Carleton College

Northfield, MN · Private nonprofit · Distant town · Website

Admission rate: 20%; Very selective
Average net price: $25,295; per year, after aid
Graduation rate: 89%
Median earnings: $82,742; 10 years after enrolling

Carleton College is a private nonprofit college in Northfield, MN with 2,086 undergraduates. It admits 20% of applicants, and admitted students average 1517 on the SAT. The average net price after aid is $25,295 per year ($12,275 for families earning under $30,000). 89% of students graduate, and graduates earn a median of $82,742 ten years after enrolling.

private nonprofit college

Admissions

Admission rate: 20%; Fall 2024
Testing policy: Test optional; Fall 2024
Applicants: 6,464; Fall 2023
Admitted: 1,440; Fall 2023
Yield: 37%; of admitted students enrolled

Middle 50% of admitted students (Fall 2024). A quarter scored below the band and a quarter above.

SAT Reading & Writing720–770

200800

SAT Math730–790

200800

ACT Composite32–34

136

What Carleton College looks at

As reported by the college to IPEDS (Fall 2023).

High school recordRequired
High school GPAConsidered
College-prep courseworkRequired
Class rankConsidered
Essay or personal statementRequired
RecommendationsRequired
Demonstrated competenciesConsidered
Legacy statusConsidered
Work experienceConsidered
English proficiency testRequired

Cost

Cost of attendance: $89,204; sticker price, per year
Tuition & fees: $72,069

Net price by family income

Average yearly cost after grants and scholarships for students receiving federal aid.

$0–30k$12,275
$30–48k$11,313
$48–75k$18,924
$75–110k$18,309
$110k+$37,770

Get a personal estimate with Carleton College's net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation rate: 89%
Freshman retention: 97%
Median earnings: $82,742; 10 yrs after enrolling
Median debt: $18,000; at graduation

Students

Undergraduates: 2,086
Student–faculty ratio: 8:1
Receive Pell grants: 20%

White51%
Hispanic10%
Black6%
Asian10%

Carleton College FAQ

What is Carleton College's acceptance rate?+

Carleton College admits 20% of applicants, which makes it very selective.

What SAT score do you need for Carleton College?+

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 720–770 on SAT Reading and Writing and 730–790 on SAT Math; the average total is 1517.

What ACT score do you need for Carleton College?+

The middle 50% ACT composite range for admitted students is 32–34.

Is Carleton College test optional?+

Test optional (considered if submitted).

How many students apply to Carleton College?+

In Fall 2023, 6,464 students applied to Carleton College and 1,440 were admitted; 538 enrolled.

Does Carleton College consider legacy status?+

Yes. Carleton College reported that legacy status is considered in admissions (Fall 2023).

Does Carleton College require an essay?+

Carleton College reported that an essay or personal statement is required for admission (Fall 2023).

How much does Carleton College cost?+

The sticker cost of attendance is $89,204 per year, but the average net price after grants and scholarships is $25,295.

What is Carleton College's graduation rate?+

89% of full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.

Sources

Admission rate, test scores, cost, students, and outcomes: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (Most Recent Institution-Level Data), released 2026-10-15. Admissions figures are for Fall 2024, costs for 2024-25, and earnings are measured in 2023.
Applicants, admitted, yield, and admission factors: IPEDS Admissions survey (ADM2023), Fall 2023.
IPEDS unit ID 173258 · How we use this data