Key differences on Getting in
- 1
Carleton's yield is 13 pts higher than Macalester's
Yield rate - 2
Carleton's SAT midpoint is 70 points higher than Macalester's
SAT midpoint - 3
Carleton is 1.6× more selective than Macalester
Acceptance rate
Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
Acceptance and yield, test score ranges, test policy, and what each college weighs.
The funnel
Quad's selectivity
- CarletonHighly selective
- MacalesterVery 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 1200–1600. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
ACT composite,
Axis runs 26–36. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
Test policy
- CarletonTest-optional
- MacalesterTest-optional
How they read a record
Carleton
, GPA, and class rank are all very important; tests are considered.
Macalester
The high school record is required; GPA, class rank, and a college-prep program are considered.
What they look at
| Factor | Carleton | Macalester |
|---|---|---|
| High school GPA | Very important | Considered |
| High school record | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Very important | Considered |
| College-prep program | Required | Considered |
| Recommendations | Very important | Required |
| Essay | Very important | Considered |
| Legacy status | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Considered | Considered |
| Demonstration of competencies | Considered | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other tests | Not considered | Not considered |
Sources:Carleton College (Fall 2026), Fall 2026;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;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 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023About 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