Head-to-head comparison
Carthage College vs Saint Norbert College: 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 De Pere, WI
Saint Norbert College
- Net price / year
- $26,172
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,363
- Payback
- 10.5 yrs
Saint Norbert College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $104,688 in 10.5 years versus 12.4 years at Carthage College, on median earnings of $58,363 vs $56,950 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Carthage College | Saint Norbert College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $26,565 | $26,172 |
| Total net cost | $106,260 | $104,688 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $56,950 | $58,363 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $26,731 |
| Payback | 12.4 yrs | 10.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $65,540 | $95,372 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Carthage College or Saint Norbert College?
Saint Norbert College, at $26,172 a year after aid versus $26,565 — a gap of $393 a year, or $1,572 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 Saint Norbert College graduates earn more?
Saint Norbert College graduates report a median $58,363 ten years after entry, $1,413 more than the $56,950 at Carthage College. 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 Saint Norbert College?
Carthage College: its completers carry a median $26,000 in federal loans versus $26,731 at Saint Norbert College, a difference of $731. 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?
71% of students finish at Saint Norbert College, 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.