St Olaf College vs Carleton College: 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 5.6 years at St Olaf College, on median earnings of $75,525 vs $65,543 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | St Olaf College | Carleton College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,874 | $25,407 |
| Total net cost | $95,496 | $101,628 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $65,543 | $75,525 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $16,750 |
| Payback | 5.6 yrs | 3.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $248,164 | $441,672 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, St Olaf College or Carleton College?
St Olaf College, at $23,874 a year after aid versus $25,407 — a gap of $1,533 a year, or $6,132 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do St Olaf College or Carleton College graduates earn more?
Carleton College graduates report a median $75,525 ten years after entry, $9,982 more than the $65,543 at St Olaf College. 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, St Olaf College or Carleton College?
Carleton College: its completers carry a median $16,750 in federal loans versus $26,000 at St Olaf College, a difference of $9,250. 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 84% at St Olaf College. 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.