Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations at Carthage College

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56 suggests manageable borrowing, but both the earnings and debt figures here are extrapolated from peer programs nationally, making it difficult to assess Carthage's specific value proposition. Comparable entrepreneurship bachelor's programs nationally produce first-year earnings around $45,265, while Wisconsin programs typically see similar outcomes at $45,373—so there's consistency in what to expect regionally. The estimated $25,396 debt load runs slightly higher than the national median of $24,125 and notably exceeds Wisconsin's typical $18,785, which could reflect Carthage's private liberal arts pricing structure.

The real concern is what happens after that first year. Entrepreneurship programs can be wildly variable depending on whether graduates launch businesses, join startups, or take more conventional corporate roles. The modest first-year figure—roughly what many business majors earn—doesn't tell you whether this program equips students for the higher-risk, higher-reward entrepreneurial path or simply funnels them into general business positions where the specialized degree may offer little advantage.

Given the data limitations, you're essentially betting on Carthage's curriculum and network without concrete evidence of graduate outcomes. If your child is genuinely entrepreneurial, the degree itself matters less than the skills and connections gained. If they're hedging toward a traditional business career, more established business programs with transparent outcomes data would provide clearer evidence of return on investment.