Funding Your Future

Funding Your Future YOUR FINANCIAL AID OFFER IS JUST THE START

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Paying for college can be complicated.

We’re here to help. ➜ Can you afford to go to college? Will you be supported on campus? How will you find a job after graduation?

They’re all big questions, and we have answers.

The truth is, you can go to a top-ranked school like Carleton, get an exceptional education, graduate without tons of debt, and make a profound impact on the world.

We work hard to make Carleton affordable and accessible for every family. We’re an elite liberal arts college, but we’re not elitist. We welcome the most curious and collaborative students of all backgrounds and identities, invest in their success, and help them launch meaningful careers.

Best Professors #1 for Undergraduate Teaching U.S. News & World Report

#10 Best School for Financial Aid (private schools) Princeton Review Our campus is more socioeconomically balanced than many other colleges thanks to a longstanding commitment to low- and middle-income students.

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What will you pay?

Carleton’s comprehensive fee is $86,478*—but what you actually pay could be quite different.

COMPREHENSIVE FEE: WHAT IT COSTS TO ATTEND CARLETON (TUITION, HOUSING, FOOD, AND ACTIVITY FEE)

Here’s the important part Because we meet your full financial need, you may end up paying less at Carleton than you would pay to attend a school with a lower comprehensive fee but lessgenerous financial aid.

Everyone’s financial situation is different, but here are examples of the average net cost for recent students who qualified for financial aid.

NET COST: THE ESTIMATED AMOUNT YOU CAN EXPECT TO PAY IN ONE ACADEMIC YEAR, CALCULATED BY SUBTRACTING THE GRANTS/ SCHOLARSHIPS FROM YOUR COST OF ATTENDANCE

Quick number crunching

Family Income

Average Financial Aid Award**

Average Net Cost**

$0–$41,999

$80,829

$2,573

$42,000–$104,999

$75,426

$7,597

$105,000–$169,999

$64,581

$19,038

$170,000–$224,999

$52,022

$29,975

$225,000–$275,000

$42,075

$42,227

* Based on the 2024–2025 school year ** Based on domestic Carleton students enrolled in 2023–2024 who qualified for financial aid

Estimate your net cost

go.carleton.edu/estimator

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Carleton grants 86%

MEET ALEX Alex is a first year from Minnesota.

They live with two parents and have no siblings. Their family income is $60,500, they own a home, and have less than $75,000 in assets.

Alex’s Financial Need Comprehensive fee

$86,478

Books and personal costs* + $1,876 Travel costs* + $250

Student loans 8%

Student employment 6%

A CARLETON GRANT (READ: NO REPAYMENT) IS TYPICALLY

Cost of attendance

$88,604

Expected family contribution

– $4,400

➜ Financial Need

= $84,204

Alex’s Financial Aid Carleton grant Low-interest loan Student employment

$76,584 + $4,500 + $3,120

➜ Financial Aid

= $84,204

➜ Estimated Cost to Alex’s Family = $4,400

THE BIGGEST PART OF ANY AID PACKAGE. * Estimated based on domestic Carleton students enrolled in 2023–2024 who qualified for financial aid

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See how Carleton meets different students’ financial aid needs!

Comprehensive Fee Tuition $68,457 Housing +$9,282 Food +$8,304 Activity fee +$435 $86,478

MEET JORDAN

MEET CAMERON Cameron is a junior from Arkansas.

They live with two parents and a younger sibling. Their family income is $126,000 with $42,000 in assets.

Jordan is a sophomore from Virginia.

They live with two parents and have a sibling enrolled in college. Their family income is $290,000 with $600,000 in assets including home equity.

Cameron’s Financial Need

Jordan’s Financial Need

Comprehensive fee $86,478 Books and personal costs* + $1,876 Travel costs* + $750

Cost of attendance $89,104 Expected family contribution – $12,100

Comprehensive fee $86,478 Books and personal costs* + $1,876 Travel costs* + $950

Cost of attendance $89,304 Expected family contribution – $44,605

➜ Financial Need

➜ Financial Need

= $77,004

= $44,699

Jordan’s Financial Aid

Cameron’s Financial Aid Carleton grant Low-interest loan Student employment

$66,604 + $6,500 + $3,900

Carleton grant Low-interest loan Student employment

$35,299 + $5,500 + $3,900

➜ Financial Aid

= $77,004

➜ Financial Aid

= $44,699

➜ Estimated Cost to Cameron’s Family = $12,100

of Carleton students receive need-based financial aid

➜ Estimated Cost to Jordan’s Family = $44,605

OUR PERSPECTIVE ➜ We prioritize grants and scholarships based on need. We believe this is a more equitable distribution of our financial aid resources since all students admitted to Carleton demonstrate a high degree of merit.

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Support for your whole college experience

➜ College comes with other expenses, big and small, and not all schools account for that.

We’ve anticipated your other needs and have you covered, from laundry and campus events to travel costs for studying abroad and postgrad job interviews.

