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Research and Experimental Psychology at Carleton College

Northfield, MN · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $39,238/yr (11% vs median)

AI Risk High (44% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (203,900 openings/yr)

ROI 1.8x earnings multiple

Ranked #50 of 84 Research and Experimental Psychology programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Research and Experimental Psychology graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$471K	$472K	$448K
Earnings Multiple	1.8x	1.8x	1.7x
Probability of Field Employment	52%	48%	36%
DegreeOutlook Score	40	39	38

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

$16,700

5.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Carleton College's Research and Experimental Psychology graduates start at $39,238/yr — above the $35,198 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The financial case is thin at 1.8x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

Some AI exposure exists in Research and Experimental Psychology's typical career paths, with 44% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 5% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $16,700 in median debt clears quickly against $39,238 in annual earnings.

Ranked #50 of 84 Research and Experimental Psychology programs, Carleton College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Carleton College

Admission to Carleton College is competitive, with 22% of applicants accepted, 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

Managers, all other $136,550/yr

Psychologists, all other $117,580/yr

Health specialties teachers, postsecondary $105,620/yr

View all 11 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Research and Experimental Psychology at Other Schools

Other Majors at Carleton College

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Research and Experimental Psychology at Carleton College?

A score of 39/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Research and Experimental Psychology. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Research and Experimental Psychology careers?

With 44% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $448,485 in decade earnings vs $470,646 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Is Carleton College a hidden gem for Research and Experimental Psychology?

After financial aid, the average student pays $109,280 over four years — 58% below the $261,828 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →