Business Administration, Management and Operations at Carthage College

With starting salaries over $53,000 and debt under $27,000, Carthage delivers business outcomes that significantly outperform national norms—ranking in the 78th percentile nationally while keeping debt below three-quarters of comparable programs. However, the Wisconsin context tells a more nuanced story: this performance sits squarely at the state median for both earnings and debt, placing Carthage in the 60th percentile among Wisconsin business programs. Four years out, graduates are earning $65,523, a solid 22% increase that suggests legitimate career progression.

For families weighing options within Wisconsin, the $7,000+ earnings gap compared to UW-Madison or Marquette deserves consideration, though Carthage's smaller debt load partially offsets this difference. The 0.50 debt-to-earnings ratio remains healthy—graduates earn nearly twice their debt in their first year—but at an 84% admission rate, you're paying liberal arts college prices for outcomes that match state averages rather than exceed them.

The practical verdict: Carthage won't handicap your child's business career, and they'll start with manageable debt and above-average national earnings. But if they can access UW-Madison or similar state flagships, those programs deliver meaningfully better returns. Carthage makes most sense for students who value the small college environment and can accept middle-of-the-pack Wisconsin outcomes rather than top-tier ones.