Mathematics at Carleton College

Carleton's math majors leave with just $11,000 in debt—a figure that ranks in the 95th percentile nationally and sits less than half the $23,000 state median. While the program's estimated first-year earnings of $57,166 are based on comparable Minnesota programs rather than Carleton's own graduates, this debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.19 suggests a manageable financial picture regardless of exactly where Carleton falls within that range. For context, peer liberal arts colleges like St. Olaf and Macalester cluster tightly around this $57,000-$58,000 mark, and even if Carleton's actual outcomes differ somewhat, the minimal debt provides substantial cushion.

The school's 22% admission rate and average SAT of 1491 indicate the kind of selective environment where math graduates often pursue graduate degrees or competitive industry positions—paths that may not show their full earning potential in first-year figures. The low debt burden becomes particularly valuable in these scenarios, whether students are funding additional education or accepting lower-paying research positions early in their careers. What matters most here isn't pinpoint accuracy on that first-year number, but rather that graduates have extraordinary flexibility when they're not burdened by significant loan payments from the start.