Carleton College vs Dunwoody College of Technology: which has better ROI?
Carleton College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $101,628 in 3.7 years versus 4.1 years at Dunwoody College of Technology, on median earnings of $75,525 vs $61,511 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Carleton College | Dunwoody College of Technology |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $25,407 | $26,939 |
| Total net cost | $101,628 | $53,878 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $75,525 | $61,511 |
| Median debt | $16,750 | $16,000 |
| Payback | 3.7 yrs | 4.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $441,672 | $209,142 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Carleton College or Dunwoody College of Technology?
Carleton College, at $25,407 a year after aid versus $26,939 — a gap of $1,532 a year, or $47,750 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Carleton College or Dunwoody College of Technology graduates earn more?
Carleton College graduates report a median $75,525 ten years after entry, $14,014 more than the $61,511 at Dunwoody College of Technology. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Carleton College or Dunwoody College of Technology?
Dunwoody College of Technology: its completers carry a median $16,000 in federal loans versus $16,750 at Carleton College, a difference of $750. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
90% of students finish at Carleton College, against 66% at Dunwoody College of Technology. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.