Carleton College

Carleton College's program mix is anchored in Social Sciences, reflecting the institution's liberal arts identity and emphasis on analytical and humanistic inquiry. The largest programs by enrollment are Computer Science with 59 graduates, followed by Biology, General with 59 graduates, International Relations and National Security Studies with 56 graduates, Research Psychology with 43 graduates, and Mathematics with 38 graduates.

Across 23 programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with several delivering strong median earnings four years after enrollment. The highest-earning program is Economics, where graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $87,193 [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/).

This program combines a substantial cohort of 34 graduates with competitive early-career outcomes, anchoring the institution's economic profile. The concentration of Computer Science and Biology, General among the largest majors reflects Carleton College's strength in fields that support both intellectual depth and labor-market positioning, with graduates moving into diverse professional pathways including research, policy, education, and private-sector roles.

The program distribution across Social Sciences at 19%, other STEM fields at 14%, and Arts at 8% illustrates a balanced liberal arts portfolio where no single field dominates. Many of Carleton College's programs are grad-school-dependent pathways—particularly in sciences, humanities, and social sciences—where four-year earnings undercount the trajectory of graduates who continue to graduate or professional school.

The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these fields align with longer-term career outcomes and national labor-market trends.

Carleton College's published cost of attendance is $84,893. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure substantially across income levels.

Low-income families pay approximately $7,881; middle-income families pay around $9,680; higher-income families pay approximately $44,082. Azimuth ranks Carleton College #694 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. Carleton College meets demonstrated financial need for admitted students through need-based aid, with no merit component in the primary aid package.

Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) explains how published sticker price and actual net price can diverge substantially — a distinction that matters especially at institutions with robust endowments like Carleton College.

Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $16,750, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $31,271; 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 Carleton College's median four-year earnings of $66,841, median federal debt of $16,750 projects to a monthly payment of about $189 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 Carleton College earn median 4-year earnings of $66,841, placing Carleton College in the 70.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs above the $67,139 median at comparable institutions.

Azimuth ranks Carleton College #496 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings profile reflects Carleton College's strength in fields that lead to stable, well-compensated careers across multiple sectors.

The program lineup anchors on Social Sciences, which represents 19% of degrees and drives much of the institution's earnings performance. Computer Science is the largest program with 59 graduates, followed by Biology, General with 59 graduates and International Relations and National Security Studies with 56 graduates.

These concentrations in other STEM fields and Arts — each representing 14% and 8% of the degree mix respectively — complement the social sciences foundation and create a diversified earnings profile. The combination of broad liberal arts training with professional pathways in economics, business, and analytical fields supports graduates into careers with sustained earning potential and upward mobility over the decade following enrollment.