Biology at Carleton College

Northfield, MN · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Biology, General
24 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
25
Optimistic
24
Base Case
24
Pessimistic
Earnings $30,726/yr (-5% vs median)
AI Risk High (40% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)
ROI 2.4x earnings multiple
Ranked #770 of 822 Biology, General programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Biology graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $625K $616K $559K
Earnings Multiple 2.4x 2.4x 2.1x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 25 24 24

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$261,828
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$109,280
58% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,929
7.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$61,887
101% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $30,726/yr, Biology graduates from Carleton College land near the $32,219 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

An earnings multiple of 2.4x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 40% task exposure — and the 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $17,929 debt-to-$30,726 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #770 out of 822 programs, Carleton College's financial outcomes for Biology trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $30,726 to $61,887 over five years (101% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Carleton College

A 22% acceptance rate puts Carleton College in competitive admissions territory, a smaller institution with 2,019 students in Northfield, MN. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $109,280 — 58% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Carleton College →

Top Career Paths

Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists $100,590/yr
Biological scientists, all other $93,330/yr
View all 10 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Biology at Other Schools

Other Majors at Carleton College

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Carleton College's Biology program score?
This program scores 24/100 — on the lower end for Biology. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Biology to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Biology careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 40% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
How affordable is Biology at Carleton College after financial aid?
Sticker price is $261,828, but the average net cost is $109,280 — a 58% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →