Carleton College

Northfield, MN

Carleton College is a liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, with a 9-to-1 student-faculty ratio and a policy of having all courses taught by professors rather than teaching assistants. Carleton states its educational philosophy centers on teaching students "how to learn for a lifetime" rather than training for a narrow career path, with faculty whose "first priority is teaching." The college describes its culture as deliberately cooperative rather than competitive.

Admissions

Admit rate20%

SAT range1460–15302025-26 CDS

ACT range32–352025-26 CDS

Undergrads2,086

Yield (admits who enroll)37%

Next deadlineNov 15, 2026 (ED1)

Test scores for the Fall 2025 entering class come from Carleton College's own 2025-26 Common Data Set: 39% submitted SAT scores, 25% submitted ACT scores.

Application deadlines for Fall 2027 entry

Early Decision I: Nov 15, 2026
Early Decision II: Jan 15, 2027
Regular Decision: Jan 15, 2027

Confirm on Carleton College's own admissions site before you apply.

Cost & outcomes

Cost of attendance$84,8932024-25

Tuition & fees$68,8922024-25

4-year grad rate90%

Median earnings, 10yr out$75,525

From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field. Tuition & fees are the sticker price for a full-time first-year undergrad, before financial aid, and don't include room and board.

Where do you stand against Carleton College's numbers?

Check your chances here

How Carleton College weighs your application

From Carleton College's own Common Data Set, 2025-26, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?

Academic factors

Rigor of secondary school recordVery important

Class rankVery important

Academic GPAVery important

Standardized test scoresConsidered

Application essayVery important

RecommendationsVery important

Nonacademic factors

InterviewConsidered

Extracurricular activitiesVery important

Talent/abilityVery important

Character/personal qualitiesVery important

First generationConsidered

Alumni relation (legacy)Not considered

Geographical residenceConsidered

State residencyNot considered

Religious affiliationNot considered

Volunteer workConsidered

Work experienceConsidered

Level of interest (demonstrated interest)Not considered

BUILD YOUR FIT SCORESee how Carleton College actually weighs your profile, free, no account needed

See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what Carleton College weighs in your application

Paying it back

Undergrads taking federal loans43%

Loan balance still growing, 3yrs out92%

"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.

Majors & earnings

Social Sciences

Economics$87,193/yr

Political Science and Government$53,975/yr

Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.

Campus life

On-campus housingYes

Required to live on campusYes

Dormitory capacity1,865

Typical room charge$8,439

Typical board charge$7,551

Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.

What matters in your application

GPAConsidered, not required

Class rankConsidered, not required

RecommendationsRequired

From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.

Frequently asked questions

What does Carleton College look for in applicants?

Per Carleton College's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates application essay, recommendations, extracurricular activities, talent/ability, class rank, character/personal qualities, academic GPA, rigor of secondary school record as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.

What is Carleton College's acceptance rate?

Carleton College in Northfield, MN admits approximately 20% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.

What SAT score do I need for Carleton College?

Per Carleton College's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1460–1530 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).

What ACT score do I need for Carleton College?

Per Carleton College's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 32–35 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).

How much does Carleton College cost?

Carleton College's total cost of attendance is reported at $84,893 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.

When is the application deadline for Carleton College?

Carleton College's deadlines are Early Decision I Nov 15, 2026; Early Decision II Jan 15, 2027; Regular Decision Jan 15, 2027, per its own published admissions calendar.

Does Carleton College require students to live on campus?

Yes -- Carleton College requires students to live in on-campus housing.

Comparing Carleton College against another school?

Open the comparison view