Admissions
Getting in, fall 2026
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.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
No application fee
Grants credit for AP exams
Men and women
Men were admitted at 18%, women at 23%.
Where applicants live
Minnesota applicants were admitted at 35%, applicants from other states at 39%, and international applicants at 4.0%.
All applicants in the same class: 22%
Of those admitted, 40% from Minnesota enrolled, against 33% from other states and 41% from abroad.
Counted by where applicants lived when they applied, which can differ from who qualifies for in-state tuition. A group's rate reflects who applies from there as well as how the college chooses.
Yield
35% of admitted students enroll, in the typical range nationally.
Wait list: 675 offered a place, 335 accepted, 33 admitted (9.9% of those who accepted)
Applying early
Early decision: 35% admitted
263 of 760 early applicants
Apply by Nov 15; decisions by Dec 15
Second round: apply by Jan 15; decisions by Feb 15
Early decision is binding: if admitted, you commit to enroll. Recruited athletes and other applicants with an edge often apply early, so the early rate overstates the gain for a typical applicant.
No early action plan.
Where you stand
How Carleton reads a record
, GPA, and class rank are all very important; tests are considered. Scores are optional. 39% of first-years sent an SAT and 25% an ACT. Of the 31% whose high school reported a rank, 77% were in the top tenth. Recommends 4 years of English and 3 of math. See the years by subject
What they look at
| Very important | Important | Considered | Not considered | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic | |||||
| Rigor of high school record | Very important | ||||
| Class rank | Very important | ||||
| Academic GPA | Very important | ||||
| Test scores | Considered | ||||
| Essay | Very important | ||||
| Recommendations | Very important | ||||
| Personal | |||||
| Interview | Considered | ||||
| Extracurricular activities | Very important | ||||
| Talent or ability | Very important | ||||
| Character and personal qualities | Very important | ||||
| First generation | Considered | ||||
| Alumni relation (legacy) | Not considered | ||||
| Geographic residence | Considered | ||||
| State residency | Not considered | ||||
| Religious affiliation | Not considered | ||||
| Volunteer work | Considered | ||||
| Work experience | Considered | ||||
| Demonstrated interest | Not considered | ||||
From the federal survey: high school record required; college-prep program required; demonstration of competencies considered; English proficiency test required
Transferring in
21% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 18% of first-year applicants
132 applied · 28 admitted
Transfers may start in the fall.
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
Dates
- Fall entry: apply by March 31, decisions by May 15, reply by June 1
What the application needs
- High school transcript
- Required
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Required
- Interview
- Not required
- Standardized test scores
- Not required
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Required
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Apply by January 15 for fall 2026.
- Decisions are sent by March 31.
- Admitted students must reply by May 1.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year. Longest postponement: 1 year, with exceptions for military service.
What you'll need in high school
Requires a high school diploma; accepts the GED.
Recommends a college-preparatory program in high school.
| Years of | Recommended |
|---|---|
| English | 4 |
| Math | 3 |
| Science (lab: 1) | 3 |
| Foreign language | 3 |
| Social studies | 3 |
| Total | 16* |
A unit is a year of the subject; lab science is part of science. *Added up from the subjects listed; the college didn't give a total.
Recent change: Stopped considering legacy status in fall 2024.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2025 first-years
First-years' high school class rank
77% were in the top tenth of their high school class, 94% in the top quarter, of the 31% whose high school reported a rank.
This college doesn't publish first-years' .
Source:Carleton College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1500 on the SAT, 330 points above the median for colleges that report scores.
Optional
Scores are considered if you send them. For students entering in fall 2027.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Score bands
Nearly all who sent an SAT (91%) scored 1400 or higher.
Nearly all who sent an ACT (95%) scored 30 or higher.
Nearly all who sent an SAT (90%) scored 700 or higher.
84% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
Nearly all who sent an ACT (91%) scored 30 or higher.
79% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
Shares of the 39% of first-years who sent an SAT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Shares of the 25% of first-years who sent an ACT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
204 studentssubmitted ACT
128 studentsRead with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:Carleton College (Fall 2026), Fall 2026;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;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, 2025–26;Carleton College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)