Economics bachelor's degree outcomes at Carleton College

Northfield, MN · Private nonprofit · Federal field 4506

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are close to the same-degree benchmark.

$4,507 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 22.4% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: $60,483 / year
10-year scenario: +50% · Positive payoff
Price evidence: College-wide context only

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+62%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$66,567 → $107,997

—Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

—Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

25Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

23Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

—Recent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$25,407

Institution-wide annual average net price—not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$19,500

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$87,193

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$207/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

Enter my price →

AVERAGE NET PRICE$25,407Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$84,893Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE20.4%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE89.6%Institution-wide completion rate

WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$66,567Year 1

$87,193Year 4

$107,997Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

2.8% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$7,266

Estimated loan payment$207

23borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$87,193 vs. $82,686

$4,507 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median

WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for—not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.

Managers, All Other$152,600 median wageMN estimate · 4,160 jobs · 11-9199+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 100.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEconomics Teachers, Postsecondary$108,460 median wageMN estimate · 250 jobs · 25-1063+2.4% projected U.S. growth · 1k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeEconomists$105,120 median wageMN estimate · 500 jobs · 19-3011+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeSocial Science Research Assistants$44,920 median wageMN estimate · 300 jobs · 19-4061+5.0% projected U.S. growth · 4.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSurvey Researchers$104,220 median wageMN estimate · 340 jobs · 19-3022-4.8% projected U.S. growth · 0.6k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeData Scientists$128,800 median wageMN estimate · 4,020 jobs · 15-2051+34.6% projected U.S. growth · 24.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeStatisticians$105,650 median wageU.S. estimate · 780 jobs · 15-2041+11.0% projected U.S. growth · 1.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeMarket Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$87,510 median wageMN estimate · 21,280 jobs · 13-1161+7.0% projected U.S. growth · 82k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$76,460 median wageMN estimate · 16,020 jobs · 25-2031-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree

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