Head-to-head comparison
Carthage College vs Wisconsin Lutheran 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 Milwaukee, WI
Wisconsin Lutheran College
- Net price / year
- $23,245
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,664
- Payback
- 14.7 yrs
Carthage College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $106,260 in 12.4 years versus 14.7 years at Wisconsin Lutheran College, on median earnings of $56,950 vs $54,664 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Carthage College | Wisconsin Lutheran College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $26,565 | $23,245 |
| Total net cost | $106,260 | $92,980 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $56,950 | $54,664 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $26,000 |
| Payback | 12.4 yrs | 14.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $65,540 | $33,100 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Carthage College or Wisconsin Lutheran College?
Wisconsin Lutheran College, at $23,245 a year after aid versus $26,565 — a gap of $3,320 a year, or $13,280 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 Wisconsin Lutheran College graduates earn more?
Carthage College graduates report a median $56,950 ten years after entry, $2,286 more than the $54,664 at Wisconsin Lutheran 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 Wisconsin Lutheran College?
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?
64% of students finish at Carthage College, against 64% at Wisconsin Lutheran 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.