Head-to-head comparison
Carthage College vs Lawrence 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 Appleton, WI
Lawrence University
- Net price / year
- $23,401
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,789
- Payback
- 12.6 yrs
Carthage College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $106,260 in 12.4 years versus 12.6 years at Lawrence University, on median earnings of $56,950 vs $55,789 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Carthage College | Lawrence University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $26,565 | $23,401 |
| Total net cost | $106,260 | $93,604 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $56,950 | $55,789 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $26,000 |
| Payback | 12.4 yrs | 12.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $65,540 | $54,976 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Carthage College or Lawrence University?
Lawrence University, at $23,401 a year after aid versus $26,565 — a gap of $3,164 a year, or $12,656 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 Lawrence University graduates earn more?
Carthage College graduates report a median $56,950 ten years after entry, $1,161 more than the $55,789 at Lawrence 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 Lawrence University?
Completers at both borrow a median $26,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
77% of students finish at Lawrence University, against 64% at Carthage College. 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.