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Carleton College

Northfield, Minnesota · Private nonprofit · 4-year · Town

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At a glance

Average net price
$25,407What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
20%
Graduation rate
90%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
2,086
In-state tuition
$68,892Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$68,892
SAT midpoint
1,479
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$75,525Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against private nonprofit 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$25,407

Better than 36% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1092 compared).

Completion

90%

Better than 95% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1063 compared).

Earnings

$75,525

Better than 87% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1087 compared).

Debt at graduation

$16,750

Better than 91% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1020 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$84,893

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$25,407

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for Carleton College
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time90%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return96%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$16,750
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$75,525

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at Carleton College by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Computer Science$88,13280
Economics$66,56737
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences$40,3717
Research and Experimental Psychology$39,23829
Biology, General$30,72665
Political Science and Government$29,858Not reported
English Language and Literature, General$20,78023
International Relations and National Security StudiesNot reported40
MathematicsNot reported39
ChemistryNot reported38
Fine and Studio ArtsNot reported25
Sociology and AnthropologyNot reported23
StatisticsNot reported21
Area StudiesNot reported18
Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchNot reported16
PhysicsNot reported16
HistoryNot reported15
Film/Video and Photographic ArtsNot reported14
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group StudiesNot reported10
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and ServicesNot reported8
Cognitive ScienceNot reported7
PhilosophyNot reported6
Religion/Religious StudiesNot reported6
MusicNot reported5
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported4
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported4
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftNot reported1
DanceNot reportedNot reported
Transportation and Materials Moving, OtherNot reportedNot reported
Psychology, GeneralNot reportedNot reported
ArcheologyNot reportedNot reported
Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reportedNot reported
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reportedNot reported
Social Sciences, OtherNot reportedNot reported
Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reportedNot reported

All 35 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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