Key differences on Getting in
- 1
Carleton's yield is 4 pts higher than Grinnell's
Yield rate - 2
Grinnell admits 15% vs. 18% at Carleton
Acceptance rate - 3
Carleton's SAT midpoint is 25 points higher than Grinnell's
SAT midpoint
Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
Acceptance and yield, test score ranges, test policy, and what each college weighs.
The funnel
Quad's selectivity
- GrinnellHighly selective
- CarletonHighly selective
Men and women
Acceptance rate for men and women who applied, where a college reports admissions by sex.
Test scores
SAT total,
Axis runs 1300–1600. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
ACT composite,
Axis runs 27–36. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
Test policy
- GrinnellTest-optional
- CarletonTest-optional
How they read a record
Grinnell
The high school record is required; GPA, class rank, and a college-prep program are considered.
Carleton
, GPA, and class rank are all very important; tests are considered.
What they look at
| Factor | Grinnell | Carleton |
|---|---|---|
| High school GPA | Considered | Very important |
| High school record | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Considered | Very important |
| College-prep program | Considered | Required |
| Recommendations | Considered | Very important |
| Essay | Required | Very important |
| Legacy status | Considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Considered | Considered |
| Demonstration of competencies | Considered | Considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other tests | Considered | Not considered |
Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;College Scorecard, most recent release;Carleton College (Fall 2026), Fall 2026;Carleton College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;Carleton College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Carleton College Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why