Carleton College

Northfield, MN · Private

Official website

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Admission rate

Carleton College admitted 20.4% of applicants university-wide (1,456 of 7,133).

CohortAdmit rateAdmittedApplicants
University-wide20.4%1,4567,133
In-state30.4%213701
Out-of-state36.7%1,0792,944
International applicants4.7%1643,488
Early Decision (binding)33.3%200600
Men17.7%6773,820
Women23.5%7763,305

Early Decision applicants were admitted at 33.3%, vs 20.4% overall — ED is a binding commitment.

Also offers Early Action (closes Jan 15) — the Common Data Set doesn't publish EA admit counts.

Of 1,456 admitted students, 507 enrolled (34.8% yield).

Carleton College Common Data Set 2024-2025 · Sections C1–C2 · 2024 — Published cohort admit rates — context, not an applicant-specific probability.

Test scores and GPA of admitted students

SAT (mid-50%)
1470–1540
ACT (mid-50%)
32–35
GPA (mid-50%, 4.0 scale)
3.50–3.99

Testing policy: Test-optional (considered if submitted)

Carleton College Common Data Set 2024-2025 · Sections C9–C12 · 2024 — Published admit stats reflect the entire incoming class unless explicitly labeled international-only.

Cost and financial aid

Published cost of attendance: $90,416/yr.

Out-of-state tuition$68,892
Fees, housing, food, books & other$21,524
Sticker cost of attendance$90,416/yr

Average net price by family income (US, federal aid data)

Under $30k$7,881
$30k–48k$8,203
$48k–75k$9,680
$75k–110k$18,485
Over $110k$44,082

U.S. Dept. of Education · College Scorecard — average net price by family income (Title IV, from IPEDS) · 2023

US applicants

Need- and merit-based aid available.

  • Carleton College Grant — Varies (Need Based)
  • International Need-Based Financial Aid — Varies (Need Based)

International applicants

Meets full demonstrated need for internationals.

  • Carleton College Grant — Varies (Need Based)
  • International Need-Based Financial Aid — Varies (Need Based)

Carleton College Common Data Set 2024-2025 · Sections G–H · 2024

Application requirements

US applicants

  • Application (Common App, QuestBridge App, or Coalition App)
  • High School Transcript
  • High School Counselor Recommendation (School Report)
  • Two Academic Teacher Recommendations
  • SAT or ACT Scores (optional)
  • TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test
  • Carleton Supplemental Essay

International applicants

  • Application (Common App, QuestBridge App, or Coalition App)
  • High School Transcript
  • High School Counselor Recommendation (School Report)
  • Two Academic Teacher Recommendations
  • SAT or ACT Scores (optional)
  • TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test
  • Carleton Supplemental Essay
  • GPA credential conversion
  • Predicted Class XII marksheet
  • Financial documentation (I-20)

Carleton College · Application requirements (official admissions pages) · 2025

Essay prompts

The Common App personal essay is required (one of 7 shared prompts), plus 2 college-specific supplements:

  1. Carleton's community values intellectual curiosity and social responsibility. Describe an experience that has shaped your values.300 words · Required
  2. What about Carleton's curriculum, community, or campus has inspired you to apply?300 words · Required

Draft these in the free Essay Coach

Prompts from the Common App member feed · verified Jul 3, 2026

Graduate outcomes

Median earnings
$75,525
Median earnings · 10 years after entry
Graduation rate
89.6%
Within 150% of normal time
First-year retention
96.5%
Return for year two · CDS Section B
Median debt
$16,750
At graduation

Carleton College · U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (2023 release) · 2023 — Earnings and debt figures are federal data for aid-receiving graduates — cohort outcomes, not a guarantee for any individual student.

Published rankings

  • U.S. News Liberal Arts: #10
  • Forbes: #128
  • Niche: #96

Academics and campus

Largest degree fields: Social sciences (18%), Computer & information sciences (16%), Physical sciences (12%).

Student–faculty ratio: 9:1 · 67% of class sections have under 20 students.

Carleton College Common Data Set 2024-2025 · Sections E, F, I · 2024 — Published institutional figures for the reporting year — descriptive of the current student body, not a prediction about your experience.

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