Biology at Carleton College

At a highly selective liberal arts college charging premium tuition, Carleton's biology graduates start behind less prestigious Minnesota public universities—earning $30,726 in year one compared to $44,166 at Saint Cloud State and $42,128 at Metropolitan State. This isn't a close call: Carleton biology grads are making $10,000+ less than peers from regional state schools, despite SAT scores averaging 1491 and an admission rate under 22%. The program sits at just the 40th percentile both nationally and within Minnesota, meaning 60% of comparable biology programs deliver better immediate outcomes.

The debt picture offers some consolation—at $17,929, it's considerably lighter than the state median of $25,499. Strong 33% earnings growth by year four brings graduates to $40,859, which helps close the gap with state school peers. But that's still catching up from a low base, and parents should question why they're paying Carleton's premium when public alternatives deliver stronger returns from day one. The biology degree here appears designed for students heading to graduate school or research programs rather than those seeking immediate career earnings.

For families not needing the Carleton brand for grad school admission or who are cost-conscious, Minnesota's public universities demonstrate materially better value in this specific field. The low debt prevents this from being a financial disaster, but it's hard to justify the investment gap when outcomes trail more affordable options by such wide margins.