Free resources and generous funds are available » Free, 24/7 telehealth to support your mental and physical health » $$$ for internships and research opportunities » Funding for private music lessons » A laptop stipend program for qualifying students » Textbook aid for qualifying students » Free in-town shuttle to get around Northfield » Fresh food over winter break, free through the Carleton Cupboard » Warm clothes—like jackets, boots, hats, and gloves—donated through the Carleton Winter Wardrobe » $300 in printing fees—completely covered

Yes, you can study abroad!

Your financial aid covers off-campus studies, and our programs carry no extra fees beyond transportation expenses.

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» Free events on campus nearly every day » And, never pay for laundry!

I knew I could not afford the $300 fee that most music lessons have each term.

I applied for funding that covers the entire fee and have been taking piano lessons each term since my freshman spring!”

— FÁTIMA REYES ’25

More than just a paycheck Eighty percent of Carleton students choose to work a campus job, including a significant number of students who don’t receive financial aid. When you work on campus, you learn new skills, connect with students and others beyond your usual mix of classes and activities, and gain hands-on experience.

What types of jobs are available to students? More than you might think! » Lead Data Scientist

» Writing Consultant

» ESL Tutor

» Biology Greenhouse Assistant

» Social Media Manager » Weather Station Programmer » Photographer or Videographer

» Arboretum Archiving Assistant » Dining Service Worker

We partner with local schools, governments, and nonpropfits to offer off-campus positions that count toward student employment.

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Connections that help you land the job

➜ A liberal arts education is the perfect foundation for a meaningful career, and our Career Center has all the resources needed to help get you to your next destination.

Get a step ahead with externships Externships are unique job shadowing or projectbased work experiences where students are hosted by alumni, parents, and friends of Carleton over our six-week winter break, allowing you to explore a career field and build professional connections.

Unlike other schools, Carleton students have direct access to 29,000 alumni and there is little our alumni wouldn’t do for a fellow Carl! They are eager to support, advise, and connect students to the industries, careers, and jobs they seek.

Carleton alumni who host externships often also offer to house you during that time.

I was fortunate enough to get free housing and meals every day as part of my externship!”

— STELLA DENNEHY ’24

230

students completed a Carletonsponsored internship last year

194

students completed a Carletonsponsored externship last year

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Invest in your future

➜ At Carleton, you’ll learn how to ask thoughtful questions, solve tough problems, and think creatively and critically. Our graduates go on to lead lives that make an impact on our world— both in the workplace and beyond.

Whatever your dream career may be, a Carleton education can take you there!

CARLETON SUCCESS BY THE NUMBERS

$153K

86%

81%

62%

Median midcareer salary (Payscale.com)

86% law school acceptance rate

81% medical school acceptance rate

62% of students attend graduate or professional school within eight years of graduation

Graduate with less debt Our students graduate with an average student loan debt of $21,407—43 percent lower than the national average of $37,850.

Carleton grads six months post-grad

73% employed

19% graduate school

6% 2% interning, seeking volunteering, or traveling

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Ready to transform

your future?

You’ve taken the first steps toward learning about and receiving financial aid. Here’s what to do next:

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Use our financial aid estimator to determine the amount of aid you could receive at go.carleton.edu/estimator. If you have questions, you can talk to our financial aid staff before you even apply.

2

Fill out an application for admission at go.carleton.edu/apply. Check the box indicating you intend to apply for financial aid.

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Complete and submit the College Board’s CSS Profile at CSSProfile.org and use school code 6081.

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Complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at fafsa.gov and use school code 002340*.

*The FAFSA is for U.S. residents and Permanent Residents only.

International students should complete the Certification of Finances form at go.carleton.edu/global.

Questions? We’re here to help!

Admissions admissions@carleton.edu 507-222-4190

GET STARTED:

Student Financial Aid financialaid@carleton.edu 507-222-4138

go.carleton.edu/apply 10

Financial Aid Terms comprehensive fee what it costs to attend Carleton (tuition, housing, food, and activity fee), not including personal costs like transportation, clothing, and books

cost of attendance (COA) total cost to attend Carleton (tuition, housing, food, and activity fee), including personal costs like transportation, clothing, and books

CSS Profile a financial aid application that we use to calculate financial need in a holistic, equitable way

demonstrated financial need or demonstrated need the difference between the cost of attendance and your family contribution

family contribution what your family should expect to pay for college

FAFSA the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (for U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents)

grant funding based on financial need that you don’t need to repay

need-based aid funding based on financial need, rather than on merit or skills

➜ NO APPLICATION FEE ➜ TEST OPTIONAL THROUGH FALL 2025

net cost or net price the estimated amount you can expect to pay in one academic year, calculated by subtracting the grants/scholarships from your cost of attendance

student employment a paid position of up to 10 hours per week during the academic term

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We provide some of the best financial aid in the country.

@carletoncollege

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