Quad

Carleton College

Northfield, MNQuad's selectivityHighly selective
Known forTop test scoresBig endowment per studentHigh graduation rateTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Updates

What changed

New and revised figures from the latest data releases, each with its year.

Published Oct 11, 2026

  • Fall 2026: 8,226 applied (fall 2024: 7,133)Carleton College (Fall 2026)
  • Fall 2026: 18% admitted (fall 2024: 20%)Carleton College (Fall 2026)
  • Fall 2025: middle 50% SAT Reading & Writing 730–770 (fall 2024: 720–770)Carleton College Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Fall 2025: middle 50% SAT Math 720–780 (fall 2024: 730–790)Carleton College Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Fall 2025: middle 50% ACT composite 32–35 (fall 2024: 32–34)Carleton College Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Entered fall 2024: 94% returned for a second year (entered fall 2023: 96%)Carleton College Common Data Set 2025–26

Sources:Carleton College (Fall 2026), Fall 2026;Carleton College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;Carleton College Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Admissions · Fall 2026

1 in 6 applicants admitted

Carleton admits about 1 in 6 applicants (18%). That puts it in the "Highly selective" tier, more selective than 96% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

18%

18%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityHighly selective

Applied

8,226

Admitted

1,456

Yield

35%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

1460–1530

10001600
ACT middle 50%

32–35

1836
Applications +13% since fall 2014 · admit rate 23% → 20%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 2,086 undergrads, where 17% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

2.1K

undergrads · larger than 58% of colleges

Diversity index

0.70

Pell Grant

17%

below the median

First generation

16%

below the median

Distant townFirst-years live on campusNCAA D-III · Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceStudy abroadUndergrad research
More diverse · index 0.55 → 0.70 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Computer Science (18% of graduates). 8 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 89% of colleges. 87% of faculty are full-time. Spends $40,626 a year on instruction per student.

8 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 89% of colleges

Most popular major

Computer Science

18% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Computer Science

$88.1K one year after completion

Full-time faculty

87%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$40.6K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $51,187 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $26.9K more than the national median. The 59% who received grants paid $28,047 on average; the other 41% paid the full sticker price of $84,893.

40%

$51.2K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $26.9K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price
$84,893 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Published data end at $110K
use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Merit aid
3.1% · avg $2K
of first-years without need got merit aid
Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 40% of full price

Federal loans

43%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost falling · −5% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $75,525 ten years after enrolling, more than at 88% of colleges; 91% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.7 years of that salary.

91%

91%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$75.5K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$16.8K

≈ $178/month for 10 years

Retention

94%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 93% → 90% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 7% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 5%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 13% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 23% to 20%.

  • Cost

    Falling

    −5% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +13%

  • Selectivity

    Steady

    admit rate 23% → 20% (to fall 2024)

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.55 → 0.70

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    Carleton College (Fall 2026)

    Carleton College · Fall 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-11

  4. 4
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    Carleton College Common Data Set 2025–26

    Carleton College · Fall 2025; Fall 2027 applicants; Entered fall 2024; 2025–26 (estimated); 2025–26; Fall 2026 entrants; Fall 2026 cycle; 2026–27; Class of 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-11

  6. 6
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    Carleton College (2026–27)

    Carleton College · 2026–27 · retrieved 2026-10-10

  14. 14
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  19. 19
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  20. 20
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  21. 21
    Carleton College (2026)

    Carleton College · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 173258 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything