Carleton College is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Northfield, Minnesota. It enrolls 2,086 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
79/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes96
Value60
Affordability19
Selectivity96
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 20.4%, Carleton College is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
20.4%
Very Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1450 – 1560
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
32 – 34
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Carleton College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
3.1 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Carleton College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $25,407 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$25,407
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
17%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
43%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$68,892
Room & Board (on-campus)
$17,586
Books & Supplies
$938
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,788
Total Cost of Attendance
$84,893
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$7,881
$30,001 – $48,000
$8,203
$48,001 – $75,000
$9,680
$75,001 – $110,000
$18,485
Over $110,000
$44,082
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$6,00010%percentile
$12,00025%percentile
$16,750Medianpercentile
$23,50075%percentile
$27,12190%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $14,983
↓ $1,767
No Pell $16,254
↓ $496
Female students $16,053
↓ $697
Male students $15,960
↓ $790
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,667, less than completers ($16,750), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
93% of full-time students who enrolled at Carleton College graduate within six years, and 96% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
93%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
96%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Carleton College earn a median of $75,525 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$75,525
Earning > $25K
89%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$57,900
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$77,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $19,400, about 25% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
What this means:
Moderate return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$3.0 of median earnings 10 years out. Compare carefully against your funding plan.
Who Studies Here
Carleton College is home to 2,086 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
2,086
Part-Time
0%
First-Generation
16%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 51.0%1,063
International 10.4%217
Asian 10.3%214
Hispanic 10.1%210
Other 9.0%187
Black 5.9%123
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Carleton College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantNorthfield, Minnesota
Housing
Strongly residential1,840 beds for 2,086 students
Adult Learners
0%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Trimesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Carleton College offers
a varied set of programs:
26 distinct programs across
14 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Carleton College is 8:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
8:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$1.6B
Strong financial cushion supports aid and stability
Avg Faculty Salary
$109,560
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
261 instructional faculty across 6 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
115
44%
$137,853
Associate Professors
48
18%
$109,204
Assistant Professors
72
28%
$78,370
Instructors
3
1%
$58,259
Lecturers
17
7%
$77,287
No Rank
6
2%
$61,497
Pros & Cons of Carleton College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Carleton College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for:
Based on the data, Carleton College is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions about Carleton College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Carleton College.
Is Carleton College hard to get into?
Carleton College is highly selective. Its acceptance rate is 20.4%, so admitted students generally have strong grades, competitive test scores, and a well-rounded application.
What is the acceptance rate at Carleton College?
Carleton College has an acceptance rate of 20.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Carleton College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Carleton College scored between 1450 and 1560 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Carleton College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Carleton College scored between 32 and 34 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Carleton College cost?
The average net price after aid at Carleton College is $25,407 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Carleton College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $75,525 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $25,407 per year. That's roughly 3.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Carleton College known for?
Carleton College is best known for its programs in Computer Science, Biology, International Relations. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Carleton College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Carleton College are $75,525, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Carleton College accredited?
Yes. Carleton College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Carleton College?
Carleton College enrolls 2,086 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Carleton College?
Carleton College graduates 93% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Carleton College a public or private college?
Carleton College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Carleton College located?
Carleton College is located in Northfield, Minnesota.
What programs does Carleton College offer?
Carleton College offers 26 distinct programs. The most popular include Computer Science, Biology, International Relations.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Carleton College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Carleton College is 8:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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