Head-to-head comparison
Carthage College vs Lakeland University: which has better ROI?
Option A Kenosha, WI
Carthage College
- Net price / year
- $26,565
- Earnings, 10 years
- $56,950
- Payback
- 12.4 yrs
Option B Plymouth, WI
Lakeland University
- Net price / year
- $24,212
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,961
- Payback
- 12.7 yrs
Carthage College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $106,260 in 12.4 years versus 12.7 years at Lakeland University, on median earnings of $56,950 vs $55,961 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Carthage College | Lakeland University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $26,565 | $24,212 |
| Total net cost | $106,260 | $96,848 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $56,950 | $55,961 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 12.4 yrs | 12.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $65,540 | $55,172 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Carthage College or Lakeland University?
Lakeland University, at $24,212 a year after aid versus $26,565 — a gap of $2,353 a year, or $9,412 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Carthage College or Lakeland University graduates earn more?
Carthage College graduates report a median $56,950 ten years after entry, $989 more than the $55,961 at Lakeland 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Carthage College or Lakeland University?
Lakeland University: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Carthage College, a difference of $1,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
64% of students finish at Carthage College, against 42% at Lakeland 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.