Admit rate has ranged 17%–22% over the last 5 years. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Carleton College is a fiercely intellectual liberal arts enclave in rural Minnesota, where students embrace both academic rigor and quirky traditions with equal fervor. Known for its top-ranked faculty and a curriculum that prizes interdisciplinary exploration, Carleton attracts brainy, self-directed learners who thrive in a collaborative but demanding environment. The college's 97% on-campus residency rate fosters an intense, all-in community—though its isolation means students invent their own fun, from epic frisbee golf tournaments to winter 'Primal Scream' stress-relief rituals.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Letters of recommendation
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Grade point average
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Demonstrated competencies
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
2,086
In-state tuition
$68,892
Out-of-state tuition
$68,892
Location
Northfield, MN
Notable Quirk
Trimester system (3 terms/year)
Acceptance Rate
17.5–20.4%
6-Year Grad Rate
90%
Average Aid Award
$68,279
On-Campus Housing
97%
Student-Faculty Ratio
8:1
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$75,525
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
3.0×
Median debt at graduation
$16,750
Graduation rate
90%
First-year retention
96%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
92%
Pell (lower-income) share
43%
First-generation share
16%
Endowment / student
$601,812
Financial health
3.0 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Computer Science$76,460
Physics$42,774
Mathematics$37,568
Chemistry$36,141
Political Science and Government$33,993
Psychology, General$33,719
Social Sciences, Other
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
5
Per 1,000 students
2.40
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
89
Summer high
81°F
Winter low
10°F
Annual rain
37.4"
Annual snow
43.1"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Low
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
262
Scholarly works
7,040
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Share of this school’s graduates who go on to earn research doctorates (2010–20), by national rank and per-capita yield (NSF institutional-yield ratio). A signal of a research-oriented student culture — not a causal promise, since it partly reflects who enrolls. Only top producers appear. Source: NSF NCSES, Baccalaureate Origins of U.S. Research Doctorate Recipients.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Carleton College?
Carleton College's acceptance rate is approximately 20% (Northfield, MN), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Carleton College?
Admitted students at Carleton College typically score 1450–1560 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Carleton College cost?
At Carleton College, the average net price (after aid) is about $25,407 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Carleton College?
Carleton College enrolls approximately 2,086 undergraduate students.
Where is Carleton College located?
Carleton College is located in Northfield, MN.
Admissions
Carleton's admissions process is highly selective, with Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. fluctuating between 17.5% (Class of 2025) and 20.4% (recent averages). The college is test-optional as of 2025, though enrolled students typically boast SAT scores between 1470–1540 or ACT composites of 33–35. International applicants face especially steep odds, with a ~5% acceptance rate compared to 30% for in-state and 37% for out-of-state students. The Class of 2029 drew 7,449 applications for 518 spots, with 32% identifying as Black, Indigenous, or students of color.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$26,353
Biology, General$23,034
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
1.4%
Bottom → top quintile
53%
From bottom quintile
3%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Carleton's academic culture is intense but supportive, with a faculty ranked #1 nationally for undergraduate teaching. The college offers 33 majors, with standout programs in mathematics (7% of degrees), chemistry (6%), and physics (4%). The trimester system accelerates the pace—students describe courses as 'hugely educational' but demanding, with 90% earning high marks for intellectual stimulation. A signature strength is interdisciplinary work: all students complete requirements in arts, humanities, and sciences, and many design independent research projects with professors.
Life at Carleton revolves around its 97% on-campus residency rate, creating a tight-knit community where even the library becomes a social hub. The college lacks Greek life, and students joke that their 'party culture' consists of 'discussing Kant over fair-trade coffee.' Traditions dominate: students sled down Bald Spot hill on dining trays, participate in 24-hour trivia marathons, and unleash midterm stress via the 'Primal Scream.' With no nearby urban distractions, clubs fill the void—from competitive frisbee to a student-run farm. The vibe is unabashedly nerdy, with spontaneous debates and midnight pancake study breaks.
Carleton boasts a 90% six-year graduation rate (88% for Pell Grant recipients), with alumni earning median salaries of $53,989 early-career—$10,301 above national averages. The liberal arts focus leads to diverse paths: 25% pursue advanced degrees within five years, while others join tech firms, NGOs, or arts organizations. Notably, Carleton graduates report high satisfaction with their preparation for 'complex, real-world problem-solving,' a testament to the college's emphasis on critical thinking across disciplines.
At $66,739 for comprehensive fees (2024), Carleton is pricey but aggressively generous with aid: 56% of first-years receive assistance, averaging $68,279 annually. The college meets 100% of demonstrated need without loans for most families, and its Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. calculator shows many middle-income students paying under $30K. A 'no hidden costs' policy covers essentials like textbooks and lab fees, reducing financial surprises. For those qualifying, Carleton's aid packages often rival those of Ivy League schools.
Carleton distinguishes itself through academic intensity without pretension—a place where Nobel laureates teach intro classes and students debate quantum physics at the dining hall. Its isolation fosters an almost monastic focus on learning, yet the community crackles with humor (witness the annual 'Silent Dance Party'). The college punches above its weight in postgraduate outcomes, proving that a rural liberal arts education can compete with elite universities. For students who want to geek out without apology, Carleton offers a rare blend of rigor, warmth, and Midwestern pragmatism.
Carleton College logo · sourceCarleton College: A Leading Liberal Arts College in Northfield, Minnesota · sourceFacilities Campus Planning – Facilities – Carleton College · sourceAbout Carleton – Carleton College · source
