Biology at Carleton College
Northfield, MN · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Biology, General
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
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
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,929
7.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$61,887
101% growth from Year 1
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
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 →