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Is Carleton College worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Carleton, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Affordable
Carleton lands in the affordable band for a typical family. Graduates earn a median of $75,525 ten years after enrolling, and that makes the median debt of $16,750 more manageable than it looks at first glance. For context, Carleton's net price runs about 29% above the typical 4-year, private nonprofit school. On the numbers alone, this school clears the bar comfortably.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 1237 similar 4-year, private nonprofit schools
This school
$29,434
/yrAverage school like this
$22,837
/yrThis weighs on your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $6,597 more per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $26,000 in extra cost.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
Graduation and earnings data create a stronger long-run payoff picture.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$25,407
Median earnings 10 years out
$75,525
Median debt at graduation
$16,750
Graduation rate
90%
At Carleton, a typical graduate carries about $16,750 in student debt and earns roughly $75,525 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $190 per month, or 3% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Carleton is a private nonprofit four year school in Northfield, MN. Private pricing can swing more dramatically based on aid, so your personalized score matters more here than the national average view alone.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Private nonprofit 4-year
Saint Johns
Collegeville, MN
Worth-It Score: 76/100
Median net price: $25,672
Private nonprofit 4-year
North Central
Minneapolis, MN
Worth-It Score: 46/100
Median net price: $25,817
Private nonprofit 4-year
Concordia College at Moorhead
Moorhead, MN
Worth-It Score: 61/100
Median net price: $24,902
Private nonprofit 4-year
College of Saint Benedict
Saint Joseph, MN
Worth-It Score: 68/100
Median net price: $26,640
Private nonprofit 4-year
Crown
Saint Bonifacius, MN
Worth-It Score: 42/100
Median net price: $26,672
Common questions about Carleton
The median net price at Carleton is $25,407 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at private colleges options in Minnesota? See the most affordable private colleges in Minnesota →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →