471,992 | $132,208 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Marquette University or Carroll University?
Carroll University, at $15,193 a year after aid versus $31,487 — a gap of $16,294 a year, or $65,176 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Marquette University or Carroll University graduates earn more?
Marquette University graduates report a median $78,257 ten years after entry, $20,248 more than the $58,009 at Carroll University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Marquette University or Carroll University?
Marquette University: its completers carry a median $23,940 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Carroll University, a difference of $3,060. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
83% of students finish at Marquette University, against 71% at Carroll University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.