Carleton College Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Carleton College is a private university in Northfield, Minnesota, enrolling about 2,086 students. Admission is selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 20.41% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $75,525 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $68,892
- 2024 Average Net Price: $25,407 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 20.41% Selective
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 2,086 100.0% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 89.60%
- Carnegie Classification: Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields
- First-Generation Students: 15.7%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 4.5% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 11.4% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 87.3%
- Average SAT Score: 1517
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,361
- Applicants (IPEDS): 6,464
- Room & Board: $17,586 annual estimate
Carleton College: what the data shows
Common questions about Carleton College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Carleton College?
Carleton College is located in Northfield, MN (ZIP 55057).
NCES locale classification: Town distant.
Is Carleton College public or private?
Carleton College is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Carleton College cost?
Published tuition: $68,892.
Average net price after aid: $25,407.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $7,881 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $8,203 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $9,680 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $18,485 |
| $110,001+ | $44,082 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $275,568.
How hard is it to get into Carleton College?
Admission rate: 20.41%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1517 and midpoint ACT 33.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Carleton College?
Total enrollment: 2,086 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 2,361 students.
About 100% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Carleton College?
150%-time completion rate: 89.60%.
First-year retention: 96.5%.
What do graduates of Carleton College earn?
Median earnings: $53,989 six years after entry; $75,525 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $16,750.
16.53% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Carleton College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Computer Science (78 completions)
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General (42 completions)
- Research and Experimental Psychology, Other (40 completions)
- International Relations and Affairs (39 completions)
- Mathematics, General (34 completions)
- Econometrics and Quantitative Economics (34 completions)
- Chemistry, General (27 completions)
- Physics, General (21 completions)
- History, General (18 completions)
- English Language and Literature, General (17 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Carleton College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 20.41%; completion rate 89.60%; median earnings $75,525 at 10 years; net price $25,407. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$68,892
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Carleton College was $68,892.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$25,407
2024 Value
In 2024 Carleton College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $25,407.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$101,628 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$25,407 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$275,568 4-Year Tuition
$17,586 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$938 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$87,416 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$349,664 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Carleton College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
16.53% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
43.40% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Carleton College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Carleton College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $46,167 | $46,167 | $28,734 |
| 2014 | $47,736 | $47,736 | $28,078 |
| 2015 | $49,263 | $49,263 | $28,892 |
| 2016 | $50,874 | $50,874 | $26,745 |
| 2017 | $52,782 | $52,782 | $27,898 |
| 2018 | $54,759 | $54,759 | $30,210 |
| 2019 | $57,111 | $57,111 | $31,133 |
| 2020 | $59,352 | $59,352 | $28,928 |
| 2021 | $60,225 | $60,225 | $31,800 |
| 2022 | $62,634 | $62,634 | $30,838 |
| 2023 | $65,457 | $65,457 | $27,320 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
20.41% Acceptance Rate
6,464 Total Applicants
1,440 Students Admitted
538 First-Time Students Enrolled
37.36% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution is highly selective, accepting fewer than 3 in 10 applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1517
ACT Average: 33
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.9 - 4.0
Estimated Median GPA: 4.00
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Carleton College reported total enrollment of about 2,086 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 50% male and 50% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (51.0%), Non-Resident Alien (10.4%), and Asian (10.3%). About 16.53% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 15.7% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
100.0% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Carleton College in 2024 is 2,086 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 2,361 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
96.5%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 51.0%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
81.85% 100% Completion Time
89.60% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 81.85% of students graduating from Carleton College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Computer Science: 64% male / 36% female
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 33% male / 67% female
- Research and Experimental Psychology, Other: 30% male / 70% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Carleton College.
Return on Investment
$16,750 Median Student Debt
$75,525 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
22.18% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
643.15% Return on Investment
2.2 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Carleton College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 34 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Computer Science: 78 completions
2. Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 42 completions
3. Research and Experimental Psychology, Other: 40 completions
4. International Relations and Affairs: 39 completions
5. Mathematics, General: 34 completions
6. Econometrics and Quantitative Economics: 34 completions
7. Chemistry, General: 27 completions
8. Physics, General: 21 completions
9. History, General: 18 completions
Most popular programs at Carleton College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Carleton College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Carleton College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 87.3%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $13,960
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $40,626
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Carleton College is a private non-profit institution located in Northfield, MN, classified as Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Computer Science, Biology/Biological Sciences, General, Research and Experimental Psychology, Other. Enrollment is approximately 2,086 students. Student body composition includes White (51.0%), Non-Resident Alien (10.4%), Asian (10.3%). It is selective, with an admission rate of 20.41%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1517. The 150%-time completion rate is 89.60%. Approximately 16.53% of students receive Pell Grants. About 15.7% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields
Location
Northfield, MN 55057
Region: Plains
Insights and Analysis
Exceptional Graduation Rate: With a 89.60% graduation rate, Carleton College demonstrates strong student retention and completion. This rate significantly exceeds the national average, indicating effective academic support and student services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Carleton College located?
Carleton College is located in Northfield, MN.
What is Carleton College's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Carleton College is 20.4% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 6,464 applicants and 1,440 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Carleton College cost?
Reported tuition is $68,892 and average net price is $25,407 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $17,586 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Carleton College?
Carleton College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 2,361 students, White (51.0%), Non-Resident Alien (10.4%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Carleton College?
About 15.7% of students at Carleton College are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Carleton College?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Carleton College reports midpoint SAT about 1517 and midpoint ACT about 33.
What do graduates of Carleton College earn?
Median earnings are $53,989 six years after entry and $75,525 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Carleton College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 89.6% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Carleton College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $16,750.
Is Carleton College public or private?
Carleton College is a private nonprofit institution located in Northfield, MN.
Is Carleton College an HBCU?
No. Carleton College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Carleton College a tribal college?
No. Carleton College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Minnesota college costs
- Minnesota colleges by ROI
- Plains regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Minnesota
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.