Head-to-head comparison
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities vs Carleton College: which has better ROI?
Option A Minneapolis, MN
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
- Net price / year
- $16,778
- Earnings, 10 years
- $69,020
- Payback
- 3.2 yrs
Option B Northfield, MN
Carleton College
- Net price / year
- $25,407
- Earnings, 10 years
- $75,525
- Payback
- 3.7 yrs
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $67,112 in 3.2 years versus 3.7 years at Carleton College, on median earnings of $69,020 vs $75,525 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | Carleton College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,778 | $25,407 |
| Total net cost | $67,112 | $101,628 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $69,020 | $75,525 |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $16,750 |
| Payback | 3.2 yrs | 3.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $346,088 | $441,672 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities or Carleton College?
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, at $16,778 a year after aid versus $25,407 — a gap of $8,629 a year, or $34,516 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do University of Minnesota-Twin Cities or Carleton College graduates earn more?
Carleton College graduates report a median $75,525 ten years after entry, $6,505 more than the $69,020 at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities or Carleton College?
Carleton College: its completers carry a median $16,750 in federal loans versus $19,500 at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, a difference of $2,750. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
90% of students finish at Carleton College, against 85% at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. 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.