Head-to-head comparison
University of Wisconsin-Parkside vs Carthage College: which has better ROI?
Option A Kenosha, WI
University of Wisconsin-Parkside
- Net price / year
- $11,772
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,129
- Payback
- 17 yrs
Option B Kenosha, WI
Carthage College
- Net price / year
- $26,565
- Earnings, 10 years
- $56,950
- Payback
- 12.4 yrs
Carthage College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $106,260 in 12.4 years versus 17 years at University of Wisconsin-Parkside, on median earnings of $56,950 vs $51,129 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Wisconsin-Parkside | Carthage College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,772 | $26,565 |
| Total net cost | $47,088 | $106,260 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,129 | $56,950 |
| Median debt | $20,492 | $26,000 |
| Payback | 17 yrs | 12.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $8,292 | $65,540 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Wisconsin-Parkside or Carthage College?
University of Wisconsin-Parkside, at $11,772 a year after aid versus $26,565 — a gap of $14,793 a year, or $59,172 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 University of Wisconsin-Parkside or Carthage College graduates earn more?
Carthage College graduates report a median $56,950 ten years after entry, $5,821 more than the $51,129 at University of Wisconsin-Parkside. 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, University of Wisconsin-Parkside or Carthage College?
University of Wisconsin-Parkside: its completers carry a median $20,492 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Carthage College, a difference of $5,508. 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 40% at University of Wisconsin-Parkside. 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.