Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Carthage College #1166 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,298 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 35.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Carthage College #727 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Azimuth ranks Carthage College #1166 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private master's university in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Carthage College enrolls roughly 2,660 undergraduates. Retention is 73.4% and the six-year graduation rate is 64.3%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a residential liberal arts–focused institution. Carthage College performs strongest on return on investment. Azimuth ranks Carthage College #727 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $59,751. The institution's dominant program family is Business, which anchors the earnings profile and aligns with strong regional employer demand in the Milwaukee–Chicago corridor. Access and affordability shape the composite positioning. 27.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 26.2% are first-generation college students, reflecting a student body with meaningful financial need. Carthage College sits in the 32.7 percentile for access and the 17.3 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Mobility outcomes sit in the 19.0 percentile. For families evaluating Carthage College, the value proposition centers on manageable scale, strong completion rates, and a business-focused curriculum that connects directly to regional career pathways.
Carthage College's published cost of attendance is $50,822, but need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $23,293; middle-income families pay around $22,427; higher-income families pay approximately $29,176. Azimuth ranks Carthage College #1178 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Carthage College's aid structure is need-based, with aid packages combining federal grants, state aid, and institutional scholarships. Families apply using the FAFSA, and the college works to bridge the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay through a combination of need-based aid and merit scholarships for eligible students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $42,940; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $59,751, median federal debt of $26,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $294 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Carthage College is a strong fit for students interested in Business and similar fields who want a private college experience in WI, Midwest. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $59,751, placing Carthage College in the 45.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $5,298 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 35.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 27.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 26.2% are first-generation — and delivers completion rates that place Carthage College in the 56.3% percentile for Pell completion rates among nonprofit four-year institutions. Published cost of attendance is $29,176, and low-income families pay a net price of approximately $29,176 after need-based aid. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 87.1% admit rate makes the application process competitive, and the program mix favors Business and similar fields. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find the earnings trajectory and aid package among the strongest in the region.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Carthage College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Franklin Pierce University Similar quality tier (#30629 ranked) | NH | 93% | $53,353 | #30629 | Compare |
Fisher College Similar quality tier (#30626 ranked) | MA | 71% | $49,669 | #30626 | Compare |
Loyola University New Orleans Similar quality tier (#30624 ranked) | LA | 93% | $52,927 | #30624 | Compare |
Oral Roberts University Similar quality tier (#30621 ranked) | OK | 99% | $46,885 | #30621 | Compare |
Randolph-Macon College Similar quality tier (#30619 ranked) | VA | 87% | $58,448 | #30619 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Carthage College's published cost of attendance is $50,822, but need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $23,293; middle-income families pay around $22,427; higher-income families pay approximately $29,176.
Azimuth ranks Carthage College #1178 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Carthage College's aid structure is need-based, with aid packages combining federal grants, state aid, and institutional scholarships. Families apply using the FAFSA, and the college works to bridge the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay through a combination of need-based aid and merit scholarships for eligible students.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $42,940; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $59,751, median federal debt of $26,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $294 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Carthage College earn median 4-year earnings of $59,751, placing Carthage College in the 45.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Carthage College sits in the 35.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Carthage College #727 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Carthage College's concentration in business and professional fields.
Business Administration is the largest program with 68 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $72,468, performing at 1.1x the national benchmark for the field. The Digital Marketing program graduates 67 students with median 4-year earnings of $69,045, also tracking at 1.0x benchmark.
Psychology, General and Kinesiology round out the enrollment leaders, with Psychology, General graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $54,636 at 1.1x benchmark and Kinesiology earning median 4-year earnings of $54,832 at 1.0x benchmark. This program mix — anchored in Business — supports consistent early-career earnings across the institution's largest degree pathways.
Computer and Information Sciences, General
11 graduates
Finance and Financial Management Services
26 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
23 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
59 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
68 graduates
Carthage College's program mix centers on Business and professional fields, reflecting the institution's career-focused identity. Business Administration is the largest program with 68 graduates, followed by Digital Marketing, Nursing, Psychology, General, and Kinesiology.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 672 students annually, several deliver strong four-year earnings outcomes aligned with regional labor markets. The highest-earning programs cluster in business and applied fields.
Finance graduates earn median earnings of $86,952 four years after enrollment, with 26 graduates annually. Business Administration delivers median earnings of $72,468 across 68 graduates, and Digital Marketing graduates earn $69,045.
These programs represent direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect immediate labor-market outcomes rather than graduate-school-dependent trajectories. Carthage College's program portfolio emphasizes applied professional preparation over research-intensive specialization, positioning graduates for stable regional careers.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how the institution's dominant program families align with labor-market demand in the Midwest and beyond.
