Carleton College
#1 Best Colleges in Minnesota- Graduation Rate
- 90% A
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Earnings (10yr)
- $75,525 A
- Top 5% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $25,407 D
- 48% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 20% A
- Admits roughly 20% — highly selective
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 23.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $23.8 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Colleges in Minnesota.
Every $1 spent returns $23.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $2,321,906.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduates earn 85% more than the national college median.
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A 90% graduation rate — 58% above the national average.
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Inventor rate in the top 17% nationally — patents, startups, and new technology flow from its graduates.
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Every $1 invested returns $23.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 1.5%
- Top 17%
- Patents
- 28
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 40
- Downstream influence
Why Carleton College Matters
Carleton College is a private liberal arts college in Northfield, MN and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by selective admissions, an unusually high rate of inventors and patents, and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 5% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 2,086
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Computer Science & IT, Physical Sciences, Social Sciences, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose Carleton College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Selective — admits about 20% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1450–1560. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $25,407 a year after grants and scholarships — 48% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $75,525 ten years after enrolling — 85% above the typical college, against $16,750 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.4% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 56% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.78 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Carleton College has a tight-knit community of about 2,086 students, making it a great fit for those who thrive in smaller, focused environments. With an acceptance rate of just 20%, it attracts motivated learners who are serious about their education. You’ll find strong programs in areas like Social Sciences, Computer Science, Physical Sciences, Biology, and Psychology. This range reflects a commitment to academic excellence and fosters a culture of inquiry and engagement.
Looking at life after graduation, Carleton alumni enjoy impressive earning potential, with an average salary of $75,525 ten years post-graduation. This financial outcome highlights the value of a Carleton degree in the job market. The school also maintains a high graduation rate of 90%, indicating that students are supported throughout their journey, which can translate into better career opportunities down the line.
When considering the practical aspects, the net price after aid comes to $25,407, which is reasonable compared to many private institutions. Graduates leave with a median debt of $16,750, which is manageable for many. Those who thrive at Carleton often share a passion for learning, a willingness to engage with their community, and a drive to make the most of their college experience.
Rankings
- #1 Best Colleges in Minnesota
- #1 Best Bachelor's Programs in Minnesota
- #1 Best Master's Programs in Minnesota
- #1 Best Computer Science Colleges in Minnesota
- #1 Best Psychology Colleges in Minnesota
- #1 Best Biology Colleges in Minnesota
- #1 Best Data Science Colleges in Minnesota
- #2 Best Colleges in Plains
Can I Get In?
How selective Carleton College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Carleton College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Northfield, Minnesota, Carleton College sets a competitive bar: about 20% of applicants get an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,517. The graduation rate is roughly 90%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 20%
- Retention Rate
- 96%
- SAT Average
- 1517
- ACT Midpoint
- 33
- SAT Range
- 1450–1560
- ACT Range
- 32–34
- Full-Time Faculty
- 87%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $13,960
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 8:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.70
- First-Gen Students
- 16%
- Applicants
- 8,583
- Admitted
- 1,427
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Carleton College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Carleton College is $68,892, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $25,407. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,881 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $16,750 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $68,892
- Out-of-State
- $68,892
- Avg Net Price
- $25,407
- Median Debt
- $16,750
- Pell Grant Rate
- 17%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 43%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $7,881
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $8,203
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $9,680
- Family Income $110K+
- $44,082
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Carleton College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Carleton College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Carleton College earn a median of $75,525, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $53,989
- 8 Years
- $70,720
- 10 Years
- $75,525
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.22x
- Earning > $25K
- 69%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (455)
- 88%
- 100% (455)
- 88%
- 100% (455)
- 88%
- 100% (455)
- 88%
How Carleton Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Carleton College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Carleton College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $25,407/year ($101,628 total). Graduates earn $75,525 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,423,534 in total earnings — a net gain of $2,321,906 (23.8× your investment). The median debt is $16,750, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 90% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $101,628
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $2,423,534
- Net Return
- $2,321,906
- ROI Multiple
- 23.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $25,407
- Median Debt
- $16,750
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 90%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Carleton College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Carleton College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.37%, well above the typical college. Access is narrower: only about 2.6% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 52.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $152,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.37%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 52.9%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 2.6%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $206,515
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Carleton College produces inventors at an above-average rate (top 17% nationally), with 28 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 1.46%
- Top 17% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 28
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 40
- Downstream influence
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $4,340,207
- Investment Income
- $-54,372,468
Top Programs
The fields Carleton College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Computer Science & IT 18% $90,849 early-career
- Physical Sciences 16% $50,824 early-career
- Social Sciences 15% $71,330 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 11% $27,369 early-career
- Mathematics & Statistics 8% $44,638 early-career
- Psychology 7% $40,065 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 4% $26,097 early-career
- English & Literature 3% $26,531 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Carleton College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-AI/ML Engineer$156,000 · 23% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Computer Vision Engineer$145,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Carleton College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Northfield, Minnesota, Carleton College sets a competitive bar: about 20% of applicants get an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,517. The graduation rate is roughly 90%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Carleton College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Carleton College is $68,892, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $25,407. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,881 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $16,750 in federal student loans.
Is Carleton College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Carleton College earn a median of $75,525, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
Does Carleton College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Carleton College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.37%, well above the typical college. Access is narrower: only about 2.6% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 52.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $152,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Carleton College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Carleton College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.78, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 17% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does Carleton College offer Early Decision?
No. Carleton College does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2024-25 Common Data Set).
Compare Carleton College
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Carleton College.
- Hamilton CollegeClinton, NY · Close peer91% grad $78,411 earn 14% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Amherst CollegeAmherst, MA · Close peer94% grad $77,644 earn 9% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Franklin and Marshall CollegeLancaster, PA · Close peer85% grad $76,124 earn 28% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Trinity UniversitySan Antonio, TX · Close peer83% grad $71,668 earn 26% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Middlebury CollegeMiddlebury, VT · Close peer92% grad $76,310 earn 11% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Colorado CollegeColorado Springs, CO · Close peer87% grad $65,222 earn 18% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Carleton College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Carleton College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.78, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 17% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note