Students at Carleton College achieve exceptional long-term financial outcomes, with graduates earning significantly more than peers at most institutions nationwide.
The college combines rigorous liberal arts education with outstanding career preparation, consistently delivering top-tier earnings that rival much larger research universities.
Carleton College delivers exceptional long-term financial outcomes that place it among the top-performing institutions nationwide. With graduates earning a median of $75,525 ten years after enrollment, Carleton ranks in the 90th percentile nationally for earnings outcomes. This small liberal arts college in Minnesota combines academic excellence with remarkable career preparation, consistently launching students into high-paying fields and graduate programs.
What makes Carleton distinctive is how effectively it translates a liberal arts education into strong financial returns. Despite its focus on broad intellectual development rather than pre-professional training, graduates achieve earnings that rival those from much larger research universities and technical institutes. The college's 91% six-year graduation rate reflects both the quality of students it attracts and the support systems that help them succeed.
As a highly selective private college with fewer than 2,100 students, Carleton offers an intimate academic environment where students receive extensive faculty mentorship and develop close peer networks. For families who can manage the higher net costs associated with elite private education, Carleton represents a compelling investment in both intellectual growth and long-term financial success.
Carleton College's academic programs demonstrate the value of liberal arts education in preparing students for high-earning careers across diverse fields. Computer Science leads in both enrollment and economic impact, with 71 graduates earning a median of $76,460 and generating over $5.4 million in aggregate economic value. This program exemplifies how Carleton combines rigorous analytical training with the communication and critical thinking skills that technology employers increasingly value.
Biology represents Carleton's largest program by enrollment, with 61 graduates, though early-career earnings of $23,034 reflect the field's emphasis on graduate school preparation rather than immediate employment. Many biology majors pursue medical school, research careers, or advanced degrees that lead to substantially higher long-term earnings. Mathematics programs, including specialized areas like Algebra and Number Theory, produce 47 graduates earning around $37,568, often serving as preparation for graduate study in economics, finance, or academic research.
What distinguishes Carleton's program portfolio is how effectively it prepares students for competitive graduate programs and professional fields where liberal arts skills command premium salaries. The college's small size allows for intensive faculty mentorship and research opportunities that help students gain admission to top-tier graduate programs in medicine, law, business, and academia. This foundation in critical thinking, research methods, and communication creates long-term earning potential that extends well beyond the immediate post-graduation period captured in early-career salary data.
Carleton College graduates achieve outstanding long-term earnings that place the institution in the top 10% nationally for financial outcomes. Ten years after enrollment, graduates earn a median of $75,525, significantly higher than typical liberal arts college outcomes. This strong performance reflects both the caliber of students Carleton attracts and the institution's ability to prepare them for high-earning careers in finance, technology, consulting, medicine, and law.
The college's program mix drives much of this success. Computer Science stands out as Carleton's highest aggregate return major, with 71 graduates earning a median of $76,460 and generating over $5.4 million in total economic value. Biology represents the largest program by enrollment with 61 graduates, though earnings in this field average $23,034 as many students pursue graduate school in medicine or research. Mathematics programs, including specialized areas like Algebra and Number Theory, produce 47 graduates earning around $37,568, often serving as stepping stones to advanced degrees or quantitative careers.
Carleton's liberal arts foundation proves particularly valuable for students entering competitive graduate programs or professional fields where analytical thinking and communication skills command premium salaries. The college's small size and prestigious reputation create strong alumni networks in major metropolitan areas, helping graduates access opportunities that translate into sustained earning power throughout their careers.
Affordability at Carleton College varies dramatically by family income, reflecting the institution's commitment to need-based financial aid alongside its premium pricing structure. Low-income families pay approximately $12,069 annually after aid, while middle-income families see net costs around $10,999 per year. However, high-income families face substantially higher costs at $41,028 annually, representing the full weight of Carleton's private college pricing.
The college's financial aid strategy focuses heavily on making education accessible to students from lower-income backgrounds, with generous grant packages that significantly reduce the sticker price. This approach helps explain why Carleton can maintain both its academic selectivity and meaningful economic diversity, despite the high published tuition rates typical of elite liberal arts colleges.
Debt levels reflect this income-based aid structure. Typical graduates leave with $16,750 in federal student loans, a manageable amount given Carleton's strong earnings outcomes. Parent PLUS borrowing averages $31,271, higher than at most institutions but reasonable for families choosing premium private education. With graduates earning $75,525 at the ten-year mark, most borrowers can handle standard repayment comfortably, and the college's 93% loan repayment rate demonstrates that debt levels remain sustainable relative to post-graduation earning power.
Carleton College Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
